What does your Social Media presence say about you? Character has now come center stage. Many admission officers check students’ social media presence to get a better idea of their character. Inappropriate posts can have a negative impact for the applicant. Your profile is a reflection of you, your personality and judgment. Posts with offensive language, controversial opinions, or inappropriate photos can signal a lack of maturity and poor decision-making. Colleges are looking to see if you are a good fit for their campus, and reflect their values, such as integrity and responsibility. Posts that conflict with their values could reduce your chances of being accepted.
Scholarship organizations and selective programs (like honors colleges) may also look at an applicants’ social media for red flags. Negative impressions could lead to lost opportunities. A joke or a meme could be taken out of context. It’s best to remove questionable content to avoid misunderstandings.
Students also need to remember that managing their social media responsibly prepares them for the professional world, where employers often review online profiles during the hiring and employment process.
I highly recommend you clean up your social media profiles before submitting college and scholarship applications.