Do You Know How Social Media Affects College Admission?

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Did you know that social media can actually have an impact on college admissions? As you consider how to get into college, it is important to remember that the colleges you apply to maybe check your social media to help inform their final decision. The last thing you want is to go through all the hard work to get good grades and put in the time and research when choosing the right college to be rejected because of what was linked to your social media profile.

It’s not all bad, though. In fact, more admissions officers think that social media can have a positive impact (38%) on student admissions than a negative impact (32%). In addition, did you know that social media can help you when researching colleges?

From choosing the right college to changing your privacy settings, check out these seven dos and don’ts for social media when applying for college.

DO: College Research

As much as a college can use social media to learn about what you are really like, you can use social media to see what a school is really like. It can be easy to see what campus life will be like and how the school is run through social media profiles.

DO: Stay Professional

Keep your public face professional. Social media can be used by college admissions officers as well as employers to get an idea of your accomplishments and your personality. This might include how much knowledge or interest you have in a specific field, the types of pages you follow, or the content you share.

DO: Check Your Privacy Settings

Be aware of what you are sharing in public and what is visible by friends only. There are some things that are better left shared among close friends and family that don’t need to be shared in a public forum.

DO: Manage Who You Follow

Colleges will look at who you follow on social media to determine if your interests align with your application and their interests. Make sure that the pages you follow reflect your professional personality.

DON’T: Use Fake Names or Profiles

Avoid hiding your social media by using a fake name or profile. It can damage your chances by not showing admissions who you are and can have adverse consequences if the account is found.

DON’T: Post Inappropriate Content

In line with posting professional content, make sure that you keep it appropriate. This might include controversial topics, profanity, or sexual content. If you have to question if it is appropriate, don’t post it.

DON’T: Lie

Finally, don’t lie on social media or on your application. A quick check of your social media page will usually reveal the truth. For example, one admissions officer shared a situation where an applicant stated he had never been accused of a felony, however, his social media page shared the entire story of his incarceration.

Want to know more about what to do to improve your chances of getting into the college of your choice? A college admissions consultant can help answer all of your college admissions questions. Clark Consulting will save you time, money, and stress throughout your college journey.

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