You hear it all the time: be careful what you post on social media. This is especially true when you are applying for college. Many students may think that schools don’t actually look at your social channels, but it’s been proven that they do—and the things they find on your social media can greatly affect your admission status.

How social media can hurt you

It may be surprising to learn that most of what admissions counselors find from social media is positive. Luckily, students have become aware of who may be viewing their profiles and have started to make smarter choices about what they make public. But, there are still cases where social media can hurt your chances of getting accepted. Avoid posting things that are too personal, using bad language, or posting overly political rants. You may want to go even further and avoid posting images of you at the beach or getting close with a significant other.

If you are ever in doubt about what is appropriate for social media, consider who will be viewing your content. Would you be okay with your teacher or grandmother seeing the images you post? If you aren’t sure about your answer, it’s better to avoid posting. Instead, share privately with close friends or keep them to yourself.

How social media can help you

Social media often gets a bad reputation, but if you use social media correctly, it can actually greatly help your chances of acceptance. Do you volunteer at an animal shelter on the weekends? Consider posting images of you walking dogs or cleaning out crates. If you are an avid reader, posting book reviews and sharing them to your Facebook may be a good way to show admissions counselors that you are serious about your studies. If you play a sport or are involved in other extracurricular activities, include images or posts about those, too.  

You may also want to use social media to connect with alumni or other interested students at your chosen university to get a better sense of the community and what counselors may be looking for. Whoever you connect with now could help you not only get accepted into college, but also find a job in your chosen career down the line.

If you are applying to universities and are interested in Everglades University, consider speaking to one of our admissions counselors to learn more about what we have to offer. Contact us at 888-854-8308 or visit our website.