How Much Does Social Media Play a Role in College Admissions?

Before one clicks the little post button, it is essential to keep in mind the appropriateness of the content because once something is out in the unrelenting media world, it never can be undone.

As seniors begin the process of applying to college, they are struck with the constant fear of not being good enough.

From a young age, students are exposed to the various things colleges will be judging an individual on, and there has been an ongoing debate on whether the influence an applicant’s social media profile truly has an effect in the admissions process.

However, the pressure to have a “clean” profile may not be deserve the stress or persistence some have expressed.  

Through the College and Career Center, large public schools, small public schools, and private schools were able to share a bit more insight on this matter.

“Social media does not actually influence our process. I think social media actually influences the student’s opinion on the school and affects the students decision more than ours,”  said University of Kansas admissions representative Liz Weisman.

   As a large public school, Kansas clearly does not see social media as a make it or break it factor – it is the academics that truly matter.

As the world becomes more technology- based, these colleges actually see that in this generation, their schools are now being judged based off the school’s personal accounts and their students who attend these institutions profiles.

   Boise State University, which is actually a smaller public school, explains that they have little interest in their applicant profiles and platforms, despite their in comparison, meager number of candidates and more time to review in depth these accounts.

Granting all this, Boise State admissions representative Kat Everard brings up a different perspective to the debate.

“I would still advise students to keep their social media accounts clean for the sake of their presence when looking for jobs and internships later on in college,” said Everard.

While these colleges themselves may not take your social media into account, she clarifies that one’s social media always lingers.

Additionally, if there is lousy content, you cannot hide it from the companies and potential employers who will actually be concerned later on in your life.

Linfield college is a small, liberal arts private school with about only 1,600 undergraduates enrolled.

“We conduct a holistic review process, it is not on official record that we would look at social media. I do not think we really do unless a problem would arise where we would have to,” said admissions representative Mary-Beth Jones.

From some of the more massive colleges all the way down some of the smallest such as Linfield, it appears that people’s social media accounts play a smaller role in the college process than previously thought.