Updated: Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Just Admit It! host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and Eric (former admissions counselor at Columbia University and the New School) discuss how students can leverage social media in their college admissions process to elevate their profiles.
In today’s digital age, social media plays a significant role in various aspects of our lives, including the college admissions process. While it can have both positive and negative impacts, understanding how to navigate and leverage social media effectively can help you elevate your profile and stand out in your college applications.
When it comes to social media and college admissions, the initial reaction might be to focus on the potential negative consequences. It’s true that inappropriate content or behavior on social media can harm a student’s chances of admission — in fact, students have had admission offers rescinded because of what they have posted on social media. However, there are also positive ways to use social media to enhance your application.
Admissions officers often do not have the time to scour applicants’ social media profiles. However, it’s important to remember that your digital footprint is accessible to everyone. Anything you post online can potentially be seen by others, including teachers, school administrators, and even admissions officers if it comes to their attention. It’s wise to avoid posting anything that could be perceived negatively.
On the flip side, social media can be a powerful tool to showcase your achievements, talents, and interests in a more visual and interactive way than you are able to in your application. Creating a separate, public profile dedicated to your academic and extracurricular accomplishments or an independent project can provide admissions officers with a more dynamic view of who you are.
This can include:
It’s worth noting that more colleges are replacing the optional admissions interview with video submissions instead. If you have a social media account that shows you at your best, you can use some of that material to put your video together.
Social media is an unavoidable part of modern life, and when used responsibly, it can be an asset in the college admissions process. By creating a professional profile, showcasing your talents, and engaging with relevant content, you can leverage social media to enhance your application and stand out to admissions officers.
Consider creating a separate social media account specifically for your college applications. This profile should be public and highlight your achievements and interests in a professional manner.
Use social media to display your skills and projects. For example, artists can share their portfolios, musicians can post performance videos, and athletes can highlight their sports achievements.
Follow and engage with accounts related to your academic interests. This can help you stay informed and demonstrate your passion for the subject.
Platforms like YouTube can be valuable resources for learning new skills and gaining knowledge. For instance, watching educational videos or following experts in your field of interest can enrich your understanding and provide content to share on your profile.
IvyWise counselor Tasha provides an interesting example of how a student can use a social media account to highlight their knowledge and skills if they’re interested in urban design:
They could research the development of a particular city through a specific period of time and post photographs of that city — of specific buildings, architecture, or anything that really lends itself to visual forms. They can add captions that show their research.
One specific platform designed for students in the college admissions process is ZeeMee. This app allows students to create a profile where they can upload photos, videos, and information about their extracurricular activities and interests. Students can then interact with colleges on the platform as well as connect with other students.
Colleges that participate in ZeeMee provide a field on their application where students can include their ZeeMee link, offering a more comprehensive view of their profile. Some of the 200+ colleges that use ZeeMee include:
Once a student gains admission to a college, they receive access to exclusive chat channels and receive updates, helping them integrate into the college community before they start classes.
Social media is just one way to enhance your profile for college admissions. At IvyWise, our college admissions counselors have helped thousands of high school students identify opportunities to strengthen their profiles so they stand out in the college admissions process. All our counselors have direct experience in college admissions at some of the top institutions in the U.S., so they know what admission committees are looking for.
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