WASHINGTON 鈥� Your social media footprint could help or hinder your chances of being accepted to certain colleges and universities, according to Kaplan Test Prep鈥檚 most recent survey.
Of the nearly 400 college admissions officers surveyed in the United States, 40 percent said they visit applicants鈥� social media pages to learn more about them.
That鈥檚 an all-time high and quadruple the percentage who did so in 2008, when Kaplan first explored the issue.
鈥淭he growth of social media hasn鈥檛 made college admissions a whole new ballgame, but it鈥檚 definitely impacted the rules,鈥� Yariv Alpher, executive director and head of market research for Kaplan Test Prep,聽said in a news release. “What you post online can and may be used in your favor or against you, so it鈥檚 important to think about what you share. When in doubt, the best strategy may be to keep it to yourself.鈥�
Of those who look at applicants鈥� social media accounts, 89 percent of admissions officers say they rarely do so. Just 11 percent said they do so often. Twenty-nine percent of admissions officers say they鈥檝e Googled applicants鈥� names. That number has been relatively stable the past two years.
According to Kaplan’s research, admissions officers look at social media for these reasons:
- Some admissions officer say they will visit an applicant鈥檚 social media page 鈥� often by the applicant鈥檚 own invitation 鈥� if the applicant mentions a special talent, such as being a musician, artist, poet, writer or model.
- Citation of particularly distinguished or noteworthy awards can trigger an admissions officer鈥檚 online search for independent verification.
- Some admissions officers say that if an applicant mentions they have a criminal background or a record of disciplinary action, they will do some online digging to get more details.
- Students applying for special scholarships may come under greater scrutiny: Schools want to ensure those receiving the scholarships are fully deserving, so extra due diligence can come in the form of online checking.
- Anecdotally, admissions officers say they occasionally get anonymous tips about prospective students pointing them toward inappropriate behavior. They鈥檒l sometimes dig online to see if it has merit.
Kaplan鈥檚 survey also found that social media can cut both ways. Thirty-seven percent of admissions officers say that what they鈥檝e found about an applicant helped their application.
An equal percentage say that what they found hurt an applicant鈥檚 admissions chances.
Positive findings included discovery of undisclosed leadership roles or community service, while negative findings included criminal offenses, photos of drug or alcohol use, racial prejudice or inappropriate behavior.
Kaplan surveyed 387 admissions officers from that nation’s top national, region and liberal arts colleges and universities聽by phone between July and August 2015.
Watch a video of the findings below.
