If you take nothing else from this post, remember these words: Affirmative social media presence . So often the advice young people hear from their elders is akin to “Don’t be stupid about what you post.” It’s not terrible advice, but if that’s the only message, it’s not great advice either. What we’re focused on here is how a student applying for college can create a social media presence that an admissions officer sees as awesome instead of the reason why they’ll never, ever, EVER consider that person for admittance! 

Want to know more about creating an affirmative social media presence? I found some advice by Matthew Sweetwood in Entrepreneur Magazine that summarizes much of what I have found when doing my own research on the subject. After you watch the video, keep scrolling down and you’ll see the first five of Sweetwood’s 10 recommendations, heavily annotated by me.  In our next Deanly Chat, I’ll review the rest. I think you’ll find our combined advice useful.

What you look like shouldn’t matter, but it can. That’s why you should make sure you have a professional profile picture on ALL of your social media platforms (even Snapchat). College admission, testing and tutoring fees can cost thousands. Why not spend a little bit more and hire a professional photographer to take proper profile pictures?

Jeff’s take: Personally I think a professional photog is over the top. I do think you should have a consistent—probably the same picture—on all of your social media accounts. If it’s your Sunday best, more power to ya! However, does that capture your true, authentic self? If you’re a big time surfer, why not take that angle. Don’t have the profile pic be a photo where all you can see is someone on a surfboard riding a primo wave about 300 yards from where the photo was taken. However, you could have a head and shoulders (not the shampoo) close up where it’s obvious you’re wearing a wetsuit and there is sand in your messed up hair. 

And I don’t mean you need to compliment others. Your posts need to complement you and your brand. Never post anything on social media that you wouldn’t want a college recruiter to see. Avoid salacious behavior, suggestions of violence and any kind of bullying. Employ the Grandmother Rule: Don’t post anything on social media that you wouldn’t show to your grandmother. Google yourself frequently to make sure everything looks good.

Jeff’s take: Great advice. It’s the same as my advice to create an AFFIRMATIVE SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE. I just say in fewer words! 

Your LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter profiles should always be up-to-date and match the information on your resume and college application exactly! A top reason to get rejected for admission is having contradictory information on your profiles.

Jeff’s take: I would add that any social media profile with your name on it should be consistent and complementary. That doesn’t mean the same. You can be more playful on Instagram than LinkedIn, keeping in mind consistent doesn’t mean exactly the same . For example on LinkedIn you may highlight that you regularly volunteer at an orphanage while on Instagram you may post pictures of a field trip where you took kids from the orphanage to the zoo. Just make sure consistent never comes across as contradictory . 

Better to upset a friend than get rejected from the college of your choice because you are tagged in an inappropriate post. Untag yourself from any questionable photos or content. Unfriend or unfollow yourself from any friends who post questionable photos or content.

Jeff’s take: Some social media platforms let you select the option to review a post where you’re tagged so you can delete it before it shows up on your account. That doesn’t take care of the issue if a university employs a data mining firm (more on this in the next post), but it’s still helpful.

Post content that underscores your interests. Share interesting and relevant articles, upload your music and artwork and share photos or videos from your sporting events or performances — and be authentic. College recruiters are very good at telling when you are not being you.

Jeff’s take: Ditto. Especially the part about college recruiters being great at telling when you are not being you. Be constructively authentic.

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