Groupon University

Groupon is now offering a deal on a college education. Groupon is now offering a deal on a college education. Groupon is now offering…wait what? Groupon has teamed up with National Louis University in Chicago to offer graduate students a 57% discounted rate on an intro to teaching course. Ohhh ok…wait what?

At first glance this seems like a great idea, and perhaps it is. I am simply a bit apprehensive about this grand leap from teeth-whitening deals to deals on education. Maybe I am looking too far into this, but when I think about Groupon, I typically think about coupons for things that you never really need. Things like cupcake discounts, restaurant deals, and paddleboarding adventures are the norm from what I have seen. This goes in direct contrast to something as important as education, especially at the graduate level. Or perhaps I am just permanently scared from seeing Groupon’s effect on fitness classes. Don’t pretend like you don’t know what I am talking about. That “dealfinder” who decided today he would become a professional yogi. He spends the entire class talking and messing with his phone. He feels just fine about it, because he got a good deal. I can only wonder what the translation would be to a traditional classroom. Or I am wrong and it could be a great thing. Maybe it would give those without the funds to go to school a great opportunity?

One thing is for sure, it will either be the best thing Groupon has ever done, or the worst…

Enjoy VocabSushi For Just $15
That’s right, we’re offering $10 off our regular price of $25.  Just sign up and use the promo code ILOVEVOCAB at checkout.  Find out why VocabSushi is the best way to learn vocab and improve your reading skills for standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, and much more.  Start school off with a competitive advantage and leave the flashcards at home!

Grab This Deal Now
We’re going to be raising our prices for VocabSushi and VocabSushi Pro within the next few weeks and we wanted to let you know well in advance.  So if you’re looking to expand your vocabulary, or use VocabSushi in the classroom, look no further.  But act now and lock in this bargain before it’s too late.

Use Promo Code: ILOVEVOCAB
From The Students
“Before I found this site, I had been using flashcards. VocabSushi took this study system to a whole new level.”
— Maddie, 790 SAT Verbal

“My vocab level reflects my personal vocabulary, so words I already know don’t slow me down. Seeing the word used in real-life context along with its definition demonstrates the words are worth learning. It’s also just fun & easy to use.”
— George, AP English, favorite word is legerdemain

“VocabSushi replaced some very annoying vocab books in my school. I also enjoy learning at my own pace. There isn’t a set standard that each person must reach in an amount of time.”
— Gabe, 29 ACT English, favorite word is schadenfruede


Thanks!

Are You Smarter Than a Copywriter?

Recently, Old Navy teamed up with a slew of reputable universities to release a collection of “college pride” themed t-shirts. Only one problem, apparently the copywriter slept through class. One collection was shipped to stores with the spirited slogan “Lets go [sic],” Did you catch it? The universities that were partnered with Old Navy did. Schools such as Duke, University of Texas, and Notre Dame are probably not too happy with the brand due to their obvious apostrophe oversight. One of the schools is even going so far as to investigate who approved the copy for print.

Even as I sit here writing this, JCPenny is catching heat on Fox News for releasing a shirt with the words “I’m too pretty to do homework, so my brother has to do it for me.” Seriously?

After seeing these two outlandish garb gaffes, it seems perhaps that we at VocabSushi would have a much more profitable strategy encouraging clothing companies to use our products, instead of foolishly wasting our time with students in the classroom (Are you smarter than a copywriter?). We have even been thinking about releasing a t-shirt line of our own! 

     “VocabSushi, learn stuff good.” Well, what do you think?

It’s a First-Generation-Out-of-State-Early-Applying-College-Student’s Time to Shine!

A recent article in Forbes let the cat out of the bag.  The article details the monetary backache universities are feeling these days, and then what they are doing about it.

Universities are giving precedence to out-of-state students. They do this simply because it costs these students more to go to school.(They also want to increase diversity…really, they swear).

Students who apply early with “rolling admission” will also have an advantage, because the school will evaluate the student’s credentials as soon as they apply. This has been whispered about in the past, although a new and frankly progressive trend that caught our attention is the fact that universities are also favoring first-generation students. Students who are the first in their family to go to college will have a better chance of being accepted to the school of their dreams. This focus seems like a great way for people to progress, but how do you feel about the out-of-state preference?

focusing on out-of-state students seems like a great idea at first glance, but does this offer better out-of-state opportunities for students, or create a glass ceiling for students who do not have the finances to pay for out-of-state tuition plus all the other expenditures?

The Power of Words: Google + Adds Ignore Button.

Recently Google + announced it would give users a polite way to get rid of bothersome people on the site. Using an ignore button, users can say “no thank you, not right now.”

This is in contrast to the much harsher and more serious “Block” feature, in which users will cut the other person off completely.

This is certainly an advancement on the social media front, as it adds to the dynamic nature of the Google + platform. Giving users a larger online ‘vocabulary’ could enhance online communication as a whole, giving users a larger social media vocabulary to work with.

So the question is: Will you use this new ‘Ignore’ feature? More importantly what kinds of behaviors/communication warrants an ‘ignore’ as opposed to a ‘Block’ ?

This ad (shown above) by Nivea For Men is being featured in the September issue of Esquire, and has drawn a considerable amount of negative attention.

Bloggers, tweeters, and Facebookers have taken to their laptops to attack the company, Nivea, and accuse them of racist advertising.

The issue revolves around the fact that they posted a photo of an African-American man throwing away a mask of himself with an afro-style haircut and beard, with the caption “Re-civilize yourself” in the advertisement. Readers attacked the racist nature of the advertisement claiming the ad portrays the natural hair of an African-American man as “uncivilized.”

Parent company Beiersdorf AG has subsequently withdrawn the ad and issued an apology. The question is - too little too late? Was this too large of a gaffe to be fixed with a simple apology?

Images courtesy of Adage and GOOD

Google +1’d Facebook with New iPad App. 

Google has just released a Google+ app for the iPad. Although the app is currently just a larger version of the iPhone app, one can imagine that a version formatted specifically for the iPad is right around the corner. This will undoubtedly shift the Facebook vs. Google + debate into overdrive as Facebook has yet to release an official iPad app.

Do you prefer Facebook or Google+? Will the release of a Google+ iPad app make the difference or be lost in the Buzz? (pun intended)

Today’s Awesomely Awesome Word: Boulderize (Verb)

1. Remove material that is considered improper or offensive from (a text or account), esp. with the result that it becomes weaker or less effective.
   • - a bowdlerized version of the article.

LinkedIn CEO Bashes Google +, saying it cannot coexist with other social media.

Check out this article from Digital Trends and let us know what you think. Does Google + have a place in social media? What is your social media channel of choice? Facebook? LinkedIn? Twitter? Maybe even MySpace?