Social Media 101: Ways Students & Colleges are Using the Web

Denise Royal, Contributing Writer

Updated: 3/12/2010

There is no question that social media is exploding. With the popularity of sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, the dominance of this type of media cannot be ignored. It seems almost everyone has a Facebook page and update their daily activities on Twitter.

That recent rise in popularity has revolutionized the way college kids assimilate to their new campus environment. Now, by using Facebook to communicate with each other and with upperclassmen at their colleges during the summer months, freshmen are arriving at school with ready-made friendships waiting for them on the first day.

According to CNN, when Facebook first launched in 2004, it required a valid ".edu" e-mail address to join, meaning that only current college students could create profiles. But after Facebook expanded its membership and opened to high-school students in fall 2005 -the site's membership boosted to 5.5 million users -- it was suddenly easier than ever for students to start getting ready for college early. Students who used to arrive for the first day of class isolated from their fellow classmates now benefit from the opportunity to accumulate a large network of contacts with just an e-mail address and a profile picture.

Other students are using their social network as they research and apply for colleges. A recent study indicates that more than 70 percent of college admission officials received Facebook or MySpace "friend requests" from applicants.

The survey of admissions officers at 401 colleges and universities was conducted by Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, but this was the first year they asked about friend requests, according to a recent report in USA Today.

Out of those surveyed, only 9 percent said they have looked at applicants' social networking pages to help evaluate applicants. Of those, one-third said viewing the applicants' pages negatively impacted their evaluation, while 31 percent said it positively impacted their evaluation.

It's clear that social media websites and higher education are in the beginning stages of their relationship. But there are signs that relationship is growing. Twenty-one percent of schools reported that they are developing relevant policies, up from 16 percent last year. And 13 percent reported already having policies in place, up from 10 percent a year ago.

Some colleges are increasing their use of social media websites to reach out to students. For example, George Washington University is on Facebook and posts updates on events and opportunities around campus. Offices and departments such as GW Sports and the The Elliott School of International Affairs have individual Twitter accounts.

This new type of cyber presence offers schools a great way to advertise. It's also a good idea for students to take advantage of these new tools. So if you're looking for information on a college, or you've already been accepted, using a social networking site can be a great way to stay informed and get involved.

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