Have any of your kids needed to create a Zeeme page for their college applications to make them "come alive"? It's like a cross between a Facebook page and a Linkedin page. Student are invited to create a video about themselves, explaining what they're passionate about, and post photos of friend and family, and of themselves engaging in various activities. This is, of course, in addition to the Common App, and the college's supplemental questions and essay, and campus interview. The Zeeme can then be used after college admission as a limited social networking site for accept students to find roommates and other connections.
I must say, maybe because I'm an older parent, that I do think the college application process has gotten too cumbersome and yes, too intrusive. If a student does an EC and has described his/her participation on the application or a resume, is a picture really necessary? How much more will it contribute? For most activities, I would think very little. Our high school transcripts now substantiate participation in school activities, and presumably other students find ways to support their claims regarding outside EC's, such as through teacher/adviser/coach recommendations, via awards and honors, and through arts supplements, to name just a few. In fact, the sample video on the website shows a girl taking advanced dance classes and performing on stage. Why not just submit a more formal version of that video as a talent supplement rather than as a cutesy i-phone video that includes her traipsing through the hallways of the studio, etc.?
Are colleges just trying to be current and keep up with the social media scene, or could there be a more nefarious purpose? Will colleges use the photos or videos to weed out unattractive kids, for example? That way, only beautiful people will end up in future college newsletters and web postings because they will be the only ones getting in! That, in turn, will better promote their school and its coolness to future applicants.
And no, the answer is not "If you don't like it, don't apply." Hasn't this process across the board gotten a bit ridiculous?
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