With intense competition in the college admission process, some universities are doing more than just sending out mass mailings of pamphlets inviting prospective students to enroll.

Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., offered potential students a free weekend getaway to go skiing or snowboarding. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln allowed Motley Cr?e's drummer Tommy Lee to play with their marching band last October in conjunction with his upcoming MTV reality show. It was all a part of the marketing strategy to get the word out on their institute.

But while some outreach attempts are extravagant, it is OK within reason.

Doane College in Crete, Neb., sent out recruiting postcards depicting a male student surrounded by females featuring the phrase "play the field." This is a prime example of crossing the line. School officials later apologized after receiving complaints.

The school's reputation should be a good indicator of how far outside the box they can step.

You probably won't hear Beyoncé belt out the national anthem during halftime at Harvard University in an effort to attract prospective students, but you might at MSU or another comparable school.

We also feel colleges and universities could handle the admissions process with a more personal touch. A simple birthday card or phone call following up on prospective students who are unsure of where they want to pursue their higher education might make help make up their minds.

In the processes, however, universities and colleges must remember they still are learning institutions.

We understand that at a big school, where students are no more than a number in some classes, attaching a personal touch might make students feel at home while away from home.

Beyoncé might not recruit the next Einstein, but maybe someone who's just as bootylicious. And we're OK with that.