College Counseling Blog | The Dunham School | Private PreK-12 | Baton Rouge, LA

Your Student's Digital Footprint: The Unseen Factor In College Admissions

November 2025

A Guide for High School Parents and Students

In the age of digital everything, a student's carefully crafted college application—with its stellar GPA, powerful essay, and glowing letters of recommendation—is only part of the story. The rest of the narrative is being written daily on social media. For high school students and their parents, it’s crucial to understand that a student’s online presence can have a profound impact on their college admissions prospects, for better or for worse.

The College Admissions Office is Looking

While admissions officers are incredibly busy and don't routinely "stalk" every applicant, many agree that a student's public online presence is "fair game." Recent surveys indicate that a substantial percentage of admissions officers will review applicants' social media profiles or conduct a basic Google search, particularly if something in the application raises a concern.

More importantly, studies show that when an admissions officer does check a profile, the content found is as likely to hurt as it is to help.

• The Positive Impact: One survey found that 38% of admissions officers who checked social media reported that the information they found positively influenced their decision.
• The Negative Impact: Meanwhile, 32% said the information negatively impacted their decision.

This clearly demonstrates that social media is a double-edged sword: it can be a powerful asset or a significant liability.

The Downside: How Social Media Can Harm Your Application

The potential for a social media profile to negatively impact an application is the most immediate concern. Inappropriate or offensive content can lead to a negative perception of a student’s character and judgment, and in rare but serious cases, can lead to a rescinded offer of admission—even after the student has been accepted.

Red Flags to Erase Immediately:

• Illegal or Inappropriate Activity: Posts showing underage drinking, drug use, or other illegal activities.
• Hate Speech or Bullying: Any posts, comments, or likes containing discriminatory remarks, extreme negativity, threats, or explicit language.
• Contradictory Information: Content that directly contradicts the image presented in the application (e.g., claiming a passion for community service while posting aggressively cynical or disrespectful content).
• Lack of Judgment: Posts that are in poor taste or could be easily misinterpreted.

A Critical Step: Clean Up and Privatize

A profile set to "private" is a good start, but it's not a guarantee against discovery (screenshots can circulate). Students should take an hour to conduct a thorough Digital Clean Sweep:

1. Google Yourself: Search your name (and any variations) in quotation marks to see what's publicly visible.
2. Review Everything: Go through your own posts, comments, likes, and tagged photos on every platform you've ever used. Remember to check all accounts.
3. Delete, Untag, or Archive: Remove any questionable content. Untag yourself from friends' problematic photos and ask friends to remove posts you can't control.
4. Professional Handles: Ensure your usernames and email address are professional, using your name or a close, simple variation.

The Upside: How Social Media Can Boost Your Application

The college application is a snapshot. A well-curated online presence can provide a high-resolution video that deepens your narrative and showcases your character in ways a 500-word essay cannot. It gives the admissions committee a compelling and authentic view of your passions and interests outside the classroom.

Ways to Use Social Media to Your Advantage:

 Final Advice: Be Intentional, Be Kind

Parents, your role is to encourage a mindset of intentionality and responsibility for your student's digital life. Every post contributes to a permanent digital reputation.

Advice for Students:

• Be Smart, Be Kind: A good rule of thumb: Do not post anything you wouldn't be comfortable with your parents, professors, or a scholarship committee seeing.
• Think Twice, Post Once: Understand that a private setting does not guarantee secrecy, and deleted content can often be recovered.
• You are Not Anonymous: Embrace the fact that your online persona is an extension of your application. Use this tool to tell your most compelling story.

A student's social media presence is not a requirement for admission, but it is an increasingly powerful component of the holistic review process. By mindfully managing their digital footprint, your student can ensure their online activity works for them, giving them a distinct advantage in the competitive world of college admissions.