This blog post will be a bit different than my previous posts-I will be reviewing another blog similar to mine entitled “My College Advice”. This blog was constructed by Katie Dwyer and features an abundance of articles circulating around (you guessed it) college.
Right from the start, “My College Advice” is very visually appealing. The website’s layout is similar to my own WordPress site, but definitely more advanced and intricate. The main page features Dwyer’s most popular articles; the bottom of the main page breaks off into different categories like “Study tips”, “Choosing a major” and “Grad School”. Each post on display includes a title, a summary of the article, and a picture. The combination of these three elements entice viewers and compels them to read the full posts.
Here’s an overview of Dwyer’s Blog:
While I am hesitant to compare my own posts to a more established blog, I see a lot of similarities between our posts and our overall content. I admire Dwyer’s elevated writing style and her ability to get to the point while still embellishing her posts with some details of her personal life. Her posts’ layout mirror my own, but she adds bolded and italicized fonts and different color lettering. This helps some of her main points stick out from the sea of sans serif text. We both even promote our blog posts on Twitter in an akin style.
Reading through “My College Advice” not only inspired future blog posts, but also inspired to me to take Dwyer’s advice directly. While the blog centers around college, Dwyer places small bits of encouragement throughout her posts that have more to do with self identity rather than campus life. I think that these tidbits personalize her blog and help her connect to her audience in a more intimate way. Each post is derived from the same basic layout, but her inclusion of different style fonts and pictures give each post their own identity and does not bore the viewer into clicking off her blog. Additionally, Dwyer features guest speakers onto her blog to cover more broad issues like sexual assault on campus or clubs in specific universities. This allows her blog to reach a more expansive audience, all while still connecting to the overall topic of college.
Dwyer’s blog was well organized, looked professional and catered to a broad audience. However, Dwyer’s actual writing and word choice sounded a bit dated. It was evident she had already graduated from college and matured. Her tone occasionally rubbed off as more of a mother giving her children advice rather than a fellow college student writing about their experiences. While “My College Advice” is meant to be a personal account, it often appears too personal, with Dwyer discussing information only relevant to the University of Oregon, the college she graduated from. It is her blog, and she has the freedom to write however she wants to, but I think if she generalized her content a bit more her blog could foster a larger crowd.
I am including a link to “My College Advice” and to Dwyer’s Twitter. I am confident that skimming through Dwyer’s posts can alleviate any budding questions someone may have about college. Be sure to check her out!
Side Note: I hope everyone enjoyed this post and is staying safe by self quarantining!
The Bliss in Independence 