Overview
Admissions officers rarely do systematic social media checks, but many do informal ones - especially when your application has something eye-catching (a unique story, a political stance in an essay, a claim to verify). A Kaplan survey found 36% of admissions officers had visited applicant social media, and 32% found something that negatively affected their view.
What to Audit
Your Public Accounts
Go through these one at a time:
- Instagram (feed + stories + tagged photos + bio)
- TikTok (videos + comments + bio)
- Twitter/X (old tweets + likes + bio)
- LinkedIn (appropriate for college apps - polish, don't delete)
- Facebook (old posts from middle school especially)
- YouTube (comments you've left, uploaded videos)
- Discord (visible servers and status)
- Reddit (username associated with your real name?)
- Snapchat (less of a concern - ephemeral - but snap map should be off)
What to Look For
- Photos or captions involving alcohol, drugs, vaping
- Offensive language, slurs, or jokes that have aged badly
- Political extremism beyond mainstream discourse
- Disparaging comments about teachers, schools, classmates
- Academic dishonesty references ("I copied from..." "cheated on...")
- Underage sexual content
- Illegal activity (even if "just a joke")
What's OK to Keep
- Evidence of your activities and interests (sports, arts, community service)
- Positive coverage of you
- Thoughtful, respectful political/social engagement - though consider audience
- Creative work (writing, art, music) - can be a plus
Action Steps
1. Set Everything Private
- Instagram: Settings → Privacy → Private Account
- TikTok: Settings → Privacy → Private Account
- Twitter/X: Settings → Privacy → Protect Posts
- Facebook: Settings → Privacy → All posts → Friends only; Timeline → Review tags
- Snapchat: Settings → Who Can → Contact Me → Friends only; Ghost Mode on for Snap Map
2. Untag and Delete
- Review tagged photos; untag anything that looks bad
- Delete old posts that reflect poorly (you can't control what admissions officers might see if they find a way in, so remove the content)
3. Audit Your Username
If your handle is "420stoner" or similar, create a new account and migrate over time. Admissions officers Google your name; if a joke handle links back to you, it's a small negative.
4. Create a Clean Professional Presence
LinkedIn is a plus for most applicants:
- Professional headshot or neutral photo
- High school as education
- Activities and leadership listed
- Volunteer experience
- No negative content
5. Google Yourself
Open an incognito window. Search your full name + your high school. See what comes up. Do this once in August and once in December.
Google Yourself Regularly
Even after applying, colleges may check before May 1 decision day or if you're on a waitlist. Maintain your clean presence through the end of senior year.
Positive Use
If you've done something genuinely impressive (published research, won a competition, organized an event), consider whether to link it in your application - a polished blog or portfolio site (Squarespace, personal domain) can be a strong supplement for creative applications.
Parents
Ask parents to check their own social media - not because admissions officers check parents, but because parents sometimes post embarrassing content about their kids.
Timing
- Complete first pass: September of senior year
- Re-check: Before January 1 (RD deadline)
- Re-check: Before May 1 decision day