Admissions is Looking at Your Instagram

If the title of this article already has you feeling a little nervous, then you’re exactly who we are here to talk to today.

College admissions have become more competitive over the last few years at a steady and alarming rate. Students are applying to more schools than ever to boost their chances of acceptance, and, as a result, college acceptance rates are declining. A decline in acceptance rates prompts students to apply to an even wider number of colleges, and the self-reinforcing cycle continues.

As a single example to showcase this shift, here are the acceptance rates for the University of Southern California over the past few years:

• 2019 — 17.7%

• 2020 — 16.0%

• 2021 — 12.0%

• 2022 — 12.9%

With the competition “ramping up,” so to speak, it is all the more important to make sure there is nothing that might hurt your application! And that includes social media. Before you go and start changing or deleting your social media accounts, however, keep reading. MOST college admissions officials won’t look at your social media. Currently, only 1 in 3 will look through social media. Moreover, most content won’t hurt your application. As long as your posts, photos, and groups aren’t offensive, illegal, or untasteful, you don’t have to worry.

If you are wondering whether or not a particular post, photo, or group is over the line, it might be better to err on the safe side, even after receiving your acceptance letters in the mail. In June of 2018, Harvard revoked the acceptances of 10 students over the content on their social media, and there are other examples of many other schools taking similar action in recent years.

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