Do you have a high school senior applying to college this fall? Or a sophomore or junior starting to gear up for college apps?
In any event, you and your student are busy. Academics. Athletics. Activities. Test prep. Community service. College apps. Family. Friends. And so on.
The Common Application for the 2018-19 college application cycle opens on August 1. It’s the same date for the University of California and many others.
As a high school parent, just thinking about it all makes me want to stop and take a break.
As a corporate VP with a side gig writing, researching and speaking about career building through social media, it gets my wheels turning.
There may be an aspect of college prep we’re missing. What is it? Social media.
No, this isn’t the post warning you about all the bad things that could happen on social media. You know about those. And your student isn’t the type of person anyway to disparage others or do things in poor taste, whether it’s on social media or IRL (in real life).
No, this post is all about the good things that can come from being active on social media, and LinkedIn in particular. (Note: opinions expressed in this blog are my own).
There are more than 560 million people on LinkedIn. That includes college admissions officers, college application readers, internship recruiters, corporate recruiters and many more.
That makes LinkedIn the perfect place for a high school student to tell their unique story … the one only they can tell.
Here are the benefits for a high student of creating a LinkedIn profile …
An unlimited opportunity to share interests, passions and accomplishments … in words, images, videos and links. That’s much more than the 650-word limit in the Common App essay prompts. A LinkedIn profile can become a supplemental portfolio of accomplishments, awards and interests.
The ability to explore colleges and demonstrate interest through University Pages. Beyond visiting a college campus, being active on a University Page shows interest. Students can engage in content by engaging in content on a university page by liking and commenting on content, as well as asking questions.
The chance to begin building a professional network. This can include friends, friends’ parents, community leaders from activities like scouting and athletics, and many more. Be aware that sometimes teachers must wait until a student is 18 before they can connect with them on social media.
What does this all add up to? A powerful ability for a high-school student to shape and control their narrative in our highly social world.
Why does it matter? Because “more than two-thirds (68%) of colleges say it’s ‘fair game’ for them to visit applicants’ social media profiles to help them decide who gets in.”
That’s according to a 2018 Kaplan Test Prep Survey of 388 admissions officers from top schools. CNN reported on the prior year’s survey, saying that social media can help a student’s college prospects.
Another study by AACRAO, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars Admissions Officers, says more than 75% of colleges are looking at social media, according to Social Assurity, a firm advising students on social media.
Of course, you never know for sure if an admissions officer or application reader will look at a student’s LinkedIn profile or other social media activity.
But students can certainly include a link to their profile in their application (tip: create a customized LinkedIn URL with the student’s name). They can be active on the University Pages of colleges of interest. They can share compelling content that establishes their personal narrative and a digital presence.
Anyone who’s 16 or older can start a LinkedIn profile. Several of my previous posts can help you and your student take the first steps:
- Be Bold in Your LinkedIn Profile
- Be Bold in Growing Your LinkedIn Network
- How to Get Started with LinkedIn Status Updates
And this post may turn into a series of posts specifically for high school students and their parents. What could be ahead? How-to info on:
- Starting a LinkedIn profile
- Building a professional network
- Telling a story through content
- Engaging with University Pages
- Bringing other social media into the mix
What else do you or your student want to know?
Let’s get started!
Absolutely!! I found myself nodding my head in agreement through this entire article. There are so many advantages to taking control of your professional social media presence at an early age. Thanks for another insightful post!