<p>Two of D's accepted schools have sent her emails asking that that she post her acceptance letter on Facebook and or Instagram. One school even sent three links with photos she can choose from. We both think this is in bad taste. She's thrilled with her acceptance to these schools but she and her friend group are very low key about their acceptances and see this as bragging. </p>
<p>Is this a common practice?</p>
<p>It can be a common practice and still be in bad taste.</p>
<p>I agree with your assessment.</p>
<p>People often use the word “common” to describe a practice that is in bad taste.</p>
<p>It’s certainly a common practice at my son’s school here in WA state. It made my son uncomfortable to do so, though, so he waited until he made a decision and then posted where he is going, even (shockingly for him!) using a smiley face emoticon!</p>
<p>Not only is it in bad taste, it would make me question the choice of those schools. Who are they to demand free publicity from you?</p>
<p>I confess I find these college Facebook sites with all the happy pictures rather charming. A client of mine got into Santa Clara early, and the admits were encouraged to take pictures with their “Santa Clara 
me” signs wherever in the world they happened to be. The school’s page now has these pictures of kids with their signs in the snow, in the desert, on horseback, at the Empire State Building, etc. It’s an adorable look at the new class and all their backgrounds.</p>
<p>Of course, that was ED, so all these kids were actually Class of 2018. I think there’s a big difference between posting the acceptances and posting where you’re going to attend. Saying where you’re going isn’t bragging (or, at least, it’s not necessarily bragging); it’s the next big thing in your life.</p>
<p>Be careful if you decide to do this.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-los-angeles/1629464-warning-about-posting-decisions-on-social-media.html”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-los-angeles/1629464-warning-about-posting-decisions-on-social-media.html</a></p>
<p>Bad taste, particularly at this juncture, when some of her friends may be smarting about waitlists or rejections.</p>
<p>If FB/instagram had existed back in HS, my HS friends and I probably would have posted made up admission letters to “Beachbum U, California” or something like that with Beachbum Class of 199x t-shirts if our group could have financially managed it. :D</p>
<p>Individual kids and the social culture at their HSs will usually dictate if it’s “ok” to post their acceptances on FB or not. However, a college asking the kid to do it in order to provide free advertising for the college is just terrible. It’s like the card that you get from a vendor to post your review on “Yelp” and states that “anything less than 5 stars is basically failing.” Yuck.</p>
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<p>Some may also be smarting about acceptances at schools they would love to attend but cannot afford because the financial aid wasn’t good enough. Sometimes, that’s even more painful than a rejection or waitlist.</p>
<p>Here’s my response. Tell the “amoeba” at Admissions Problems that I said hello. </p>
<p><a href=“you're tacky and i hate you gifs | WiffleGif”>http://wifflegif.com/tags/43944-you-re-tacky-and-i-hate-you-gifs</a></p>
<p>Tacky. </p>
<p>My son, a junior, is full of news about who was accepted where . . . it’s all on facebook</p>
<p>I think it is common and tacky. One respected university that accepted my daughter began sending constant demands via email, postcard, letter, and package to advertise her choice. A couple of times, she was sent items from the school, and asked to wear or display them in a photo, and post it on social media. We just laughed. She hardly ever posts anything. It actually diminished her opinion of the university, as she recognized the advertising “suggestion” immediately. </p>
<p>Having worked in media, it’s a rather brilliant tactic. It’s free advertising from and to their target demographic. I’m slightly appalled from a parental standpoint. </p>
<p>There have been many disappointments and along with a few good surprises among Spygirl’s friend group. But the schools they are choosing as their #2 & #3 are reaches for many of their classmates. Thankfully her classmates are sensitive to this fact. The two schools in question are LACs. </p>
<p>And on another note, a friend told D that one of the schools she applied to had checked out applicants social media!</p>
<p>I think the colleges do this as a matter of promoting yield–once you post your picture, you’re more likely to attend. At my kids’ school, there was an unwritten rule that you shouldn’t be too loud about your acceptances until after all the decisions were in, and then to announce where you were going. Not everybody observed the rule, though.</p>
<p>I think announcing only where you’ve decided to go is the best policy.</p>
<p>Liking the school’s facebook page, and joining their accepted student groups is one thing, announcing your acceptance is something else. A status update stating you’ve joined their accepted student group might be considered equivalent, but it’s a little less obvious and obnoxious.</p>
<p>I agree, it is in bad taste. Our HS guidance counselors try to dissuade that type of activity but it seem inevitable that acceptances etc. wind up on social media.</p>