Social Media and College Admissions
Managing your digital footprint for college success
Important Notice
What you post online can hurt (and sometimes help) your admissions chances. College admissions officers increasingly review applicants' social media profiles.
In today's digital age, your social media presence has become an extension of your college application. Admissions officers may review your online profiles to get a fuller picture of who you are as a person. This makes it crucial to maintain a positive and professional digital footprint throughout the college application process.
Why Your Digital Presence Matters
Potential Risks
- • Inappropriate photos or content
- • Offensive language or comments
- • Controversial political or social posts
- • Evidence of illegal activities
Positive Opportunities
- • Showcase your interests and achievements
- • Demonstrate community involvement
- • Show your personality and values
- • Highlight academic accomplishments
Managing Your Social Media Footprint
Essential Steps to Take
Privacy Settings
- ✓ Review and update privacy settings on all platforms
- ✓ Consider making profiles private during application season
- ✓ Control who can tag you in posts
Content Cleanup
- ✓ Delete inappropriate photos and posts
- ✓ Remove offensive language or comments
- ✓ Untag yourself from problematic posts
Profile Optimization
- ✓ Use a professional profile photo
- ✓ Create appropriate usernames
- ✓ Highlight achievements and interests
Ongoing Monitoring
- ✓ Google yourself regularly
- ✓ Monitor tagged photos and posts
- ✓ Think before posting during application season
Expert Resource
For comprehensive guidance on managing your social media footprint, we recommend reviewing Kaplan Test Prep's detailed guide: "10 Ways to Manage Your Social Media Footprint."
Platform-Specific Considerations
Twitter/X
Review tweets, retweets, and replies. Be mindful of political or controversial content.
Check photos, posts, and comments. Review tagged content from friends.
Review photos, stories, and captions. Consider what your posts say about you.
Best Practices Moving Forward
Do
- ✓ Think before you post
- ✓ Showcase your achievements and interests
- ✓ Use appropriate language and tone
- ✓ Keep content positive and constructive
- ✓ Be authentic while remaining professional
Don't
- ✗ Post inappropriate photos or content
- ✗ Use offensive or discriminatory language
- ✗ Share content involving illegal activities
- ✗ Engage in online arguments or cyberbullying
- ✗ Ignore your digital footprint
Kathy Howard
TCS Guidance Counselor
Need Help Managing Your Digital Presence?
Our guidance counselor can help you review your social media profiles and develop a strategy for presenting your best self online.