Social media can influence how you’re perceived by friends, family, and, most importantly, university admissions offices—which ultimately hold your future in their hands. So, here are the reasons why—and how—you should clean up your social media before submitting your college application. But first, let’s answer the important question we know is on your mind…

Do universities really check social media?

The frustrating thing is that there’s no straightforward yes or no answer to this question. However, just like a boss or nosy Aunt Jean, universities also have the right to look if they want to, because once you post it, that information is accessible to anyone—including them. And they have a good reason to take a peek. Checking your profile helps the admissions team learn more about you before making a decision. That is why you need to be careful about what you choose to post. Your social media presence can impact your application—either positively or negatively. So, it is better not to take the risk; delete anything you think could harm your application. Don't let all your hard work go to waste. As a student, you will represent your university and must adhere to the student code of conduct, which extends to social media usage. While no university would expel you simply for posting an unflattering selfie, they might intervene if your posts tarnish the university's reputation. They might also choose not to extend an offer of admission if they check your social media and see content that violates the code of conduct. Not sure what is out there about you? It might be a good idea to do a quick web search of your name and see what comes up.

How to improve your social media presence

Check your privacy settings

This is one of the best and easiest things you can do for your social media presence. By adjusting privacy settings, you can control what others see and what you want to keep hidden. From limiting your profile so that only certain aspects are visible to non-friends, to making your page completely invisible unless you choose to add someone, there are many ways to keep your account private from strangers. You can often also adjust settings regarding who can tag you and whether tagged posts appear on your profile. By using the right privacy settings, you can post silly photos or ranty tweets and have fun without worrying that the admissions team will stumble upon that terrible photo of you in a giraffe costume.

Clean up your profile

This includes deleting anything considered inappropriate. You may have been using Instagram for a long time, so now is the time to look back through your old photos and ensure there is nothing inappropriate. Basically, if you wouldn't want your parents to see it, just delete it. Keep in mind that a simple Google search of your name can also be used to find your social media accounts.

Have a professional email address

When applying via UCAS, use a current email address—ideally one that uses your own name. While a quirky email address might not automatically lead to your application being rejected, there is certainly no harm in keeping it professional, especially since you will likely use it for future job applications.

Be mindful of your comments

While you should always aim to be polite when commenting on profiles and photos—whether they belong to you, your friends, or strangers—it is also wise to watch what you say, as admissions teams might read them. They may not find rude comments amusing, even if your friends do. Cleaning up your social media footprint isn't just important for university admissions teams; it is also a great time to start doing so for the future. As you get older, your social media behavior becomes increasingly significant; there are many stories of companies hiring or firing employees based on their social media presence. Be the person who gets hired, not the one who gets fired.