You're not a brochure. You're not a walking list of facts about your university. You're a real person who's actually lived the thing prospective students are trying to picture themselves doing - and that's the entire reason Unibuddy works!
So this isn't a rulebook on what you're allowed to say. It's a creative brief: here's what makes your story land, and what makes it fall flat.
What we actually mean by "authentic"
Authentic doesn't necessarily mean polished, it means specific, personal and honest.
Go back to your own applicant journey. What were you worried about? What do you wish someone had told you? That's exactly what the person you're chatting to wants to know.
Lean into what makes your experience different - a society you love being a a part of, moving to a new city, being the first in your family to go to university. The specific stuff is what helps prospective students envisage themselves at your university.
Use your own words. If a sentence sounds like it could have come straight out of your universities brochure, rewrite it as if you were telling one of your friends.
What resonates, vs. what falls flat
"How's the workload?"
â Falls flat: "The workload is well balanced and our tutors provide comprehensive support to help you succeed."
â Resonates: "If I'm totally honest, weeks 4â6 of first term nearly broke me - three assignments landed in the same week. My personal tutor helped me build a plan though, and after that it genuinely got easier. Now I actually enjoy the reading!"
"What's accommodation like?"
â Falls flat: "Our halls offer excellent facilities and a supportive living environment."
â Resonates: "I was SO nervous about sharing a kitchen with strangers. It was actually the best part of first year - two of my flatmates are still my closest friends."
"Is it hard to make friends?"
â Falls flat: "There are lots of opportunities to get involved and meet new people."
â Resonates: "Honestly, the first few weeks felt a bit lonely for me. What actually worked was joining a society even though I was nervous about it - turns out everyone else was just as awkward as me at the first meeting."
Notice what the "resonates" replies have in common: they focus on a specific moment - sometimes a wobble - and how it actually got better. Remember that you don't have to share anything that you're not comfortable sharing - and if your experiences have been nothing but positive, with not a wobble in sight, that will resonate, too!
A few ways to keep your conversations genuine
Tell a moment, not a summary. "It was great" tells them nothing. "I remember standing in the lecture hall on day one having no idea where anything was" - that's an experience someone else can really picture.
Be honest - and constructive - about the negatives. You're not there to deliver a sales pitch. If something wasn't for you, say so, and say what you did about it.
Don't be afraid of a bit of personality. An emoji, an aside about how tired you were during exam season - that's what makes a chat feel like a chat, and not something they could have read on your uni's website.
Quick gut check before you hit send
Ask yourself:
Would I say this to a friend?
Does this sound like it could be lifted from a uni brochure? If yes, rewrite it.
If you can say yes and yes; then you're doing exactly what makes you a great ambassador.