Should I Have a LinkedIn When I’m Applying to College?

Each year, students are applying to increasing numbers of colleges, driving admission rates lower than they’ve ever been, and raising the question: what can I do to stand out?

You’ve probably heard your parents, teachers, and counselors say:

“Be careful what you post on social media.”

“Make sure your accounts are set to private.”

“If you wouldn’t want your grandma to see it, don’t post it!”

But could using social media actually benefit your college application? Some social media experts are saying “yes.” Here’s the scoop.

Thousands upon thousands of students are applying to schools all over the country. While admissions officers can (and occasionally do) search for students’ social media accounts, more often than not, that’s an extra step they don’t have time for. However, if a student includes a link to their social media account in the application as an invitation for admissions officers to take a look, there’s a good chance they will.

Are you an aspiring photography student with an Instagram account dedicated to your work?

You’re a TikTok singer looking for a degree in music?

You’re a future engineer with a passion for 3D printing who sells your work on your Business Facebook page?

Maybe you want to consider encouraging colleges to take a look.

While most social media platforms are designed for sharing day-to-day life with peers, LinkedIn is specifically designed for you to be able to market yourself professionally to adults who may not know you. And yes, colleges are on LinkedIn too! A well-curated LinkedIn account can allow colleges to get to know you in a way your application might not. It is a great space to create a resume, share articles related to the topics and issues you are passionate about, demonstrate interest by interacting with the colleges you are applying to, and showcase yourself as a serious candidate. 

So, do you need to have a LinkedIn account when you’re applying to college? In short, no. Not having a LinkedIn profile is not going to hurt your application. Inviting colleges to look at a mediocre profile that doesn’t show you off as an excellent candidate might. But if you have an account that you’ve really put thought and effort into, that shows you off in a way your application can’t, and gives colleges insight into what you are going to bring to their campus community, then by all means, share it!

One Section on Your Common App That Could Help You STAND OUT

We’re getting tons of questions from students and parents who want guidance on completing the Common App. If you want more tips like the one above, join Gilbert for a live (and recorded) presentation that will walk you through EVERY section of the Common App.

INTERVIEW: How You Can Apply to and Attend College for FREE

Are you a high achieving student who comes from a low-income family and/or will be a first generation college student? As part of College Matters' Student to Student series, we interviewed our former student Lee to talk about her application process through QuestBridge. Find out how QuestBridge not only helped her apply and attend college for FREE, but also how it benefited her after college.

Use With Caution: Scattergrams as a Predictor of College Admissions

Updated: January 2023

Students and parents frequently reference their (or their child’s) admissions chances based on the Scattergrams displayed in Naviance, the online counseling tool at their high school.  We always caution that Scattergrams tell a very limited story and that they should be utilized with the following context.   

To the uninitiated, Scattergrams plot the admissions decisions received by previous students who applied from that high school to a particular college or university.  The Scattergram graph uses the X-axis for standardized test scores and the Y-axis for GPA to give prospective students a snapshot of their chances for admission. 

Some key things to keep in mind about the limits of Scattergrams:

•  Often, admission results are self-reported by the student. There are no controls in place for the accuracy of results!

• The data is collected over preceding years and is a very small sample size.  Most colleges are getting more selective each year, so a student that was admitted even a year or two ago might not be admitted in the current or upcoming admissions cycle.

• The two variables used, GPA and test scores, are frequently not the two most important factors considered by colleges.  More schools than ever are now test-optional. Most schools will look closely at academic rigor and like to see it on an upward trajectory over the four years of high school.  Many give important consideration to the essay and extracurriculars.  Colleges have their own enrollment objectives that can change from year to year. Additionally, there’s no way of knowing whether the students included on the Scattergram were recruited athletes, legacies, or had another “hook” desired by the college or university.

• Scattergrams usually don’t reveal whether the student applied Early Decision, Early Action, or Regular Decision, which can significantly affect one’s admission chances.

• The GPA utilized for Scattergrams is usually the student’s final GPA after senior year, not the GPA they used when submitting applications in the fall of senior year.  Many times, their final GPA is lower due to Senior Slide or Senior Slump in the spring.  Therefore, GPAs on the Scattergram may be skewed lower.

It’s important to keep in mind that Scattergrams offer a VERY limited window into the admissions outcomes for the given group of students. The breadth of variables upon which colleges base their decisions is not reflected in this simple diagram.  For colleges or universities that are more numbers-driven, they may be more useful. For highly selective schools and those that read more holistically, Scattergrams are less useful as outcomes are harder to predict based on these two variables.

Use Scattergrams with caution!

Before You Hit "Submit" On Your College Apps, Read This

Application season is HERE! Like here, here. You probably know you’ll need to take care of the basic things like filling out the Common App and finishing your main college essay. However, if you want to maximize your chances of getting admitted and your scholarship offers, there are many more factors to consider.

For example, College Kickstart surveyed ten colleges that admit between 10 and 24% of their applicants. Those colleges reportedly increased their Early Decision enrollment by 5% (on average) from the 2025 class to the 2026 class. How can you use data like this and apply it to your own application strategy?

We hear it from students and parents all the time: “When it comes to college applications, I just don’t want to miss anything!”

That’s why our Educational Consultant Gilbert Guo is hosting a virtual event titled “Before Hitting ‘Submit’ On Your College Apps,” right before students head into their senior year. This presentation will address some of the most common mistakes students make during application season and how you can stay ahead of those in your own process! For more info or to secure your spot, you can go here to get started.

INTERVIEW: Do You Have What It Takes to Study Engineering in College?

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INTERVIEW: The Most DIRECT Way You Can Become a Doctor: BS/MD

Do you have aspirations of becoming a doctor one day? There's a way you can bypass the medical school applications and get earlier assurance into med school. As part of College Matters' Student to Student series, we interviewed our former student Anish to talk about the basics of how BS/MD works and other important advice now that he’s a current BS/MD student.

When Should I Submit My Common Application?

For many students, it is crunch time! Early action deadlines are approaching, and they are busy drafting supplemental essays and polishing up their activities section of the Common Application. As students work towards their deadlines, we encourage them to submit their applications at least a few days prior to the deadline. There have been years when the Common Application crashed on Halloween because so many students were trying to submit. We have also had natural disasters that have resulted in loss of power for several days at the end of October. So, plan ahead! Aim to submit your application in plenty of time. There is no need to wait until the deadline to submit.

Four Big Mistakes You Should Avoid in the Application Process

Second-semester junior year is when many students start thinking about the college application process (no, you’re not late)! You may be sitting at your computer, unsure of what factors to begin considering. Before you dive in head-first, understand the four mistakes that high school students and families make when applying to college.

Don’t start the process too late. By that, we mean you should start now especially if you’re in your junior year. To apply to college, you fill out an application online in the fall of senior year, send colleges your transcripts, and send your standardized test scores. To complete a quality application, however, takes much more. It’s choosing courses in your high school curriculum that show colleges you’re academically prepared. It’s having a testing plan so you can do your best on the SAT or ACT, which can potentially add value to your application. It’s taking the time to think deeply about how you will express yourself to admission officers in 650 words or less in the college essay. It’s considering a wide range of colleges on factors that are important to you, such as class sizes, affordability, and campus culture. These tasks require time and reflection. Get moving now so you won’t have to make all these choices in the heat of application season during your senior year.

Don’t get hung up on just one or two schools and disregard all the others. Students and parents can sometimes fall in love with a school, and they even call it a “dream” school. It’s great to feel like you connect with a campus while also understanding that admission and affordability aren’t guaranteed--even for the most highly-qualified applicants. In fact, selective institutions have to deny many students each year because of the vast pools of strong candidates around the world versus dorm beds available. Have a balanced mix of safety, target, and reach schools. Do the research to evaluate if they (including the safeties) are a good fit for you before making judgments on the schools! Understand that you can get accepted, have a fulfilling college experience, and experience excellent post-graduate outcomes at a number of places, not just one or two. Understand that a school’s lower admission rate doesn’t always correlate to a better student experience. You significantly reduce the pressure on yourself when applying if you can keep these factors in mind.

Don’t wait until the spring of senior year to take affordability seriously. Parents: have an early, honest conversation with your students about paying for college. Keep this dialogue going throughout the process. Work together to find colleges that award generous merit scholarships or tuition discounts for applicants. Students: consider a range of schools so you can see different financial aid packages before deciding (packages come out after you are admitted). When you address affordability early, it will save your family from unwanted surprises during an exciting, memorable time.

Don’t change yourself to try to fit into what colleges are “looking for.” Our staff has heard many admission officers echo this message. Some even say it’s the biggest mistake they see applicants make. Admission officers want to hear about each student’s unique interests, values, and stories. That means there isn’t a specific activity you have to join to qualify for a school. There isn’t an essay topic you can write about that will guarantee your admission. At many selective colleges, admission officers aren’t just checking boxes off when reading your application. It’s a real human being trying to weigh your qualifications and the school’s student enrollment objectives.

Instead, expand on the things you genuinely enjoy. Passionate about saving the planet from global warming? Think of a new project you can take on that will properly show this. Love coding and helping others? Consider starting a free course to share your interest with people who also want to get into coding. One admission officer from Pomona College in California advised high school students to “obsess over high school” rather than do things for college. We couldn’t say it better ourselves.

DO enjoy the process. Applying to college is an excellent way for high school students to mature and come of age. It naturally comes with twists and turns, but avoiding these four mistakes will make the process smoother and lead to better results. Take a deep breath and get the ball rolling as soon as you can.

Four Big Mistakes You Should Avoid in the Application Process

Second-semester junior year is when many students start thinking about the college application process (no, you’re not late)! You may be sitting at your computer, unsure of what factors to begin considering. Before you dive in head-first, understand the four mistakes that high school students and families make when applying to college.

Don’t start the process too late. By that, we mean you should start now especially if you’re in your junior year. To apply to college, you fill out an application online in the fall of senior year, send colleges your transcripts, and send your standardized test scores. To complete a quality application, however, takes much more. It’s choosing courses in your high school curriculum that show colleges you’re academically prepared. It’s having a testing plan so you can do your best on the SAT or ACT, which can potentially add value to your application. It’s taking the time to think deeply about how you will express yourself to admission officers in 650 words or less in the college essay. It’s considering a wide range of colleges on factors that are important to you, such as class sizes, affordability, and campus culture. These tasks require time and reflection. Get moving now so you won’t have to make all these choices in the heat of application season during your senior year.

Don’t get hung up on just one or two schools and disregard all the others. Students and parents can sometimes fall in love with a school, and they even call it a “dream” school. It’s great to feel like you connect with a campus while also understanding that admission and affordability aren’t guaranteed--even for the most highly-qualified applicants. In fact, selective institutions have to deny many students each year because of the vast pools of strong candidates around the world versus dorm beds available. Have a balanced mix of safety, target, and reach schools. Do the research to evaluate if they (including the safeties) are a good fit for you before making judgments on the schools! Understand that you can get accepted, have a fulfilling college experience, and experience excellent post-graduate outcomes at a number of places, not just one or two. Understand that a school’s lower admission rate doesn’t always correlate to a better student experience. You significantly reduce the pressure on yourself when applying if you can keep these factors in mind.

Don’t wait until the spring of senior year to take affordability seriously. Parents: have an early, honest conversation with your students about paying for college. Keep this dialogue going throughout the process. Work together to find colleges that award generous merit scholarships or tuition discounts for applicants. Students: consider a range of schools so you can see different financial aid packages before deciding (packages come out after you are admitted). When you address affordability early, it will save your family from unwanted surprises during an exciting, memorable time.

Don’t change yourself to try to fit into what colleges are “looking for.” Our staff has heard many admission officers echo this message. Some even say it’s the biggest mistake they see applicants make. Admission officers want to hear about each student’s unique interests, values, and stories. That means there isn’t a specific activity you have to join to qualify for a school. There isn’t an essay topic you can write about that will guarantee your admission. At many selective colleges, admission officers aren’t just checking boxes off when reading your application. It’s a real human being trying to weigh your qualifications and the school’s student enrollment objectives.

Instead, expand on the things you genuinely enjoy. Passionate about saving the planet from global warming? Think of a new project you can take on that will properly show this. Love coding and helping others? Consider starting a free course to share your interest with people who also want to get into coding. One admission officer from Pomona College in California advised high school students to “obsess over high school” rather than do things for college. We couldn’t say it better ourselves.

DO enjoy the process. Applying to college is an excellent way for high school students to mature and come of age. It naturally comes with twists and turns, but avoiding these four mistakes will make the process smoother and lead to better results. Take a deep breath and get the ball rolling as soon as you can.