Chances are you have a profile on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter or one of hundreds of social media websites out there. Don’t think your friends are the only ones checking out what you wrote: colleges and universities may be using what you post as a deciding factor as to whether or not you receive that all important acceptance letter!
Matt Hamm
We’ve mentioned that colleges are using social media like never before. The cold hard truth? Colleges are all over social media sites and have a lot of students to choose from — so don’t give them a reason to pass you by! Avoid these all too common mistakes — protect yourself and your future.
1. It’s nothing personal. Sure, it’s tempting to vent about your ex-boyfriend or blab about your wild weekend, but stop right there! In this case, your mom was right: if you can’t say anything nice…don’t say anything at all (or, at the very least, consider private messaging instead)!
2. Mind Your Manners. While you may not be posting anything too personal, excessive swearing is a red flag to admissions and a potential turn off. Keep it clean and keep it rated “PG.”
3. Strike a Pose? Guess again! Colleges won’t stop at reading your posts – they’ll scope out your photo albums as well. Underage drinking, smoking, or worse will put a definite damper on your future plans. But don’t think it stops there: photos that your friends post of you could be just as damaging! Consider changing your profile setting to “private” where applicable to prevent prying eyes from seeing something less than flattering.
Do you have any tips to add? We’d love to hear them! Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Related posts:
- How to Integrate Social Media into Your College Application Process
- Christian Colleges: Why They Could Be the Right Fit for You
- Going away to College? Google Buzz Could Keep You Connected
- The Big List Part Three: 50 More Colleges and Universities Who Twitter
- How To Get Your Facebook Profile Ready For College Application Season.
Tags: college, college acceptance, college acceptance factors, college admission, colleges and facebook, colleges and myspace, Colleges and Social media, colleges and twitter, facebook, myspace, social media and higher education, Twitter
[...] We’ve got 51 Colleges with Facebook Pages for the Class of 2014 on our handy list! Current students are sharing advice on everything from which dorm is the most spacious and favorite college courses to tips for getting around on campus and the best local hang-outs. Just remember to use common sense and play nice – college admissions are still watching you! [...]
This is super important! But I have to add… Not only colleges will look at your online presence, so will your employers! It is a big deal!
And I love the: “your mom was right: if you can’t say anything nice…don’t say anything at all.”