#AskaWildcat Project

 

Ask a Wildcat 2016The #AskaWildcat project was part of a spring yield project I conceived and led at Davidson College during March-April 2016. Newly admitted students had an opportunity to ask current students a variety of questions about student life at Davidson.

The answers from current students were included in short videos with write-ups and additional links to websites featuring content relevant to admitted students’ questions.

The videos for the project were shot using iPhones. The project was promoted heavily on social media, with questions solicited directly through Twitter, SnapChat, and email. Completed videos were shared directly with students on social media.

The #AskaWildcat project was featured as a link of the week on Bob Johnson’s Blog on April 8, 2016, where it was referenced as “video innovation in student recruitment.” The project was innovated in that it was filmed entirely on iPhones. Special video kits were put together for use on the project.

From Bob Johnson’s Link of the Week – 365 Best Practice College and University Website(s):

Videos Answer Admitted Student Questions to Increase Yield

Enrollment yield at this time of the year is a first priority for every school recruiting traditional freshman.

This Link of the Week selection encourages admitted students to send questions that are answered by current students in short videos that only once run more than 2 minutes. Two are less than a minute.

Questions are solicited via Twitter, Snapchat, or email. As you scan the videos you can see which questions are most popular.

To scan the videos and watch your favorites (and for more detail on how the videos were made using iPhones) follow the Link of the Week at bit.ly/90Csrt.

The videos were shot with iPhones. Doug Minor, director of digital communications at Davidson, offers this information for those who might want to explore a similar approach: “The video kits use an iPhone 6, the iOS app FILMic Pro, Rode VideoMicro shotgun mic, a flash bracket for mounting iPhone, mic, and light, a monopod, and a few other accessories.”

Sample Social Media Posts

Ask a Wildcat Facebook post

Leave a Reply