Applying to College? Read This Before Your Next TikTok
Stories abound of students and even teachers sharing inappropriate items on social media. You would think students who are about to apply to colleges and be evaluated by admission officers would know better. The vast majority of high school students are responsible about their social media presence, but stories about the foolish ones live on as lessons for others.
Applicants often want to know if colleges are fishing in the social media waters. Are colleges and universities proactively seeking out information on prospective applicants or not?
Research from Kaplan Test Prep, who surveyed more than 300 admission officers, found that the percentage of admission officers who think it is ok to visit applicants’ social media pages to learn more about them has hit a record high of 65%, up significantly from when Kaplan first explored this issue. Further research showed that only 17% of admission officers do it “often.” Googling an applicant to learn more about them has remained relatively stable over the past two years, at 36%.
Why are colleges looking?
It’s interesting to note that both positive and negative factors trigger admission officers to look beyond the traditional elements of the application (GPA, standardized test scores, extracurriculars) and turn to students’ Facebook or Google accounts.
Special talents
Students who are musicians, writers, models or poets will often invite admission officers to view their social media presence in their applications.
Award verification
There is no formal “fact-checking” process when students submit their applications. Colleges generally take at face value whatever honors students list and the time commitments and leadership roles students state in their extracurricular activities and work experiences. However, a mention of a particularly distinguished award will sometimes trigger a search.
Negative stuff
Some admission officers say that if an applicant mentions that they have a criminal background or a record of disciplinary action, they will do some online digging to get more details.
Scholarship applications
Students applying for special scholarships can come under greater scrutiny, as schools want to ensure those receiving the scholarships are fully deserving; extra due diligence can come in the form of online checking.
The worst reason a student’s social media presence may be viewed is referred to as “Admissions Sabotage.” The ugly truth is that colleges’ admission officers are occasionally anonymously alerted to social media postings by students or parents who are trying to sabotage another student’s chance of being accepted. Admission officers will typically follow up to verify any accusations.