Rasmussen College has a story to tell you, and it's about you. That's right, you; did you know that there are exciting careers just waiting for you out there? Growing industries such as business management, paralegal services and network administration are looking for people just like you. The dream of a new career can be yours in under 12 months. Want to learn more?

With the hoaky trade school pitch still at its core, Rasmussen College has decided to invest in storytelling to attract new students. Welcome to Rastopia, a town you can visit on the Internet. Rastopia "has it all," including a business center, courthouse and entertainment complex. Inside, users can learn about some of the careers that Rasmussen can prepare you for, with real stories of people who have gone through it or are currently going through it.

It's easy to lampoon the laundry list of careers that you(!) could(!) prepare yourself for(!). But that overlooks the fact that Rasmussen is engaging in some fairly clever marketing here. The college's target audience is young people who rely on the Internet for pretty much everything. And in the post-advertising age, storytelling builds brands.

My only criticism of this effort is that it's a little light. The actress who introduces you to Rastopia implores you to explore and make sure you pay attention because if you don't, you might miss something. But there are few surprises in Rastopia, and it's not exactly a rich, full, digital world. I don't get the impression, for instance, that it would prepare me for a career in law enforcement or private eye-ing.