Social Media – How to Make It Work For MBA Admissions

This article is sponsored by Stacy Blackman Consulting. Learn more about their MBA admissions services.

We are officially living in a digital world, and much of our digital life is lived through our online profiles, connections, friends and groups. If you’re applying for business school, chances are you’ve already caught on to the benefits of ‘liking’ your prospective schools on Facebook so their news shows up in your feed, or taking to Twitter to follow professors you admire and interesting alumni (not to mention the deans who hold the keys to the kingdom). All of the connections and information you glean through social media gives you context and a familiarity with schools, MBA admissions committees and contacts, which can be useful in your application essays and interviews.

But the information highway should have a giant caution sign on the onramp. Social media is a two-way street. Today, MBA admissions committees are more than hip to the fact that social media profiles can provide an eye-opening glimpse of prospective students – complete with facts, pictures, opinion and affiliations that are typically not divulged on the traditional application.

The ‘grandma test’ for your public profile

To prepare for this exposure, give your online identity ‘the grandma test’. Search for your name on both Google and Yahoo to see what comes up. Don’t forget to search for images of yourself too. If you come across anything you wouldn’t want your grandmother to see, then take it down or render it private. Double-check your privacy setting on Facebook as well. You can proudly let your personality shine through, but now’s the time to ‘clean up’ your online reputation and remove anything inappropriate.

Your application MBA essay, enhanced by your profile

Furthermore, it’s key to not only polish your online persona, but also make it work for you. The current trend is toward schools reducing both the number of MBA essays they require and the word count for the remainder, making it more difficult to convey all the aspects of yourself that would make you a well-rounded, in-demand candidate. Fear not – social media can be a great way to help tell your story and reveal those interesting character traits.

For example, if you have a cooking blog, you need only reference it in your MBA essay and suddenly that whole side of you comes alive to the MBA admissions committee. If you are an intrepid traveler with a rich Instagram account, mention it and your photos will show them that aspect of your personality. There is a good chance they WILL look. Given that most schools are trimming required MBA essays and word counts, this is a great way to sneak in information without wasting words or going off topic.

MBA admissions committees are looking at ‘the big three’

As an MBA admissions consultant, I recommend that all applicants have profiles on the ‘big three’:

Facebook – It’s the largest social media network in the world and most likely the first place admissions committees will look. It’s important that your privacy settings are configured just right and they see what you want them to see.

Twitter – This is the best platform for expressing your interests and engaging with likeminded people. Your profile should be public to better help you share your story.

LinkedIn – This essential professional network is a must for anyone embarking on a career.

Other social media sites to leverage can include Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, YouTube, G+, and personal blogs. Stacy Blackman Consulting offers a service to help you navigate these waters and curate an ideal online identity that will both support and augment your MBA journey. Check it out our website. Until then, we’ll see you in cyberspace.