I think we’ve all heard that it’s not uncommon for admissions officers to search applicants on social media. I’m concerned because I don’t have any social media presence at all currently, so perhaps someone else who has my name could be mistaken for me if an officer searches. Would it be a good idea to make an account on Facebook or Instagram that would be easily found by searching my name? That way I could present myself in a positive manner to colleges, such as with pictures that demonstrate a capacity for teamwork or award recognition.
Would you guys recommend having a positive presence, or none at all?
I don’t think admissions officers will look you up on social media. They have to read thousands of applications in a matter of weeks. The social media check is more for recruited athletes, I think
If you do set up social media (and it is not necessary!), keep everything private. That way they can find you and know you practice good judgement about managing your online reputation.
No college is going to consider information found on social media unless they are sure that its you. I think they find social media pages through email addresses on applications anyway, so unless the people who share your name also share your email address, you should be fine.
Absolutely do not start up a social media page and fill it with things that you think will appeal to colleges. Anyone who looks at it will be able to tell that you’ve posted all these things at once, right before application deadlines. It will look fake and make you seem dishonest and a bit manipulative.
The best policy is just not to worry about it. If you decide you want an account somewhere make one, if you don’t, don’t. The only reason colleges look at them is to look for red flags (drinking, organized cheating).
The way I see it, ANYBODY can try to look you up on social media platforms, for any reason, including adcoms, though as noted they’re pretty busy right now. Just be sure that what you have out there available to the public is something you’d be OK with an adcom, Grandma, or a parole officer stumbling across, should they choose to look. But you don’t have to set something up for that express purpose.
Unlikely they’ll have the time to look anyone up, regardless.