An Unbelievably Cool Diversion

The magic of technology brings us something called GrandCentral. While I'm not sure what the use is for U Sphere, it sure is cool to post voice mail messages. Like this one.



This service was acquired by Google recently -- and one neato thing for protecting your privacy is that you can say "Call Me," put a link up to a number that goes to your phone -- but never have to give out your phone number. Cool? I think so...

Which Comes First: The College Application OR The College Visit?

Great question from the peanut gallery -- specifically, the parent of a high schooler in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. (Or Obamaville to some.)

Jill F. of Chicago asks: "What's your view on visiting colleges before you apply vs. after you've been accepted?"

Pluses on visiting before you apply:

1. Many schools consider that "first contact" and track your interest when you visit. So you can be on their radar screen early.
2. Some schools will throw you a bone if you visit first -- Florida Institute of Technology drops about 3000 bucks off tuition if you have visited the school. (Goofy, I know, but true.)
3. Good to winnow down your list before you apply...a Saturday spent touring a school that you thought you'd like might yield a big fat "NO" from the student -- before you have to waste time on the application.

Pluses on waiting til after you accepted:

1. The first contact thing above is becoming less of a factor -- one school (a selective private one in Indiana, name withheld) reported that 30% of their applicants' first contact with the school was the application itself.
2. Leverage. Your interest in the school is hereby confirmed if you walk into their Financial Aid office with the acceptance letter in tow.
3. If you wait til afterwards, it becomes MORE about "fit." I think that's a big plus -- instead of thinking "could I get in here?," the pressure is off and the visit becomes all about "will I fit in here?"

GREAT question (thanks Jill).

MOO. It can help U. (Or, another way to keep your name in front of colleges)

One of my personal favorite startups is a company called MOO.

The Moo Minicards were the belles of the ball at the OACAC conference. (Or maybe it's just that I have cute kids.)

But here's why I'm telling you about it: their Minicards would REALLY be cool if used at college fairs. BY STUDENTS.

Here's how it works:

(1) Upload a picture of you doing something that shows what makes you tick. Or put a clever image that you've designed. Or do something else -- heck, they're your cards, people. Try this:











(2) Then, on the back, write something clever about yourself:

"Here's me, with three friends, and we've just left a service project in Appalachia. Oh and I have a 4.0 at my school, and I'm on the basketball team, and I really want to be a research scientist."

(3) Put contact info that's just this simple:

"I'm David V., visit me at www.usphere.com/davidv." You'd of course use your U Sphere username.

That last part will give them access to your profile -- but only if they're either a college admissions person or YOUR high school counselor.

You're all set. Order a bunch of these just in time for the college fair circuit, where you can wow the admissions folks, show that you're cutting edge, and use environmentally sound principles in the process. (As only MOO would.)

(And just when I get done singing their praises in Vancouver -- where U Sphere handed out a few hundred cute little cards, with my kids' pics on the back and our contact info on the front -- they change the game again. With stickers. We'll cross that bridge later.)