What you post on social media is not only for your friends to see, despite what you may think. When seeking out a college, every little detail matters, even your social media account. More than ever, coaches and recruiters are using social media to get a better idea of who their recruits are during the recruiting process.
Your online presence (LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, etc.) must match your academic and athletic resume. Even if the variance between your resume and social media accounts is an honest mistake, it may come off as poor attention to detail or that you are prone to make social errors.
Related: Columbia, Brown, and MIT Coaches Talk to Keirsten about Social Media
When you become a college athlete, your social media no longer only represents yourself, it becomes a representation of the team, the athletic department, and the entire school. Being a college athlete comes with this responsibility, so coaches want to see that you are responsible on social media before they sign you onto the team.
This short video includes some simple tips to keeping your social media accounts clean and recruit-ready:
- Avoid posting drugs or alcohol, even in the background of images
- Avoid hate speech or any cyber bullying
- Don't post anything you wouldn't want your grandma (or coach) to see
These simple tricks will prepare you for the excitement and responsibility of becoming a college athlete!
* Originally published on August 29, 2021, by Lauren Bennett
