Personalizing College Admissions

Selecting a college is often complicated, drawn out and tedious for students. Searching for qualified applicants through tests scores and essays is also a tiring process for admission staffs. Zinch.com is attempting to make the admissions process a little more interesting and social.
Mick Hagen, a Utah native, left Princeton University to start Zinch. He describes the site as “a tool that allows for high school students to showcase their talents, skills and passions to colleges and universities…”
The service also helps colleges more effectively recruit students. The site lets admissions officers evaluate an applicant based on more than a test score. Colleges can also search Zinch’s database to find students who match their recruiting criteria. The site helps colleges find qualified students outside their recruiting territories at a low cost.
Two million students have created profiles on Zinch and are using the site to connect with college admissions representatives, find scholarships and converse with other students.
Time will tell whether Zinch breaks down the walls between colleges and prospective students. In the mean time, the site simplifies and humanizes the college search and application process.
