So the ED/EA Apps are in! Now what? There is not much to do except wait, but we recommend that as a parent you turn your adult, “critical eye” to evaluating your student’s social media. Consider how your student appears online without context. Make sure they are presenting themselves in the best possible light. Admissions officers are so busy, it is unlikely that they will be checking out your child on social media, but better to be safe than sorry. Interviewers might take a look to prepare for their meetings.
Privacy Settings. Look at the privacy settings on your students’ social media pages, they should be private. However, in the event that your child has pictures she wishes to share, make sure there is no inappropriate content, i.e. something she would not wish grandma to see.
Clean up your zoom background. Because interviews will be conducted from your home, make sure your background is tidy, closet door closed, messes cleared. Your student does not wish to be interviewing from their bed.
Public content. Ask your student to “google” themselves to make sure anything public accurately represents their best self and they are not associated with any inappropriate content.
Photos (even on friends accounts). If your child is tagged on friends’ accounts, consider asking the friend to remove the tag until after admissions, if the picture is compromising.
Twitter Feed. Sharing your voice is great. If your student’s feed is extreme in any way, consider deleting the feed until after admissions.
Check profile photos which are public (facebook, instagram). Take a good, hard look at your student’s profile photos because those can be seen by anyone looking.
Tik Tok. Make sure your student’s profile is private. If it is public, ensure the content is acceptable.
Check email, junk mail, portals daily. Encourage your student to check their emails daily. Interviewers may be attempting to contact them and the universities might have questions or require responses.
Polite and respectful responses. Make sure your student’s interactions with the universities are respectful and polite, whether it is their first or last choice school. Universities have been known to share rude and impolite incidents. No bragging or airing grievances with the universities. No matter how you feel, don’t share or air online.
Thank you notes. Be sure to write thank you notes to interviewers and to those with whom you’ve had interactions. Everyone loves an appreciative letter.
