Connect on Social Media to Show Colleges Interest

Imagine for a moment the plight of the beleaguered college admissions officer. He or she faces endless ranks of students with competitive test scores, excellent grades, thoughtful essays and a wealth of extracurricular activities.

Somehow, that officer must decide which individuals will receive an offer of admission and which will not. How is a college-bound student expected to stand out in this crowd?

The answer, in many cases, is social media. This tool can open new avenues of communication with colleges and universities, and provide the opportunity to define yourself in a way that essays, extracurriculars, grades and test scores cannot.

You may be wondering how you can build a social media presence that aids in the college application process, but that is also authentic. The solution is to be genuine, but also to curate what you share.

Just as no museum showcases an artist's every pencil stroke, your social media presence should not delve into the minutiae of your daily life either. The following are several platforms to consider using, as well as tips to tailor them to your advantage.

Learn [how to use social media responsibly as a teen.]

Tumblr: A well-crafted Tumblr account can quickly summarize your interests. Certain schools have Tumblrs of their own, so catching the attention of an admissions department might be as simple as following that college's account.

Note, however, that Tumblr is full of silly bits of entertainment, such as pictures of adorable animals. Monitor what you re-blog and love. An influx of "I love learning!" posts may seem scripted, and dozens of kitten videos may seem frivolous.

Remember that you are attempting to share information about yourself that makes you unique. One way to do so is to post original content, such as photographs you took.

Once your profile is humming along, look for official accounts sponsored by your schools of choice. Follow them and occasionally re-blog the posts. Better yet, look for accounts run by the admissions departments -- or even by admissions staff -- and engage.

Pinterest: Pinterest is similar to Tumblr, but with a less linear display. This display allows a viewer to receive a large-scale visual summary of your interests and personality.

Pinterest is often used to share others' content, so it is somewhat less helpful for posting original material, but that doesn't mean you cannot still express yourself. Think of it as creating a collage. The pieces are derivative, but the arrangement is unique.

Connecting with your college beyond simply sending an email to the admissions department with a link to your board could take a bit of sleuthing.

Fortunately, many schools will make it easy. My alma mater, the University of Washington, for instance, has multiple boards, and each of them allow students to follow them.

Get [tips on connecting with U.S. colleges on social media.]

Facebook: Some admissions departments are just beginning to explore social media, and Facebook is a natural entry point for them. Some schools have a generic profile for the whole university, while others split out an entirely different group for prospective and incoming students. The latter, naturally, will be read more closely by admissions staff.

Since Facebook attracts users of all ages, your profile can serve as a picture of your place within a larger society.

Consider what issues and current events you post about and how you communicate with your peers and other individuals. Think about whether or not you are polite and thoughtful in your status updates.

Reddit: Reddit is an incredible opportunity to showcase your enthusiasm for your interests and passions. However, be aware that using it inappropriately could also serve as an application pitfall.

When you are on Reddit, you can demonstrate your ability to hold a civil conversation, contribute meaningfully to discussions and display the full range of your interests. Avoid any oversharing or off-color comments under the illusion of anonymity. Exercise proper Internet manners and carefully choose the threads in which you participate.

Once you've built up an account laden with sweet karma and replete with interesting links and thoughtful posts, send an email to a recruiter at a college you are interested in and include a link to your profile or a post you submitted that received some positive attention.

Mention how you're looking forward to your upcoming tour of the school, and ask if it would be OK if you too some pictures to use as a post. Of course it's OK -- the point is to get them to notice you.

Find [ways to develop soft skills for college success.]

Once you are engaged in social media and satisfied with your presence, you must try to get college admissions officers to notice your achievements. Start with the websites of schools that interest you, and look for the types of social outreach that they do.

Whether they do or not, find the admissions and recruitment officers. Send them an email with your name, the year you're targeting for enrollment, a couple of sentences summarizing your interest in the school and some links to your best social media profiles.

Finally -- and this is key -- ask if you can connect with the recruiter. A question that requires a response will help get you noticed, both your profile and the simple fact that you took the initiative to reach out.

You may just get a link to the official blog, but chances are that the recruiter will have tips on how to engage with that school specifically. Use these tips to the best of your ability and enhance your admissions chances.

Brian Witte is a professional SAT tutor with Varsity Tutors. He earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Washington and holds a Ph.D. from Ohio State University.