(Columbia
Daily Spectator) (U-WIRE) NEW YORK -- Apple Computer has joined the growing
trend of technology companies that are targeting college students, providing
free tech support and advice to Columbia University students as part of an
ongoing campus outreach program that is slowly gaining recognition.
While groups from educational companies, such as Kaplan, have been fixtures on college campuses for years, interest from technology-related corporations, such as Apple, has increased recently at stores and campuses across the country.
Google has been trying to reach out to college campuses by providing free pizza to students interested in computer science through its "pizza ambassador" program, but unlike Apple, it does not provide information about its services. Dell also sends company representatives to occasional campus events, but has not created a student-to-student service.
Student representatives from Apple's "Campus Representative" program have been setting up monthly tables around Columbia for the past year, featuring thousands of dollars worth of Apple products and information for both Mac veterans and potential new customers.
"We show students on campus that they don't have to go down to the SoHo Apple store or be on hold with tech support on the phone forever," said Monica Betancourt, CC '06, one of three Columbia representatives.
The tabling sessions, which provide free pens, iTunes song downloads, and information on Apple products and services, have attracted as many as 200 students in two hours, said Bentancourt, and allow students to try out new products like the iMac G5, different versions of the iBook, and the new video iPod and iPod Nano,
"Apple has provided a specific program, 'Apple Campus Reps,' because we realize that peer to peer interaction is the best way to acquaint students with the benefits of Apple technology," said Ronnie Peters, a higher education account executive for Apple.
Apple's student representatives, numbering over 400 nationwide, are paid for working 15 hours a week to provide a student-oriented view of what may seem like an impersonal, large corporation.
"We do a lot of hand-holding, especially for people switching systems," Betancourt said. "We'll also make sure that students know about the Columbia student discount for Apple computers. There are a lot of myths out there, and a lot of the time we're myth-busters," she said.
"We become Apple's eyes and ears on campus," said J.J. Stranko, CC '06 and another campus representative.
But Betancourt was careful to stress that the campus representatives are not salespeople. "People are reluctant to listen to anyone who is selling stuff, so we try to get their trust," Betancourt said. "We don't get a commission for selling products. In fact, we often recommend less expensive products but those that make more sense for college students."
Stranko said that Apple's presence on campus helps fill a possible void in ACIS' services.
"There are so many Mac users at Columbia, but ACIS doesn't help much in answering questions about Apple products," Stranko said.
The Apple group knows that it could potentially perform a very important function at Columbia.
But "most people don't even know we exist on campus," Betancourt said. "There's a need, but they don't know we're here."
While groups from educational companies, such as Kaplan, have been fixtures on college campuses for years, interest from technology-related corporations, such as Apple, has increased recently at stores and campuses across the country.
Google has been trying to reach out to college campuses by providing free pizza to students interested in computer science through its "pizza ambassador" program, but unlike Apple, it does not provide information about its services. Dell also sends company representatives to occasional campus events, but has not created a student-to-student service.
Student representatives from Apple's "Campus Representative" program have been setting up monthly tables around Columbia for the past year, featuring thousands of dollars worth of Apple products and information for both Mac veterans and potential new customers.
"We show students on campus that they don't have to go down to the SoHo Apple store or be on hold with tech support on the phone forever," said Monica Betancourt, CC '06, one of three Columbia representatives.
The tabling sessions, which provide free pens, iTunes song downloads, and information on Apple products and services, have attracted as many as 200 students in two hours, said Bentancourt, and allow students to try out new products like the iMac G5, different versions of the iBook, and the new video iPod and iPod Nano,
"Apple has provided a specific program, 'Apple Campus Reps,' because we realize that peer to peer interaction is the best way to acquaint students with the benefits of Apple technology," said Ronnie Peters, a higher education account executive for Apple.
Apple's student representatives, numbering over 400 nationwide, are paid for working 15 hours a week to provide a student-oriented view of what may seem like an impersonal, large corporation.
"We do a lot of hand-holding, especially for people switching systems," Betancourt said. "We'll also make sure that students know about the Columbia student discount for Apple computers. There are a lot of myths out there, and a lot of the time we're myth-busters," she said.
"We become Apple's eyes and ears on campus," said J.J. Stranko, CC '06 and another campus representative.
But Betancourt was careful to stress that the campus representatives are not salespeople. "People are reluctant to listen to anyone who is selling stuff, so we try to get their trust," Betancourt said. "We don't get a commission for selling products. In fact, we often recommend less expensive products but those that make more sense for college students."
Stranko said that Apple's presence on campus helps fill a possible void in ACIS' services.
"There are so many Mac users at Columbia, but ACIS doesn't help much in answering questions about Apple products," Stranko said.
The Apple group knows that it could potentially perform a very important function at Columbia.
But "most people don't even know we exist on campus," Betancourt said. "There's a need, but they don't know we're here."
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