In recent years, TikTok has exploded in popularity, especially among teenagers and young adults. With over 1 billion monthly active users, TikTok has become one of the most widely used social media platforms in the world. This has led many high school and college students to wonder: do colleges look at your TikTok account when reviewing applications?
The short answer is maybe. While most colleges don’t officially look at applicants’ TikTok profiles, admissions officers may sometimes browse them to get additional context on an applicant. However, a student’s TikTok presence is unlikely to make or break their application on its own. There are a few key factors that determine how and when colleges might view TikTok profiles.
Do colleges actively search for applicants’ TikTok accounts?
For the most part, colleges do not proactively look up applicants on TikTok. The Common Application and other application systems do not ask students to provide their TikTok handle or link to their profile. Without this information, colleges would have to actively search for applicants on TikTok based on their name, photo, school, etc. This would be extremely time-consuming given the volume of applications most colleges receive.
According to Jim Rawlins, director of admissions at the University of Oregon, “We do not look up applicant TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or other social media accounts unless we are made aware of an account.” Most other admissions officers report similar policies – they simply don’t have the time or resources to dig through every applicant’s social media presence.
So if you don’t provide any information about your TikTok account in your application, it’s unlikely an admissions officer will find it on their own. However, that doesn’t mean your account is completely off their radar.
When do colleges look at TikTok accounts?
While proactive TikTok research is unlikely, there are certain situations where admissions officers may take a look at an applicant’s profile:
– The applicant includes their TikTok handle or links to their account in their application or supplemental materials. This directly invites the admissions office to view the profile.
– The officer comes across concerning content regarding an applicant online. For example, if they are made aware that an applicant has posted racist/sexist/threatening videos. In this case, they may search platforms like TikTok to investigate further.
– The application includes involvement in TikTok-related activities or accomplishments. For instance, if the student notes they have a popular TikTok account, won a TikTok contest, or partnered with a brand. The officer may view the account to confirm or learn more.
– The officer does a quick Google/social media search on borderline candidates or scholarship applicants. Just browsing to see if anything stands out about the applicant.
So while proactive TikTok screening is unlikely, admissions officers may view your profile in certain contexts. This means it’s important to keep your account appropriate if you do link or mention it in application materials.
What factors determine if a college will look at TikTok accounts?
Several factors influence the likelihood of a college viewing applicants’ TikTok profiles:
– **School size:** Larger schools with more applicants are less likely to browse social media than smaller colleges with fewer applicants. Smaller colleges have more time per application.
– **Application volume:** Schools with more total applications tend to view social media less. Those with fewer apps can dedicate more time per student.
– **Selectivity:** Highly selective colleges are more likely to browse social media than less selective schools. With more applicants than spots, they often look for extras.
– **Content/engagement:** Students with very active/popular TikTok accounts are more likely to be noticed than those who just post casually.
– **TikTok relevance:** Applicants who specifically mention TikTok accomplishments on their app have a higher chance of being searched.
Overall, smaller colleges, highly selective schools, applicants with significant TikTok presences, and those who specifically mention TikTok are the most likely to have their accounts viewed by admissions staff. But policies vary by school.
What are colleges looking for if they view your TikTok?
If an admissions officer does happen across your TikTok account, what exactly will they be looking for? A few things they may keep an eye out for include:
– **Red flags:** Any concerning content like illegal/dangerous behavior, bullying, hateful speech, etc. These would raise red flags about your character.
– **Alignment with application:** Does your TikTok persona align with how you presented yourself in your essays and activities list? Significant discrepancies may be negatives.
– **Interests/passions:** What are your interests, hobbies, and passions based on your TikTok content? Do these provide additional context into who you are?
– **Creativity:** Officers may look for demonstrated creativity through the videos you produce. This can demonstrate artistry, self-expression and skill.
– **Work ethic:** Consistently producing high-quality TikTok content shows strong work ethic which colleges value.
– **Personality:** Your video content and style provides insight into your personality and character beyond the application alone.
Essentially, officers want to see if your TikTok provides a deeper picture into who you are as a person, what makes you tick, and your positive qualities beyond academics. It likely won’t make or break an application, but can provide additional context.
Does a TikTok presence help or hurt your chances?
How does having a TikTok account ultimately impact your admissions chances if colleges view your profile? The answer is complicated, but a few general guidelines:
– **Neutral impact:** For most students, having a TikTok won’t make much direct difference in admissions decisions. It doesn’t help or hurt.
– **Can provide context:** In some cases, TikTok can give positive context about creativity, talents, personality, etc. This may help at the margins.
– **Can raise flags:** Concerning content like illegal behavior or hate speech anywhere online could hurt your chances or even lead to admissions revocation.
– **Helps if TikTok relevant:** If your accomplishments are specifically TikTok-related, having a strong presence can help validate these. But this is rare.
– **Hurts if mismatch:** If your TikTok persona doesn’t match your application, it may raise concerns about your authenticity or character.
So for most students, TikTok does not have a significant direct impact on admissions decisions. But in certain cases, both positive and negative, it may be a factor. The safest bet is keeping your account free of anything concerning if you do mention it in your app.
Expert opinions on TikTok’s role in admissions
Here are some thoughts on this issue from top admissions experts:
*”We do not routinely search through candidates’ social media accounts. However, if concerning content is brought to our attention, we may investigate further.”* – **Whitney Soule, Dean of Admissions, University of Chicago**
*”We want to get to know the authentic student, so if we saw a major disconnect between their application and their social media presence, that would raise some red flags potentially.”* -** Shannon Vasquez, Associate Dean of Admissions, Cornell University**
*”We don’t search TikTok or other platforms proactively, but if a student includes it as an extracurricular, we may view it to get additional context on their interests and personality.”* – **Joann Ng Hartmann, Director of Admissions, Johns Hopkins University**
The consensus is that proactive TikTok screening is rare, but admissions officers may view accounts they are made specifically aware of or that provide relevant context to an applicant’s interests and accomplishments.
Key takeaways
Here are the key points to keep in mind when it comes to colleges and TikTok:
– Most colleges do not directly review applicants’ TikTok accounts as a matter of policy. They simply lack the time and resources.
– Admissions officers may browse TikTok profiles of applicants who specifically mention their account in their application materials.
– Highly selective colleges and those with fewer applicants are more likely to browse social media like TikTok during the process.
– Concerning content anywhere online could hurt your admissions chances. Keep your TikTok account appropriate.
– For most students, TikTok does not directly impact admissions decisions, but provides added context in certain cases.
– If your accomplishments are TikTok-related, having a strong presence can help validate these. But this is uncommon.
The bottom line is that while official TikTok screening policies are limited, it’s a smart idea to keep your profile appropriate just in case. TikTok likely won’t make or break your application, but you want to avoid any red flags.
Tips for managing your TikTok presence during college applications
Here are some tips for high school students to manage their TikTok presence strategically during the college admissions process:
– **Don’t link it directly:** Unless TikTok fame is central to your application, don’t explicitly link your profile via your essays or activities list. No need to directly invite scrutiny.
– **Review past posts:** Take some time to review previous posts for any concerning themes or content. Delete these if necessary.
– **Tighten security:** Adjust settings to private or friends-only if possible to limit what admissions officers can view.
– **Avoid oversharing:** Be cautious about revealing too many red-flag behaviors publicly like illegal drug use, vandalism, etc.
– **Show positive interests:** Use TikTok to showcase productive hobbies, talents, and passions that add dimension to who you are.
– **Take a break if needed:** If concerned about your content, consider taking a TikTok break during the most intense admissions season and revisiting it afterward.
With some strategic management, you can maintain your TikTok presence during college applications without significant risk. The key is being thoughtful about what impressions you might be giving admissions officers if they happen to come across your profile.
Positive ways TikTok can boost your college admissions chances
While direct TikTok screening by colleges is limited, there are some potential ways TikTok can actually benefit your admissions chances if leveraged strategically:
– **Highlighting talents:** TikTok’s short video format is perfect for displaying talents/skills like singing, dancing, art, coding, design, etc. Showcasing these constructively can showcase well-roundedness.
– **Demonstrating creativity:** The creativity and self-expression possible on TikTok can convey your inventiveness and artistry. These traits appeal to colleges.
– **Exhibiting personality:** Your comedic, entertaining, or informational content provides a window into your interests, enthusiasm, and personality. This can enhance “fit”.
– **Promoting achievements:** You can document participation in competitions, community service projects, academics, and other achievements. This provides concrete examples of involvement.
– **Building community:** Engaging constructively with your school community via TikTok reinforces your positive impact on those around you.
– **Starting conversations:** Creating thought-provoking content provides opportunities for substantive conversations around social/political issues.
The key is strategically leveraging TikTok as a platform to convey your best qualities, not just as mindless entertainment. Used constructively, it can demonstrate important talents, traits, and engagement valued by colleges.
Should you mention TikTok on your application?
Given the uncertain impact of TikTok during admissions, should you mention or link to your TikTok profile anywhere in your actual application? Here are some guidelines:
– **Don’t mention it unless relevant:** Most students gain little benefit from linking their TikTok. Don’t invite scrutiny if the content doesn’t add value.
– **Provide context if integral:** If TikTok fame, competitions, or community engagement are central to your story, contextualize these appropriately via your essays or activity list.
– **Use good judgment:** Only provide TikTok details or links if the content clearly provides positive relevant context, not unnecessary risk. Ask others if unsure.
– **List substantive accomplishments:** Being TikTok famous alone is usually not an accomplishment. But creative awards, community service projects, or skills developed through TikTok may be worth including.
– **Emphasize offline impact:** Stress how online involvements like TikTok have motivated real-world actions, growth, and community engagement for the most compelling message.
In most cases, explicit TikTok mentions are unnecessary and even risky. But if your accomplishments are truly TikTok-dependent, find thoughtful ways to contextualize this positively. The key is good judgment – don’t invite unnecessary scrutiny.
How colleges are adjusting to TikTok and Gen Z social media
The rise of TikTok and other new social media platforms has caught some admissions officers off guard in recent years. As Generation Z applicants flock to these new apps, colleges are adapting their policies and training staff to keep up. Here are some ways colleges are reacting:
– **Updating social media training:** Many colleges are expanding training to make sure staff understand emerging platforms like TikTok and best practices for viewing them in context.
– **Focusing on larger themes:** Admissions officers are encouraged to focus less on particular platforms and more on what larger themes an applicant’s social media presence conveys about their character.
– **Relying on official guidance:** Colleges are developing more official guidance on if and when to consult social media during the admissions process to improve consistency.
– **Increasing collaboration:** Admissions and social media/communications teams are working together more closely to develop thoughtful policies around viewing applicants’ online presences.
– **Adding platform questions:** Some colleges have added optional questions to portals inviting applicants to share social media only if they feel it provides valuable context about their talents and interests.
– **Growing cautiously:** Most colleges remain cautious about overemphasizing platforms like TikTok, wanting to avoid inappropriate overreach into applicants’ social lives.
While adapting, most colleges are proceeding thoughtfully, not wanting social media screening to veer into invasion of privacy. Their aim is assessing character, not policing teen digital lives. TikTok relevance remains limited for most applicants, but schools aim to be prepared.
The role of TikTok and social media in college admissions: conclusions
The rise of TikTok has led to understandable questions around if and how colleges view applicants’ accounts during the admissions process. While practices vary between institutions, a few overarching conclusions stand out:
– Routine TikTok screening remains very limited due to time and resource constraints. Proactive searches are rare.
– Admissions officers may view profiles of applicants who specifically mention TikTok in their applications to provide helpful context.
– Concerning content anywhere online could negatively impact admissions chances as a character red flag.
– For most students, TikTok doesn’t directly aid or harm admissions chances, but provides helpful context in some cases.
– Strategic TikTok use could positively showcase talents, achievements and personality at the margins.
– Students should thoughtfully manage TikTok presence during admissions, but widespread fear is unfounded.
The bottom line is that while colleges are unlikely to be watching your every TikTok, a little caution never hurts. Focus your energy on conveying your best self holistically across all dimensions, not any one platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can colleges see your private TikTok account?
No, colleges cannot see your TikTok content if your account is set fully to private. They would have to send you a follow request which you would have to approve for access. Few colleges realistically have the time to do this for all applicants. However, anything posted publicly on TikTok could be visible.
Can your TikTok affect college admissions even if you don’t link it?
It’s very unlikely unless your account is truly notable within your school community and known to the admissions office. For most students, TikTok has no impact on admissions unless specifically made known through direct links/mentions.
Do Ivy League schools look at TikTok profiles when making decisions?
It’s not a standard policy, but some Ivy admissions officers admit to occasionally viewing TikTok accounts they come across to provide additional context, especially for very strong applicants being considered for limited spots. However, there is no evidence of systematic TikTok screening.
Is it ok to link my TikTok on college applications if I use it to showcase my talents?
This can be acceptable if the content is clearly substantive and provides meaningful context into skills/passions like dance, music, art, etc. But avoid linking to accounts used mainly for silly humor or random documentation of your life – it likely doesn’t help.
Could a questionable TikTok video get your college acceptance rescinded?
It’s extremely unlikely one random questionable video alone would lead to a rescinded acceptance. But a consistent pattern of concerning behavior across platforms might, especially if indicative of illegal activities, bullying, hate speech etc. A one-off controversial video is unlikely to derail your admission.
What’s better for college apps – TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube?
It depends on the context and content. Instagram or YouTube may allow better presentation of visual art, music, filmmaking talents. Twitter could demonstrate writing/communication skills. Use the platform(s) that best let you authentically showcase relevant talents and interests.
The bottom line
While TikTok has exploded in popularity, its direct impact on college admissions remains quite limited for most applicants. Proactive screening by colleges is minimal. Therefore, students should not excessively stress about admissions officers critiquing their videos. However, taking some reasonable steps to manage your presence and avoid concerning content is wise. Focus on presenting your best self across all platforms – but don’t believe every TikTok will make or break your chances.