Social Media and College Applications: What Every Parent Needs to Know
The relationship between social media and college apps has transformed the admissions landscape forever. Gone are the days when applications were just about grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities. Today, your teen’s social media presence plays a crucial role in college admissions decisions. Recent studies show that 28% of admission officers check applicants’ social media profiles, which continues to grow yearly.
As a parent, you might wonder how your child’s Instagram posts or TikTok videos could affect their college dreams. The truth is that social media can either improve or damage an application. While a thoughtful online presence can highlight your teen’s achievements and character, inappropriate content might close doors before they even open.
This guide will help you understand how colleges view social media and provide practical steps to ensure your teen’s online presence helps, rather than hurts, their chances of admission.
As a parent, you might wonder how your child’s Instagram posts or TikTok videos could affect their college dreams. The truth is social media can either strengthen or weaken an application. While a thoughtful online presence can highlight your teen’s achievements and character, inappropriate content might close doors before they even open.
This guide will help you understand how colleges view social media and provide practical steps to ensure your teen’s online presence helps, rather than hurts, their chances of admission.
Why Social Media Matters in College Admissions
College admission officers want to see the complete picture of who your teen is beyond test scores and grades. Social media offers them an unfiltered glimpse into an applicant’s character, interests, and judgment.
Think of social media as an unofficial part of your teen’s application. Just as they carefully craft their essays and activities list, they should thoughtfully manage their online presence.
College admission officers might look for:
- Evidence of your teen’s stated interests and passions
- Leadership qualities and community involvement
- Communication skills and maturity
- Cultural awareness and sensitivity
- Character and judgment
The Digital Footprint Factor
Your teen’s digital footprint extends far beyond their most recent posts. Everything they’ve ever shared, liked, or commented on contributes to their online image.
This includes:
- Social media posts and comments
- Photos and videos they’re tagged in
- Replies to others’ content
- Group memberships and affiliations
- Blog posts or forum discussions
Remember, old content can resurface even years after posting. What seemed funny during freshman year might concern an admission officer.
Red Flags That Cause Concern
Certain online behaviors can raise serious concerns during the admissions process. Help your teen avoid posting:
- Party Photos: Watch out for photos with drinks, drugs, or wild behavior. Even if friends tag your teen in these pictures, colleges might see them. Tell your teen to remove tags themselves and ask friends to take down risky photos.
- Mean Comments: Avoid posting rude remarks about classmates, teachers, or schools. When teens mock others online, colleges worry they’ll bring that same lousy attitude to campus. Kind words work better than mean ones.
- Hurtful Jokes: Avoid jokes about race, gender, religion, or background. These posts tell colleges your teen might not treat all students with respect. Good students help create a welcoming campus.
- Breaking the Rules: Don’t share posts about breaking laws or school rules. This includes drinking underage, damaging property, or sneaking out. Colleges want students who follow the rules and make intelligent choices.
- Academic Dishonesty: Never post about sharing test answers or copying homework. Colleges reject students who cheat because they want honest people on campus. One post about cheating can ruin college chances.
- Excessive Complaining: Cut back on posts about hating homework or being bored at school. Some venting is understandable. However, too much can make colleges think a student isn’t ready for more challenging coursework.
Building a Positive Social Media Presence
Guide your teen to create content that enhances their application. Encourage them to share instances of:
- Academic Success: Share photos of science fair wins, good grades, or special projects. These posts show colleges that your teen works hard and loves to learn. Plus, they prove your teen isn’t afraid to be proud of doing well in school.
- Good Deeds: Post about volunteer work, like helping at food banks or cleaning up parks. These activities tell colleges your teen cares about making life better for others. Schools love students who want to help their community.
- Effective Leadership: Show times when your teen led school clubs or sports teams. Maybe they started a new club or helped their team win a big game. This tells colleges your teen can guide others and work well in groups.
- Athletic Achievements: Share photos and updates from games, meets, or matches. Even if your teen isn’t the star player, being part of a team shows they know how to work hard and support others.
- Involvement in the Arts: Post videos of performances or photos of artwork. Whether it’s band concerts, dance shows, or art displays, these posts show colleges your teen has special talents and isn’t afraid to share them.
- Engaging Conversations: Let your teen join online chats about current events that matter to young adults. They might talk about recycling, school events, or local issues. This shows colleges they think about big ideas and know how to share their thoughts respectfully.
Tips for Social Media Success
Help your teen follow these guidelines for maintaining a college-friendly social media presence:
- Check Privacy Settings Regularly: Review the settings on all accounts each month. Sites like Instagram and TikTok change their rules frequently. Making sure posts are private helps your teen control who sees what. Ensure only friends and family can see personal posts.
- Pick Good Profile Pictures: Use a clear, friendly photo of your teen looking neat and happy. This picture is often the first thing college admission officers see. Think of it like dressing up for a school interview—you want to make a great first impression.
- Stop & Think Before Posting: Tell your teen to wait five minutes before sharing anything. Ask, “Would I share this with my 95-year-old grandmother?” If the answer is no, don’t post it. This simple rule helps avoid posts they might regret later.
- Be Nice to Others Online: Encourage your teen to leave kind comments and share helpful ideas. When they’re nice to others online, it shows colleges they’ll contribute positively on campus. Plus, mean comments can come back to hurt them later.
- Share Real Wins: Let your teen post about genuine achievements, but remind them to be humble. Maybe they won a contest or learned a new skill. Sharing real success stories helps colleges see their growth, but bragging too much can look bad.
- Join School Groups: Follow their high school’s social media and join class groups. This helps them stay current on school news and shows colleges they care about their school community. Plus, they’ll hear about new chances to get involved.
How to Respond to Concerning Content
If you discover problematic posts, take these steps:
- Document everything with screenshots
- Remove inappropriate content immediately
- Remove tags from questionable photos
- Request content removal from others
- Create new, positive content to improve their digital image
Get Started Today
What story does your teen’s social media tell? College officers see it all – the good and the bad. Help your teen share posts that show their best self. Positive social media content can help them stand out from other students who want the same spot at their dream school.
Here’s what works best:
- Start cleaning up social media during their sophomore year
- Check posts and privacy settings each month
- Share good news and delete risky posts regularly
Now is the time to act. The sooner you start, the better your child’s chances.
Want to ensure your teen’s social media helps them get into college? We can help! At Bright Future Branding, we know what makes college officers say “yes.” Let’s work together and make your teen’s social media shine.
