Electronic communication is the standard method of communication among college students. However, which format of e-communication is most preferred seems to be somewhat of a moving target. Utilizing a researcher-developed survey, this study investigated the use of Remind, a popular form of instant messaging, for communication between the instructors and students in two sections of a required, first-year college orientation course. The use of this instant messaging platform was compared to the use of email. Two research questions drove this study. When asked whether instant message-based course communication was more effective than email communication, 75.4% of participants agreed, with 61.5% reacting to information in Remind more quickly than messages via email. Information from the second question showed 94% of participants felt Remind helped them organize their learning. Overall, the responses to the use of Remind were positive, and it was clearly preferred over traditional email communication for a number of reasons delineated in the study. Actual participant comments are included.