I've heard that some colleges may look at applicants' social media profiles during the admissions process. Should I clean up my social media accounts or make them private? How likely is it that colleges will check my profiles?
It is true that some colleges and universities occasionally check applicants' social media profiles as part of their admissions process. While this is not a standard practice for every college, it is still a possibility.
According to a 2018 survey by Kaplan Test Prep, 25% of admissions officers reported checking applicants' social media profiles, so there is a chance that your profiles could be viewed—do note, however, that this number has varied significantly from survey to survey and from year to year.
With that in mind, it is a good idea to ensure that your social media presence is appropriate and reflects the image you want to present to colleges. Here are a few tips:
1. Make your profiles private: If you're unsure about the content on your social media accounts, it's wise to adjust your privacy settings to limit the visibility of your posts. This way, only approved connections can view your content.
2. Review your content: Go through your profiles and remove or hide any posts, images, or comments that might be viewed as inappropriate or unprofessional. It's helpful to consider how an admissions officer might perceive the content you share.
3. Monitor your tagged content: Keep an eye on any content in which you are tagged by others, as this content can be visible on your profiles. Untag yourself from anything inappropriate or that does not represent you well. Additionally, adjust your privacy settings to control who can tag you.
4. Maintain a professional online presence: Use your social media accounts to showcase your interests, accomplishments, and personal growth. Sharing content that highlights your passions and involvement in extracurricular activities can help create a positive online presence.
5. Be cautious about including links to your social media accounts on your college applications. Only include links to professional or academic profiles, such as LinkedIn or an online portfolio.
While it's not guaranteed that colleges will check your social media profiles, it's always best to be prepared and present a positive image of yourself online. This can not only benefit you during the college admissions process but also when applying for internships and job opportunities in the future.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.