Updated on January 31st, 2022
Do colleges look at your social media? It’s a question every student should have on their mind when preparing to launch a college search and submit applications. After all, an estimated 90 percent of teens between the ages of 13 and 17 have used social media at some point, and 75 percent consider themselves active on at least one platform.
If your student is looking for scholarship opportunities that could help them navigate any college cost, there are plenty of options available. To learn about finding scholarships, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar! Take a quick trip over to http://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar to reserve a spot today.
If your student is trying to figure out, “Do colleges check social media?” here’s a look at the social media and college admissions landscape.
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Do Colleges Look at Your Social Media?
If your student is wondering, “Do colleges check your social media?” the answer depends on the school involved. A recent survey showed that 36 percent of college admissions officers head to students’ social media profiles when reviewing applicants, though only 17 percent state that they do it “often.”
While that may make it seem that students don’t typically have much to worry about, it’s only part of the equation. It’s critical to realize that posts on public social media profiles are largely considered fair game, even among those who don’t routinely head to social media to check student profiles.
In total, 59 percent of college admissions officers feel that viewing the information isn’t problematic. Only 35 percent believed that heading to social media profiles during the admissions process was an invasion of privacy and shouldn’t happen.
Additionally, 58 percent of those who check social media accounts said they found something that negatively impacted students. As a result, what a student puts on social media could harm their admission chances.
On the other side, 42 percent said they’d found things on social media profiles that had a positive impact. In those cases, viewing the account could have worked in a student’s favor.
As a result, while most colleges don’t check social media profiles during the admissions process, students should prepare for those that do. That way, they can control what the college discovers along the way.
Since what a student shares on social media could positively or negatively impact college admissions, it’s wise to follow certain best practices when sharing information online. That way, students can preserve their reputation and potentially make themselves stand out for the right reasons.
Here is a quick look at some dos and don’ts when sharing information online.
Do Highlight Achievements
Social media can be an excellent place for showcasing relevant achievements. Including images from an academic, athletic, or similar competition where your student performed admirably is a smart move, for example.
Students should focus more on the time, dedication, and energy it took to accomplish the goal or reach that particular height in the post. While it’s okay to be proud, avoiding bragging language is usually best, as that might not resonate with college admissions committees.
Don’t Feature Illegal Behavior
Images or posts outlining how a student participated in something illegal are never wise additions to a social media profile. Regardless of the severity, college admissions officers won’t look favorably on the activity.
Do Talk About Volunteering or Community Involvement
If your student volunteers or is otherwise involved in their community, showcasing that on social media can be an intelligent decision. It can augment points they make in their application or showcase activities that didn’t fit into college essays.
Don’t Dive into Controversial Topics
Along with being something students shouldn’t write about in college essays, avoiding controversial topics on social media is also a must. Some subjects are highly polarizing by nature. Since students won’t know the position of admissions officers, they can’t predict how their views on a point may be received or interpreted. If the committee disagrees with a perspective, it could cost your student a spot at the school.
Similarly, following controversial people or accounts on social media isn’t always a wise move. The same goes for commenting on or liking their posts, even if they aren’t followers. There’s a chance that an admissions officer will view the association negatively, so it’s usually best to steer clear.
Do Show a Demonstrated Interest
Some colleges factor in whether a student has a demonstrated interest in their school when deciding who to admit. In many cases, social media can help students handle that potential requirement. Along with discussing their interest in the school in posts, they could share images from when they took a campus tour. Following the college on social media can also help.
Don’t Ignore Your Handle
Even if the content on your student’s account is ideal for college admissions, their handle or username may need an update. A crude or offensive one could cost your student a spot. Additionally, an unprofessional handle or username might not impress an admissions committee, even if it’s broadly considered cute or funny.
If your student’s handle or username is in any way questionable, updating it is best. That way, they won’t risk it being poorly received.
Do Search for Unused Profiles
There is a slew of social media platforms around, so there’s always a chance your student created a public profile on one that they no longer use. If there’s a chance that they forgot to delete an old account (or, at least, left if publicly accessible), searching to see if it pops up is smart.
Along with checking individual platforms for accounts associated with your student’s information – such as their email address or phone number – performing a Google search isn’t a bad idea. Along with searching for their name, have them check for accounts associated with favorite usernames or handles, just to be safe.
Social Media and College Admissions: Do Private Profiles Help?
It’s important to note that students have another option: setting their accounts to private. When an account is private, college admissions committees won’t be able to access the bulk of a profile, giving students some privacy. As a result, some students may prefer to go in this direction instead of removing posts they’d rather keep for personal reasons.
However, while a private profile helps, that doesn’t mean that everything is hidden. For example, others may be able to tag your student in images or mention them in comments unless your student alters their tagging and mentions settings.
Privacy options vary by platform, so students should check what settings are available before relying on a private profile alone. That way, they can limit how others engage with their profile, giving them an extra level of protection. And, if they find the options lacking, it’s typically best to go the extra mile and remove any content that may hurt their chances of getting into a top-choice school.
However, even if the privacy options are robust, that doesn’t mean keeping questionable content on a profile is wise. There’s always a chance that one of your student’s followers may decide to make the information public. For example, there’s little to stop someone from screenshotting posts in private accounts and reposting them publicly.
Ultimately, it’s usually best if students audit their social media accounts thoroughly, going back through every post and deciding whether keeping it would help or hurt their chances of gaining admission to their preferred college. If the answer is “no,” then it’s best to take it down. That way, if a particular school answers the question, “Do colleges look at your social media?” with a resounding “yes,” they’ll be in the best shape possible.
If your student is looking for scholarship opportunities that could help them navigate any college cost, there are plenty of options available. To learn about finding scholarships, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar! Take a quick trip over to http://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar to reserve a spot today.
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