University Of Rochester Creates Rap Video To Recruit Students (VIDEO)

Colleges have ramped up their recruiting efforts in recent years, employing everything from ski weekends to reality TV shows to draw new students in.

The latest stunt -- a hip hop video -- comes from the University of Rochester's Admissions Office and features a popular all-male campus a cappella group, the Midnight Ramblers, rapping in more than 20 locations throughout the school.

"We wanted high school students to see the many options available," said Satyajit Dattagupta, director of enrollment communications and creator of the video concept, in a release. "The music video captures the energy, enthusiasm, and creativity here."

It also captures the Ramblers' impassioned lyrical skill, including pop culture references like the Kardashians and Alec Baldwin -- who was famously dropped from a Rochester ad campaign after his "Words With Friends" American Airlines altercation last year -- along with a speedy verse, right around 2:14, pulled straight from an Admissions Office brochure.

In 2009, CBS News reported on colleges' efforts to spice up recruiting, including Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, who sends out birthday cards and calls to prospective students; and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who agreed to let Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee film his reality show, "Tommy Lee Goes to College," at their school in 2005.

Yet still, hip-hop seems to be a somewhat new approach. But does it work?

Quick Poll

Are you swayed by Rochester's hip-hop pitch?

Yes. It's informative and got me interested in their school.

No. Hip hop's better left to the pros.

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Comments

[J R M]

02:23 AM on 03/12/2012

It is a very good school. I did my MS. and Ph.D. there, in the College of Engineering.

[SonOfDaBayou]

12:37 PM on 03/10/2012

No thanks..I guess nobody black goes to school there. So why should I be the first one?

[113]

05:38 AM on 03/09/2012

They did a good job

[Tehran Clark]

09:37 PM on 03/08/2012

Where's the girls at this school? Looks like a big sausage fest...just saying.

[Tehran Clark]

09:39 PM on 03/08/2012

Where's the Black people? Just because this is faux hip-hop doesn't mean it belongs in the Black Voices section.

[Justine 21]

11:32 AM on 04/09/2012

If you were really concerned about issues in diversity, you'd know first-hand that diversity is more than skin-deep. There are several "minority" students in the Midnight Rambler's, you're just discriminating based on what you see. Also, if you cared enough about male:female ratios, you'd find out that UR is 50% male, 50% female. And if you cared to look up some history, you'll find Rochester connections with important figures such as Susan B.Anthony and Frederick Douglass. Look it up. I dare you.

[Timothy Harrington]

01:23 AM on 03/09/2012

It's an all-male a cappella group. They also have all-female a cappella groups.

[Mansfield]

07:32 PM on 03/08/2012

Wow, If I were leaving High School, I'd have to consider applying there. Creative, hip and catchy:-)

[clsez]

06:32 PM on 03/08/2012

Nice. Creative and catchy

[PirateJohn]

05:57 PM on 03/08/2012

When I was in high school, Rochester pulled a bit of a bait and switch on me. I had won some award and was told that it came with a full ride to Rochester, but when I actually applied, they said that it only meant that I could *apply* for said scholarship. They ended up offering zilch. Meanwhile, Southern California offered me about 50% of my tuition paid and ROTC kicked in the rest, plus extra.