Make an app for that

"Yes, we've completed the obligatory college visits with our oldest daughter. The second daughter is only a year younger so she went along, too. The experience was a good one, although pretty tiring, but we made it," commented a university colleague. "We concentrated on smaller schools with good science programs and an orchestra that wasn't conservatory level."

"So what's wrong with right here at Xavier?" I ask. "Xavier has everything you're looking for."

"Oh, you're right, but try telling that to them! They want no part of anything close to home or even in Ohio, in that order. It's just not cool to stay close to home these days. It's much more exotic to go to a school that's farther away," he responded.

"You know and I know that she'd do really well here," I offer, "and she'd get a great education. She could live in the residence hall with all the new friends she'd make, be as close or as far from your house as she'd like to be, and could continue with her volunteer work at the library. Besides, coming here would save you some money."

"You make it sound so simple," he observes, "but you don't know what it's like dealing with Queen of the Stubborns. There's a kingdom of its own for people like that."

"So why not develop a new computer game with that theme?" I suggest. "Just think how many unsuspecting college-checker-outers there are who would rather stay home and play the game. Create an app. You know, the I-refuse-to-go-to-an-Ohio-college-even-though-it's-the-very-best-place-for-me-in-the-universe app. The app could give lots of hidden and unique info about a college with the default always directing the user back to Xavier."

"Hmmm, I like that. I wonder how to create an app?" he asks. "I don't know," I respond. "You're the science guy."

[Nancy Linenkugel is a Sylvania Franciscan sister and chair of the department of Health Services Administration at Xavier University, Cincinnati Ohio.]