Students Grade Their Own Universities
Thursday 2 February 2012BATH, UK
Younilife.com is a first in social-media connecting for eager undergraduate students. Created in 2006 by Bath Spa University MA Branding and Design graduate Hagen Christoph, Younilife encompasses several grading criteria to ensure prospective students get the best overall University picture before they attend an institution. Unlike traditional university ranking methods based on self-promoting qualities and merit, at Younilife, the students deliver the message based off their own university experience.
The implications for direct access of information for potential students, by the current students, are staggering. Hagen Christoph explains; “I wanted to get independent advice on Universities to help prospective students.” Gone are the ‘bells and whistles’ approach on open days that institutions typically promote to garner their increasing student bodies. With a simple log online, any prospective UK student can access university information provided by students attending the academic institution. Hagen Christoph continues; “I felt students should be given a chance to share their views about their University of choice, and the information you get here is unique – you won’t find it anywhere else.” So far, many web browsers are checking it out, with Younilife receiving over 31,000 hits a month, and students expressing themselves online at the website; http://www.younilife.com/.
But there’s more to Younilife than service as a Uni-Watch. Several applications make a current student’s life easier, such as Accommodation Service and Student Job Search, which list vacant student properties and high-in-demand part-time jobs, respectively. Younilife also contains several recreational sections such as a Student Deal section, for budgeting, and a Student Music application, where students upload and rate fellow student songs. Additionally, Younilife currently works cooperatively with small private student radios, but has further goals to get connected all over the country. Hagen Christoph elaborates; “Our aim is to get some of the bigger radio stations involved, and to air Younilife’s top songs all across the UK.”
Obviously, given the web brands target demographic, young university-bound undergrads, it’s a case of whether these prospective students will ultimately consider taking their peers word over more informative and traditional means. But why wouldn’t they?? To assume that prospective students choose their university based solely on university academics is widely inaccurate- most students come to a conclusive decision after considering other factors, many of which universities may be unforthcoming with; industry connections to jobs, student facilities, teacher/student working ratio, etc. Additionally, there is a current void for a university’s consensus of approval outside of their own academic or athletic merit, one which Younilife could gladly fill. Finally, and perhaps most beneficial for Younilife’s case, young people simply do make decisions by word of mouth or by listening to their peers. It may well be that Younilife, with it’s shed-load of ‘insider’ information, may radicalise a few preconceptions about how to select a university, and ultimately the university itself. Ultimately, both time, and the students, will tell. For more information, check out Younilife at http://www.younilife.com/
If you’d like more direct information about this topic or to schedule an interview with Hagen Christoph, he is best contacted by number: +44789-434-1912 or at hagen@younilife.com.