Let this be a lesson.

I've had the opportunity over the last few days to drive all over snowy and slushy Pennsylvania and sit down with admissions/communications folks at different schools.

Here are some (paraphrased) highlights from one particularly refreshing conversation.

me: "I've noticed that your admission website links directly to a facebook page and an institutional youtube account. And after reading some of your student blogs, I guess you don't have many questions for me about Web 2.0..."

Saint Vincent College AVP for Admission and Financial Aid: "You know we gave those flip video cameras to students and they did some amazing things. And did you know we don't monitor or supervise the bloggers at all? I think it's so important for all of that to be authentic."

pleasantly surprised me: "You're exactly right! And how have you found facebook?"

SVC AVP who totally gets it: "Well I made sure my profile picture was of me holding my dog and not the same picture that's on the school website. And about 80 prospective students and I are in regular contact. We've gotten valuable feedback from them about our on-campus admission events and materials."

me admiringly: "anything else you want to tell me that will blow me away?"

"I work best with agencies who feel free to brainstorm and share ideas and I'm not uncomfortable with edgy."