Fighting Fire With Fire: Capture The Attention Of The Video Game Generation

Long gone are the days when a simple video of the college satisfied a prospective student's curiosity about the campus. In fact, according to the Noel-Levitz E-Expectations research completed in 2010, 50% of all students considering enrollment in a college or university did not watch any videos of the campuses they were considering. Getting the attention of this generation of students takes a lot more and 3D Virtual Campus Tours is just what is needed to capture the excitement, interactive component and the content presentation that today's students are looking for.

Students are now looking for a way to tour a campus without actually having to travel and without having to watch boring old videos and online presentations. 3D Virtual Campus Tours is the perfect option. It will load quickly onto a smartphone or a computer and in only minutes they will be strolling the virtual grounds of your educational facility with an avatar they have custom designed. This game like quality to the digital campus tour adds to the "cool" factor for your school, plus it is an experience that youth already equates with excitement, fun and that competitive edge that everyone has.

3D Virtual Campus Tours doesn't just allow students to walk around and look at various buildings, facilities and locations on campus, it also provides as many gaming options as you want within the software. A good option is to include games that are educational in nature but also offer highlights and information about the school itself. Trivia games are ideal in this aspect and they can be located throughout the tour and based on information within the virtual campus. Through playing the games on the tour the students can earn virtual points that can be used to win awards, buy specific branded items for their avatars or even to become the school mascot if they accumulate the top point score. With this game-like feel to it students will spend longer time on the site and learn more about your school all the while having fun and enjoying themselves.

While having fun is going to be the goal of the prospective students, the admissions staff can also capitalize on the popularity of the 3D virtual campus tour by interacting with the students in a very relaxed atmosphere. As a tour guide the admissions rep can ask questions, talk to the student about their future and even point out academic, athletic or other features of the campus that would appeal directly to that particular student. Students are comfortable with this type of interaction in a game and it takes a lot of the awkwardness out of the initial contact with the student that would be typical in a chat system or other type of direct communication.

As a recruiting tool and a way for admissions reps to highlight the school, 3D Virtual Campus Tours really is a cutting edge option. Students will share their positive experience online with others, further spreading the information about your school and drawing in more and more potential students. While they may originally come for the game they will stay for the great educational opportunity your campus offers.