Every year, thousands of students from all over the world compete for a chance to get their education at prestigious universities from Ivy League. The incredibly strong competition is a reason why applicants need to use any opportunity to stand out from their peers who have the same qualification. In turn, admissions offices try to determine the best candidates by checking their profiles on social media.
Most schools encourage their applicants to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social media platforms. First, social media are a part of schools’ marketing efforts. At the same time, students can use social media to their advantage, creating a positive impression and demonstrating their interest to a certain school. Most schools monitor social media and see when you mention them in your posts. In addition, social media allow students to interact with schools directly.
Schools also use big data search functions searching for students who meet specific requirements. Such a recruiting approach allows universities to ensure diversity and to balance academic interests. Therefore, if students want to be selected, they must have good social media profiles which are visible and informative.
As you can see, social media offers many opportunities that hadn’t been available for students just a few years ago. Here are some practical tips from College-Writers team on how you can improve your social media presence, increasing your chance to get into your dream school.
Use Facebook
Although Facebook is not the most popular social media platform among students, and the majority of students prefer Instagram or Snapchat, Facebook still has its 1.3 billion users, and admissions officers use it as well. Facebook can be very useful because it provides great search opportunities. Most likely, Facebook will be the first place where schools will search for you. In addition, Facebook, along with LinkedIn, is a popular recruiting tool. As more and more students move to other platforms to communicate, Facebook becomes a place where you can demonstrate your talent and accomplishments without involving your social activities. You can chat with your friends elsewhere, using Facebook to introduce schools to your authentic personality. Don’t forget to check your privacy settings to make sure you are easy to find, and complete your “About” section.
Register on LinkedIn
When you’re a student, your LinkedIn profile should show not what you’ve done but what you’re going to do. Ivy League universities have their LinkedIn profiles and encourage their applicants to engage with the administrations and current students on this platform. List your organizations and activities, connect with counselors and teachers, and ask them for recommendations. In addition, don’t forget to follow schools.
Don’t forget about Twitter
It’s hard to overestimate the effectiveness of Twitter for networking. It can help you increase awareness and build influence. If you’ve used Twitter for communication purposes, now it’s time to work on your profile, making it recognizable and following universities and professors. We also recommend that you check who they follow and what they’re sharing. You might also benefit from following influencers from your field of study. Comment interesting tweets and engage with school communities.
These are just a few tips on how you can increase your chances of getting into Ivy League schools. Another great way to improve your online presence is to start a blog while you’re in high school. Write about your passions and activities to create a good impression.
It’s also important to get comfortable with sharing information on social media. Include your athletic accomplishments, internships, academic reviews, employment, and any other information that can help you stand out.