As high school students apply to colleges, admissions advisors are looking to their social media accounts to screen them as part of the applications process. Is your student prepared? Here's ten tips to help your high schooler put his or her best foot forward online.

1. Tips
for
Building
a
Powerful
Personal
Brand
on
Social

2. Who’s
looking
at
my
profile?
• 67
percent
of
schools
said
they
Googled
a
prospective
student
• 86
percent researched
prospective
students’
social
media
• 42
percent of
admissions
offices
reported
that
students
actually
request
that
admission
officers
look
at
their
social
media
• 35
percent of
college
recruiters
said
that,
when
checking
up
on
a
student’s
online
presence,
they
found
something
that
negatively
impacted
an
applicant’s
chances
of
getting
in

3. A
professional
profile
photo
• Clear
headshot
of
you
(just
you)
• Clean
background
• Classic
dress,
no
wrinkles
• Confident,
amiling and
approachable
• Use
on
all
social
profiles
(even
Snapchat)

4. Complementary
posts
only
• Before
you
post:
remember
the
Grandmother
rule
• No
scandalous
behavior,
suggestions
of
violence,
or
bullying
• Google
yourself
frequently

5. Consistent
information
• Keep
everything
up-­‐to-­‐date
• Everything
should
be
consistent
across
profiles

6. Untag and
unfollow
when
necessary
• Untag yourself
from
inappropriate
photos
• Untag yourself
from
inappropriate
comments
• Consider
unfriending
or
unfollowing
those
that
post
questionable
photos
or
content

7. Show
your
interests
• Post
content
that
underscores
your
interests
• Share
articles,
your
music,
your
art,
etc.
• Be
authentic

8. Proper
handles
&
email
addresses
• Handles
should
match
your
name
as
close
as
possible
• Make
sure
your
profile
description
doesn’t
have
controversial
language
• Get
an
easy
to
remember
and
professional
email
address
for
your
professional
correspondence

9. Watch
public
checkins and
public
comments
• When
checking
in
to
college
tours,
summer
vacation
spots,
etc.,
watch
what
you
post
• Watch
your
comments
and
photos
when
you
geo-­‐tag
• Be
careful
what
language
you
use
when
you
comment
publicly,
review
something
or
post
a
complaint
on
a
public
page/account

10. Build
professional
profiles
• Build
a
LinkedIn
profile
while
information
is
still
fresh
• Create
an
about.me page
(or
other
website
with
your
name)
to
build
positive
search
equity
• Connect
with
others
who
have
interests
and
begin
to
engage
now
so
that
you’re
poised
for
internships
next
year

11. Even
when
it’s
private,
it’s
not