01 — The Prevalence of Social Media.

97% of American teens are active on social media, and it’s an integral part of your life. Practically speaking, this means any college will expect to find evidence of your personality and interests online—and find it odd if they don’t. You intuitively know this, but you may not grasp how to use social media strategically, to show your best self to the world.

02 — The Changing College Admissions Paradigm.

Three-quarters of colleges either monitor social media as part of their admissions decision making or will review social media brought to their attention. One-quarter do so “regularly and routinely,” and private, not-for-profit institutions are more likely than other types to do so. As big data algorithms and predictive analytics are now driving college admissions and merit aid decisions, online presence and engagement seem destined to be—along with grades, essays and SAT scores—a salient part of the admissions checklist.

03 — Welcome to a World Gone Digital.

Across a well-connected world, employment recruiting via social media is prevalent and growing, with 93% of organizations currently using or planning to use it as a search and recruiting tool. Moreover, 82% of employers currently use social media to screen candidates, up from only 11% in 2006 and 57% will not interview a candidate they cannot find online.

04 — Learn to Rise Above the Crowd of Qualified Applicants.

The fact is, colleges and employers simply don’t care if they find pictures of you having fun (or even too much fun) on the internet. But, increasingly, they do care that the claims on your application reflect the realities of who you truly are. Conveying your true interests and commitments means more than building a boilerplate essay. And that’s where social media excels, offering a deeper dive into your true self than any shortlist of credits and accomplishments.

05 — Don’t Hide From Your Past. Create Your Future.

Inevitably, as a digital citizen, your online life will become a curated gallery of your larger life – a canvas for expressing your character that can be far more intriguing & persuasive than any transcript, essay or resume. We consult & educate to help you create & disseminate an accurate & compelling picture of your life via social media– for a tangible advantage in college admissions & career.

06 — Social Media is a Tool for Life. Learn to Use it Wisely

Social Assurity's proven social media training programs and expert services offer smart, easy-to-implement strategies for integrating a curated online presence into your college applications—without interfering with your existing social media aimed at your schoolmates and friends.