How Social Media and Personal Branding Impacts College Admissions

Webinar Transcription

2023-03-30 – How Social Media and Personal Branding Impacts College Admissions

Lonnie: Hello, everyone. Welcome to CollegeAdvisor’s webinar, “How Social Media and Personal Branding Impacts College Admissions.” So to orient everyone with the webinar timing, we’re gonna first, we’re gonna start first with the presentation, and then you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions in our live Q& A.

But first, let’s meet our panelist.

Rachael: Hi everyone. My name is Rachael Moore. I am a senior advisor and a former admissions officer here at CollegeAdvisor. Been here for almost two years, um, after working in the education space for about 20 years as well at a variety of institutions. So, along the way, Working on online presence from a career consultant perspective, as well as coaching high school students has become a bit of a passion of mine.

So super excited to be here tonight to give you some tips and background information on the topic.

Lonnie: Awesome. Well, before we get started, because we love to speak directly to our audience, let us know what grade you are in. This is, this is a really great subject because if I think like 15 years ago, the first part of this subject was not relevant at all.

Rachael: I won’t even tell you like what was new on college campus since when I started college back in

Lonnie: 1996. Yes. Yes. It was like just knowing how to use a computer at that point. Yeah.

Rachael: Email was brand new. Like, it’s pretty crazy. And I don’t consider myself that. To be honest,

Lonnie: you know, it’s just, you know, times are changing and evolving.

And so this is a really, really great subject tonight for our audience. Um, so the responses are starting to come in. So actually tonight we have. Uh, about 61 percent of our participants are in the 11th grade and then 39 percent 10th grade. So, so far right now we have 10th and 11th grade representation.

Yes. So, I will turn it over to you to get us into our content. Sounds

Rachael: great. Thanks, Lonnie. Um, I love that. It’s primarily juniors and seniors. There’s something here that’s relevant for anybody and everybody truly. But what this tells me by who’s attending tonight is that you’re really starting to think about the college process.

And I’m sure you’ve been thinking about But you’re really taking a great step and thinking about, you know, how you’re going to brand yourself and what that looks like. That’s going to really help set yourself up for a strong personal narrative and presence in your application. So, um, let’s just get to the content.

Um, so what is a personal brand? Uh, simply stated, it’s truly the intentional, crafted image that you want to project. Um, and it’s everywhere. Um, I know the content of this webinar we’re going to be focusing on social presence, but who you are, Your social presence is not separate from who you are in person and who you are in paper or on an electronic application.

So, while you can present this person that you are differently through all those different platforms or mediums, um, The narrative that who you are, what you want people to think of when they hear your name, that is pretty consistent. So we’ll talk a little bit more about how you can foster that more. But, you know, when you think about that image, just take a moment to think about how, you know, especially in the next couple months or the upcoming year, depending if you’re a junior or senior or.

sophomore, junior, you know, where situations where you’re going to be present and talking with other people and they’re going to make an, or you’re going to make an impression on them. And they’re going to have a recollection of how you presented yourself and what they think of when they see your name.

So, you know, Thinking about the common application on a resume, um, especially for juniors, starting to think about letter of recommendation requests and giving those who you’re asking to write a letter of recommendation a bit of a brag sheet or just highlights that might help them to start thinking a little bit more about you and how they, from their experience with you, can present you in that light.

Um, Also your social presence, obviously the hot topic of tonight, um, but how you present yourself on social media websites. And I think normally we think about Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, but it’s also in places like Reddit or Quora, which are not as popular or what people immediately think of.

But if you’re part of groups in those platforms, that’s also something to think about. Um, and even just new stories, uh, where your accomplishments are highlighted, maybe on your school’s website or the local newspaper. Um, and then, of course, in person, whether it’s when you’re online. Take having an interview with a representative from a college, campus visits, and out and about in your daily life at social events, at work, if you work, um, and when you’re being introduced to someone else.

Always, so the point behind all of this on this slide is truly you’re always on. You never get that second chance to make a first impression. So where in my application do I show my personal brand? Truly, I couldn’t simplify this anymore. Um, the short answer is everywhere. I think it’s a little, it’s helpful to give a little bit of background on just the different components of the application and how as a former admissions officer, how I would read it.

Um, and, you know, You know, I start out by reading general information about you, you know, where you’re from, um, family members. Um, I look at your transcript, the type of classes that you’ve taken, how you’ve done in those classes. We do look at test scores. Some schools do, some don’t. Um, but if it’s a factor, we look at that.

Um, But the really where I start getting excited is when I start to look at the activities in the honors section and I get clues as to what lights your fire and what you’re all about, how you spend your time through that section and how you describe your involvement in those different things throughout.

Then we get to your personal statement where I really get to hear your voice and what you choose to write about really says something about you. Then we’ll turn to letters of recommendation where, you know, a lot of times I find that the letters of recommendation sort of validate a lot of what. You presented or we’ve had clues about and the other components of the application.

Um, but it’s through their lens and how they perceive you and how, you know, you want them to think of you. A lot of times it validates that. So the short, the short answer truly is as simple and as big as it’s everywhere. Each element of the application should really Build off of another one. Okay. So why is this important?

Um, so some, a term that. We always used when I was working in admissions is that we’re shaping a class, you know, when you’re in that competitive environment, you know, as a school who thrives at that school, you know, you know what your values are as an institution and who really thrives there. And With our job is to shape of class of diversity of experiences, diversity of interests, different backgrounds, you know, so that we have a really engaged environment where there’s a strong community there.

If it was all the same person, that would be. That was admitted there. You wouldn’t have really interesting discussions because everybody agrees. You know, you learn from each other. That’s that’s how you thrive. And that’s how you grow. So it’s important as we’re selecting members of a class that we really can have insight into who that person is.

Um, and so that we can see, yeah. That is your advocate is an admissions officer. So I can say this is. This student, student, and this is why we have to have them here. Here is what they bring to the table. Um, so really I think the best way to really think about a personal brand is what do people think of what they hear or see your name.

If I have to advocate for you to an admissions committee, you know, and your name comes up and it’s my turn to talk about you, you know, what are the words. That you want to come to my mind. Um, what are your values, your talents, your passions, what drives you, you know, really share with me that why, um, I think an important, um, Difference that you should think about is personal brand is not a reputation, you know, it’s really reputation, you know, you work towards a positive reputation, but really.

That’s a different type of work beyond your day to day responsibilities and how you perform in them. You know how you’re consistently, you know, thriving, promoting or contributing to a community, how you are pursuing your interests and growing as a person. Another way to think about it or. You know, is later on when you’re looking for internships or for graduate or professional school, um, or a full time job, you know, if a company needs someone with a specific talent, skill, or perspective, you want them to think of you.

So how is it that you’re going to keep yourself out there and demonstrating that you are the person for that role?

So how does a strong personal brand play in college admissions? You know, a term, if I’m your advisor, you probably get stuck with. sick of me asking the question, talk to me about what lights your fire. And what I mean about that is, you know, when, you know, you have your interests, whether it’s hobbies, whether it’s activities, whether it’s a subject that you really love or, you know, a profession that you just, you’ve dreamed of being something since you were a small child and you can’t imagine being anything else.

You know, what is it about that, you know, that gets you so excited, you know, if you’re interested in engineering, is it the type of environment that you’d be working in? Is it the collaboration with others, figuring out how to make things work? Is it the innovative or problem solving part of it? You know, those are the types of things that we want to be able to present through your narrative.

Um, so think about, you know, what is it in context of what it is you like to do or what you hope to do when you graduate from college or what you envision a college experience being like, you know, what is it about that school that makes you think? That’s gonna be the perfect place for you. Why can you see yourself there?

And you’re gonna see some alignment there. And I say, when that student, as we explore colleges, you know, you start to really get a good idea for what you like, um, as you research and what you don’t like. Um, and you’re simultaneously really working through. You’re how you want to present yourself in an application and the opportunities that you have is we get to more of the final stages of finalizing your college list and really thinking about what how you’re going to present yourself in that application the activity section writing the personal statement the supplements and I always say when that alignment happens where it’s crystal clear for a reader to read your application and see that you as a student there, that’s the magic.

That is when magic happens. And it takes time, but it is completely doable when you’re honest with yourself and really open to growing and building confidence and sharing your story and what it is that you want and hope to achieve. I think a great way to look at it is because this all sounds super daunting.

I understand that this is not easy stuff, but colleges and students truly help each other to be the best versions of themselves. Um, we can’t have, you know, a a college if we don’t have students who love being there and who are a good fit. Um, and you need a place where you’re going to thrive and grow. So we truly do.

That’s, that’s a huge reason why it’s so important, uh, to be able to find that match.

Lonnie: Okay, so before we continue on with our presentation, we want to take a short pause and get a sense of where you are in the application process. So we know we have 10th and 11th grade students in our webinar. So let us know the application process actually begins way sooner than the 12th grade.

So maybe you haven’t started, but after tonight learning about your social media and personal branding, you’ll probably be ready to start. Are you’re researching schools? You’re getting an early start on working on those essays, getting your application material together, which that can include. You know, reaching out to your teachers, asking them can they be your recommender, getting your extracurriculars in, increasing your leadership, the list can go on on what it takes to get the application material done.

So let’s see that responses are rolling in. And we have about 60 percent are currently researching their schools, which is really, really great to hear. We have 24 percent that haven’t started quite yet, but that’s okay, you still have time. And then 5, um, 9 percent working on their essay, and then another 9 percent getting their application material together.

So, I’ll turn it back over to you, Rachael.

Rachael: Thanks, Lonnie. Oh, I love that mix. Um, and absolutely, um, just thinking about your online presence. I mean, technically, you know, as you work on that and really start thinking about how you want to present yourself, um, online, that’s technically work you’re doing on your application because you want to make sure that there’s consistency between the person you’re presenting, um, to a college as well as online.

as well. So give yourself a little credit if you feel like you’re a little behind, you’re not. Um, and this is a great start to building momentum along in that process as well. So what role does social media play in my personal brand? And this might sound a little bit harsh, but I am definitely a straight shooter.

Perception is Reality. So I’m sure many of times you’ve heard things like, you’re the company that you keep and that, you know, perception is reality. And sometimes those are really uncomfortable, you know, phrases to hear, um, because it never tells the whole story. Um, but it is important to think about, you know, how you spend your time, you know, what you choose to post or write about.

You’re making a conscious decision to present those things for others to see, so you need to think about it as a representation of who you are. A really positive way to think about it is it adds substance to your personal narrative. You know, you can work so hard and do a beautiful job presenting yourself.

in an application and in your writing. Um, but you can do things on social media that you can’t do in an application a lot of the time. You know, you can post images of yourself at events that, you know, say you’re an athlete and you were at senior night or an event that really reflects your interests. Um, That’s a fun way to see you really in your element.

So, those are ways, when I say it adds substance, it just adds a whole other layer, um, to what life is like for you. And it really, like I said, application on a resume, you know, there’s a reason that people, you know, like social media. They like to see this person that they are quote unquote meeting on paper, um, to get to know more.

So why is building a positive online presence important? Right now, today, you’re thinking about it for The way that you should be and that is for opportunities related to the college application process and where you want to go. But truly, this is just the beginning. Um, and the savvier you get at it, the more intentional you get about being mindful of crafting that online presence, um, the more it’s going to help you throughout different stages of your career in life.

You know, absolutely. It could be a part of the application process, but even more so when you’re starting to apply for internships or jobs, um, that, you know, that example I gave earlier about if an employer is looking for something, someone with a certain skill or background, you know, you want them to be able to think of you, you know, the more effort you put into building Building that persona, um, and making your interests and skills known, you know, the more opportunity you’re going to have for others to think of you and, you know, it’s hard work.

You deserve that recognition in those opportunities that you’re working so hard for. So that’s why, even though it’s very strong language, I truly believe that having, knowing how to build that positive online presence. being aware of and intentional about personal branding. Um, it’s an essential skill in today’s world.

Um, and being cognizant of that. of continually checking on it and building it or shifting it. We grow, we change, you know, your interests may change and that’s okay. But being able to tell that story is still important. It shapes someone’s perspective as to whether you are someone they want to be around personally or professionally.

Truly. You know, I tell a lot of people when I was doing career consulting for college students that a lot of a big part of the interview is simply to see, is this someone that we can work with? Are they going to fit in well with the team? Um, you know, certainly how you present yourself online is going to give people an idea if you’re someone that they want to be around and work with.

And that same is true, you know, within college. You know, on a college campus to, um, and so it builds community. It enhances opportunities for meaningful connection and work. Uh, and again, it’s just reinforcing what you want people to think of when they think of you. You know, and again, I think we’ve talked about this, but it allows you to present yourself as a qualified expert in areas of interest and opportunities that you’re open to.

So, what are the impacts of negative social media posts on college admissions? Um, This is pretty straightforward. I don’t think we’re going to need to spend a whole lot of time on this. Um, but it truly it’s about reputation. Students are looking for our schools are looking for students who are going to thrive in their community that you once you are admitted and decide to attend there.

You’re representative of that institution, whether you think about it that way or not, if you’re wearing their sweatshirt or you’re sitting in their class, you’re representative of them. Um, so, and a competitive applicant pool where there are more qualified candidates than there are spaces in a class.

We’re looking for people, the stakes get higher about making sure or doing everything we can to help shape that class where the students are aligning to the culture that we want to have, the values that we represent. Um, They’ll favor that student who they believe is going to be a natural positive reflection or that infamous fit to their institution.

So if it’s more negative and not looking like a fit, that is not going to work in your favor. The other piece is authenticity. You know, if someone, if you’re presenting your application, is this quote unquote ideal candidate. That you think the school wants, and then they see someone very different in social media, your credibility and authenticity really comes into question.

And that’s not something, um, even if it’s, you know, for all the right intentions that you’re trying to present yourself while, um, you really, you know, They work hand in hand. You know, you don’t want all that work that you put into an application to be questioned if they see someone very different on social media.

How do admissions officers use social media to assess a candidate? Um, Sometimes they’re just simply interested. I mean, we’re human beings. I can tell you that those of us who’ve done this work for years, we love students and we love that idea of bringing them onto a campus that we love just as And, you know, we’re just interested if we see something that we really like that a student chooses to write about.

Um, or maybe there’s an activity or an accomplishment or research the student has done and they mentioned that it’s online. We may take a look at it if it’s something that we also are curious about. So, you know, sometimes it’s just, you know, That human connection. Um, the other reason is just to get a little deeper understanding or context to something that’s in the application.

Again, there’s only so much space in the application. There’s only so many characters you can use for an activity description, but if something seems really notable or intriguing, we may go online and check it out to learn a little bit more. Um, and simply looking for someone who’s a great fit to the university.

And when you think about that, you know, it’s shared values. It’s sensitivity towards others and anyone’s lived experience. We all have to live together. We’re all working together and learning from each other in a community. So that respect is something that in valuing those differences is something that a community is looking for.

Okay. I think bottom line, because all of this can cause some anxiety. It’s a lot to think about, um, even though it’s the end of the day, it’s pretty practical. Um, and remember admission officers are people too. We’re looking to be your advocate. That’s how we see ourselves as. When we are reading an application is we want to be able to advocate for you if schools where you want to be.

So, really a great online presence can support an admission officer and. You know, talking about why you are such a great fit to that community. Just giving a little bit more of a lens reinforcing the person presented in that application. We’re definitely not looking at it, um, for a reason not to accept you.

So I think that’s important to think about.

What are some strategies for using social media to showcase your strength, um, building your personal brand, enhance your application. Number one is own who you are. Be sincere, but also be selective about the story, how you’re gonna tell the story that you want people to understand about you. Um. You know, definitely be honest and up front, um, about what your interests are, if that’s important to you or something you’d like to share.

But if there are some less flattering, you know, representations of you or posts you were tagged in that, you know, maybe it was just by accident that you were there, um, you want to be selective. You want to do. to clean up that social media, um, and make sure that what’s showcase is what you want people to understand about you, you know, what your interests are.

Another way is follow and connect with others who are associated with your interests. So colleges you’re interested in. Organizations you’re a part of, or causes that you believe in, um, special interest groups related to your interests, um, present yourself as an expert and really involved individual in all of those things, um, but respond and engage professionally.

So share your passion, your interest through photos, um, maybe at events. That you’ve been a part of or, you know, something that you are being awarded for or recognized for, um, or just doing something that you really enjoy, um, blog posts, tags, commenting positively and constructively in areas you feel passionate about.

And the other piece, um, that definitely encourage you to think about now is make sure all email addresses and social media handles that you have are professional. They should be able to grow with you. Um, so, you know, something that, you know, whether it’s first name dot last name and a number that’s significant to you, um, is a great example.

Uh, you want to make sure that. Whatever you choose is a positive representation of you and really is something you could use throughout your lifetime.

Lonnie: Okay, thank you, Rachael. That now concludes our presentation portion of our webinar. This is a So so much for joining us this evening. Now we’re going to move into our live questions and answers. So how it will work is, um, you all can continue to place your questions and answers into the public chat. And then I’m going to paste the questions for everyone to be able to see them and Rachael will answer them out loud.

If it’s not, if you find that you’re not able to utilize the Q& A tab, just try logging off and logging in through the webinar link that was sent to you in your email. Okay, so let’s go ahead and get started with our first question. It reads, if a college asks to follow, um, slash friend me, will it count against me if I do not accept?

No,

Rachael: keep in mind. You know, they, they, they have, you know, their platforms that they use, that’s great opportunity for them, but they are not looking to see, they don’t have time, quite frankly, to see, Oh, did they follow me back? They are way more interested in the application and the person.

Lonnie: Great. So the next question reads as an admission officer, how much time would you spend per application digging into their online presence?

Rachael: Generally? I mean, there are many who don’t touch it. A lot of times it’s what capacity does someone have who’s reading applications? Um, and sometimes it’s even, I mean, I remember when I was in that seat, I might kind of make a personal note. Oh, I’d really like to see that website that that student developed because it was just an interest that I had.

Um, and I may just look at it later, but may not even be during application season anymore. So, you know, it’s great to have it. It fits in with how you spend your time, but it’s not something that’s generally a requirement. It’s not going to be a make or break the exception being if there’s somehow. You know, something presented online that would be of concern or, you know, really in conflict to the person presented in the application.

I hope that that doesn’t you can’t. There’s not a black and white answer to that. Um, so hopefully. Hopefully, you know, look at it as it’s another element that if someone chooses to look at it, I mean, a lot of jobs that’s now become just a requirement in the process. So the way I look at it is, you know, start getting used to building that skill set and thought process now.

Um, but it’s really not what’s You know, that’s not what we’re looking at to make a final decision on.

Lonnie: Okay, great. Um, let’s see. Next question reads, what’s an example of bad online presence?

Rachael: So even things is simple that you learn. In like grammar school, you know, how you write, you know, how you engage with other people, you know, the types of photos that you choose to post or, you know, share those, you know, if you’re not really thoughtful about what that’s saying about you, um, you leave it up to someone else’s interpretation.

So you, you can’t control what someone else thinks, but you certainly can control, you know, how you put yourself out there and thinking about, again, those words that you want people to think about when they hear your name or see you, what you choose to post should reflect that.

Lonnie: Nice. Nice. Um, so this question is, um, I presume that LinkedIn is the most valuable social media account, but what sites do you suggest as most conducive to showing that expertise and professionalism that you mentioned?

Rachael: So I think it can be any of them. To be really honest, my gosh, we could talk about it for, and we could do so many different sessions on the various platforms that are out there. Um, to be honest, LinkedIn is not as highly used. school students. So if yo has one with a lot of, yo done a lot of research or a number of jobs, um, or could be a differentiator But you just, you want to be sincere about what it is.

We’re also not expecting a whole lot, um, on a high schoolers, LinkedIn profile versus someone who’s, you know, a graduate level student or a professional. So don’t put too much pressure on yourself there. Um, but you know, there are Facebook pages and Instagram accounts, uh, that focus on, uh, Groups that are causes that you’re interested in is a, it’s a community for you to engage with others who share that interest.

Um, tick tock videos on how to do something that you’re really skilled at. I mean, some have YouTube channels because you know, whether it’s you’re an artist or a performer or, you know, just really Like to present like how to’s for people, um, because of an interest you have really the sky’s the limit. Um, but just making sure it fits what you want people to know about you and how you want to engage with them and talk to them about.

Lonnie: Okay. Thank you, Rachael. Next question. Oh, the screen disappeared. Let’s see. Oh, here we go. Okay, so I am a junior in high school who is soon owning a business with an instagram account for it. Could I use this account?

Rachael: Totally. Absolutely. Um, I would definitely look into best practices on how to use your profile for instagram.

You know, again, make sure that you’re presenting it is professionally in the way that you want to. But of course, I mean, that’s a perfect example of something where, you know, I’ve, I’ve advised students who had their own business and I’ll say, can you know, Can I look at it? I’m just curious. I want to see what you’re doing.

So, I mean, my, I would say if it’s something you’re not really interested in sharing, then I would think about why that is, as well, um, how it’s a reflection on you. Because it should be something you’re proud of and that can be part of your story.

Lonnie: Right, right. Um, so what about a student with very limited social media presence?

Rachael: Um, if I had it my way, that would be my daughter, not because I’m against it in any way, but I know there are a lot of challenges with it too. So that is not something we would never say I don’t see much out there on there. Um, in some respects, I might breathe a sigh of relief. So, um, it’s what you make of it is how I would explain that.

Lonnie: Right. Um, and this question is similar, but it’s asking specifically, um, is there a negative impact on your application? If you don’t have a public social media presence?

Rachael: Not at all. Again, we’re not looking for it. Um, unless it’s something that’s, and this wouldn’t even be. Technically, I think what you would call social media, but you know, if you’re an art student or applying to an art program or performance, you know, you’ll have a portfolio or recordings.

Like that’s a completely different. ballgame as to why you would have it. But there’s no expectation there whatsoever.

Lonnie: Um, what are the best social media apps you recommend for personal branding?

Rachael: I’d say the one that you feel most connects with the audience that you want to be a part of. You know, I’m well aware that how I use Facebook is different than how the students on this call use Facebook. If they even use it, a lot don’t even have an account.

Um, and how we use Instagram and, you know, the student he used as an example, having his own business or her own business. Um, You know, everyone’s, it’s, it’s different and how they choose to use it. You know, I think you can generally figure it could be YouTube. It could be Instagram. It could be tick talk, um, could be Twitter or Facebook, you know, but is there one that’s preferred over the other?

No, it’s the one that you feel you can be your best. Best authentic self with truly.

There’s going to be different ones. You

Lonnie: gave a really great response. Um, so how do admission officers know how to find your online presence? Do we put this information on our applications?

Rachael: You can put it there. Certainly. Sometimes it’s a simple Google search. Um, if it’s something you want to present, great.

Okay. If not, also fine. Usually, I would say if it’s like an interest that you have, you know, I mentioned the student that had a website. It was all about providing mental health resources actually for, um, other students and. Sort of morphed into a wellness and whatnot, like, so they had their website there.

Uh, so it’s, it’s just how you choose to present that in the application.

Lonnie: Hey, let’s see our next question.

Okay, so what if your online presence mainly consists of you just casually posting yourself, maybe lip syncing to a song on TikTok, or posting yourself looking cute? Could that lower chances of getting into college? Is that something that admission officers tend to not like seeing? This is a really great question.

Rachael: It’s such a good question. Yeah, it’s such a good question. Um, So, I think You need to be able to speak to your why, you know, if you’re, I mean, there are so many students that have those sort of cutesy, you know, or different types of looks on their Instagram, or they just like taking selfies and posting them.

And that’s a way to get engagement with their friends. Um, You know, I do think, though, that if there’s not a whole lot of, like, information or other elements of your application that you’ve included, and it’s really just about images of you, we’d love to know how else you’re spending your time. How do you value spending your time?

Because that also will show how you might engage on a college campus, too. So, you know, there are a lot of students actually who love makeup or love fashion and they show, you know, different pictures of the different looks, but it kind of becomes part of their brand. You know, they explain, you know, this is how I did this or, you know, You know what you were trying, you know, you don’t say it this way, but what you were trying to achieve and you were really proud of it.

And it can be beautiful work. Um, but you’ve got to be able to put, you know, some context into it. Um, if it’s just sort of random. photos that really there isn’t any context and there isn’t a lot of other information about you as to how you spend your time or what lights your fire, then I’d be a little bit more concerned.

I don’t have concerns, even the word, but it’s, it’s not going to give us a whole lot to advocate for.

Lonnie: Gotcha. Gotcha. Okay. We’re going to take a short pause for me to share with you all More about CollegeAdvisor and the work that we do supporting on your college application process over those in the room aren’t already working with us.

We know how overwhelming the admission process can be, especially for competitive applicants like yourselves. Our team of over 300 former admission officers and admission experts are ready to help you and your family navigate it all in one on one advising sessions. Take the next step in your college admission journey by signing up for a free Free consultation using the QR code on the screen.

During the consultation, a member of our team will review your current extracurricular list, discuss how it lines up with your college goals, perhaps also talk a little bit about your personal branding and social media. After scanning the QR code, you’ll be able to select a date and time for a phone conversation with a member of our team.

So we’ll leave that QR code up on the screen, um, as we continue with our questions and answers. So our next question reads, okay, so is the extent of the search by an admission officer only as far as what the student posts?

Rachael: Generally, I would say that, um, unless you’re giving me reason for concern. Um, and by that, I mean, you know, we have the stories is unfortunately it feels like every day right now about, you know, just concern for safety of students. That is rarely true. If ever for most of us, something that we encounter. Um, but if we were, or say the person, the example I gave her earlier in the presentation about the person that was presented on paper was very different than the one that we saw online, that might.

have me look a little bit further, just trying to find something to connect to that I had read about. Um, but other than that, like I said, I think the best thing to remember is that we’re kind of looking for reinforcement or clarity, just maybe a little bit more reason to really advocate for you or not looking for reasons to, you know, not look at you positively.

Like I said, you also have to think about, um, and I’m not saying this to oversimplify it, but the amount of time that someone has to read an application and the volume of the work that they have as well, other applications. So when it’s not a make or break factor, um, There’s only so much time we can put into it as well.

Lonnie: Agree, agree, agree. Our next question. If you post about political causes, political opinions, would that be a negative look on your brand?

Rachael: I don’t believe so. I think when it becomes negative is in anything including your just everyday discourse. If you start Not showing a level of respectful dialogue, um, or openness to considering other perspectives.

I think that’s when it can start to look a little bit, you know, You know, you have to think about how that person might engage in class with their classmates. And, you know, there are hot debates that happen and that’s, that’s important. That’s part of our growth, but you have to be able to end of the day, respect each other.

So it’s, it’s important. Absolutely. If you have a strong informed opinion, um, it’s all in how you communicate that.

Lonnie: Okay. I’m going to read some of our questions that were submitted through our register registration. Um, let’s see. How do colleges draw conclusions about an applicant’s online presence? And how do they find your information?

Rachael: Sometimes it’s, I’ll answer the second part of that. I think we touched a little bit on it, but sometimes it’s simply shared.

Sometimes and sometimes it’s a simple Google search and you can see it. And I strongly encourage everybody, everybody, whether you’re a parent, a sibling, a student, um, Google yourself here and there to see what comes up. It’s really an important practice just to have, because if there’s misinformation that’s out there, identity theft, um, that’s the world we live in today.

So it’s important. To do that. Um, but I would say those are the most common ways for sure. Um, what was the first part of the question? I’m sorry. I started thinking about identity.

Lonnie: Oh, no, you’re good. You’re good. You were going, it’s like, how do colleges draw conclusions about an applicant’s online presence?

Rachael: So think about that phrase, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. You know, what goes into making that first impression, the way you present yourself, you know, how you communicate, whether it’s in writing, whether it’s verbally, in person, how you dress, how you, you know, what you choose to talk about.

Um, whether it’s by posting or tagging or writing about in your application, and it’s, it’s really not any different than how you do it in your day to day life.

Lonnie: Okay, so this question, I think I lost the question, but let me go back to the. Responses. I’ll kind of try to remember it. My screen is kind of going different places.

But this question had read like my son is in the ninth grade. And how does he began to build his online presence for colleges?

Rachael: That’s a great

Lonnie: question. Um,

Rachael: one way is, is he’s going or is anyone’s going about their college search? Start following colleges. And the more you do your research, the older you get, you know, say you start really being interested in certain types of programs, you know, start following the programs at the colleges that you’re interested in and seeing the the work that’s being done that they’re sharing and, you know, tag it or write a comment about it with why you’re so excited by it or interested in what they posted, um, or people in the program, professors, students, um, so that’s one way.

The other I would say is whatever your interests are, you know, joining, you know, some online groups that are reflective of the organizations that you’re a part of in school, um, or causes that you’re interested in. You know, if you’re doing research, you know, certainly whatever your interests are, you know, following more there, being part of those, those groups for conversation.

So, so many ways that you can go about doing it. Um, and if it’s simply, you know, maybe it’s a Facebook page because friends, you know, you have friends and family all over and you don’t get to see each other that in person that often, it could be as simple as, you know, pictures here and there of your high school experience as you’re growing up, those pride points.

Lonnie: Okay, so kind of speaking of those pride points, Um, is a personal website as a portfolio of my extracurricular activities a good idea?

Rachael: If that’s something you enjoy doing, go for it. If, unless it’s a requirement for an application, for an example, I used to work for a school of education and for teachers, I primarily worked with teacher preparation, um, candidates and an online portfolio or a classroom website.

Was sometimes a requirement for an application for a student or certainly was a benefit to them for any parents go and look for it and school administrators, fellow teachers. So it, it can somewhat be industry specific as well. You know, I would say if you’re looking at going into some sort of like graphic design or.

Marketing and communications and you’re interested in that could be really cool to see what you come up with and how you present yourself. Um, and just practice and learn, um, in that medium. So, but it has to be something that lights your fire. Don’t, you shouldn’t be doing something because you think you should be.

Um, if it’s something that you’re excited about, could be kind of a fun thing, you know, and we’ll take a look at it, but it’s not going to make or break that application unless it’s a required component. Okay,

Lonnie: and we’re going to take two more questions. Um, this question is, um, will admission officers ask to go through your saved posts and videos?

Wait,

Rachael: say that again. I

Lonnie: want

Rachael: to make sure I answer it right.

Lonnie: So on, I’m going to try to interpret it. Um, and please let me know. So on your accounts, you have the opportunity to like save different videos or posts. Yeah. And they’re kind of stored in your own kind of personal storage. So this question is asking like, will admission officers ask to go through your safe posted video?

Rachael: I mean, if you get someone like me, I save things all the time and I don’t even know how to access I mean, I can figure it out, but I never go back to access them. Yeah. I’m looking to see other people.

Lonnie: Me too. Me too. Absolutely. Absolutely. And, um, this will be our last question. So it reads is follower count seen as a benefit or does it truly not matter?

To follow someone? Like how many followers you have?

Rachael: Oh gosh, no. That’s, unless you are in, this is not what you’re looking to do as for your college application. Like, if you’re an influencer or that’s what you’re striving to be for something, that’s different. Um, but that’s not college admissions by any means.

Lonnie: Right, right. Well, these were really, really great questions. They are!

Rachael: I fucked them!

Lonnie: Yes, great questions that our audience asked. And just a reminder that you all can go back and view this recording shortly after we conclude this evening. So maybe there was a question that You heard and you want to go back and listen to, or maybe here’s something again, that Rachael shared in her presentation, you have an opportunity to do so, and you can check out more of our webinars that we have gone through on our website.

Um, so definitely last thing I just want to emphasize, if you’re interested in a free consultation, we’ll have the QR code here. But with that, thank you, Rachael. This was a great, informative presentation. Um, and thank you all for participating in tonight. We will continue to offer additional webinars on a weekly basis, all geared towards supporting you with being the best applicant for the college admission process.

With that, everyone have a great night. Bye Rachael. Bye. Take care, everyone.