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The Real Scoop on Colleges? Just Peek at Instagram.
Life was pretty great with Rachel around. My partner and I could head out early and stay late, enjoying drinks with the kind of ease only parents with awesome childcare can have. But as August came to an end, it was time for Rachel to return to school, which was a downer for our social life. I added her on Facebook and followed her on Instagram, promising to stay connected until next summer.
“Hey, can you come here for a sec?” A few weeks later in October, my partner was on the couch with the laptop, his expression serious. I walked over to see what had his attention. “Check this out,” he said, turning the screen towards me.
And there was Rachel. Our Rachel. On Facebook. Holding a cigarette. In front of a bong. Wearing a crop top and shorts. Kissing both a girl and a boy at the same time. #awkward.
But here’s the kicker: while I couldn’t hit “unfollow” fast enough to shield myself from that wild glimpse into a college student’s life, a recent Time article revealed that high schoolers across the nation are eagerly stalking these unfiltered accounts—mostly on Instagram, since that’s where they’ve moved—to help them decide on colleges.
As one student told Time, “It’s like getting a tour of the school from a real student who isn’t paid to show you around and tell you what the admissions office wants you to hear. It’s a real and raw snapshot of that college.”
If that freaks you out, you’re not alone. But it’s actually pretty clever when you think about it. Instagram launched in 2010, which means the class of 2015 could document their entire high school lives online. Finding current college students to give the lowdown is just the next logical step. How else would they know what these kids are really up to, where they hang out, who has the best dorms, and the best nights to go out (hint: usually Thursday)?
How to Find Unofficial College Accounts
Wondering how to find these unofficial accounts? Start by checking a school’s official Instagram page, then explore the geotagged locations and school-specific hashtags. You’ll be rewarded with tons of images from actual students. And if that last sentence was all Greek to you, maybe it’s time to start thinking about applying to college. #justsaying
Additional Resources
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In summary, social media is transforming how prospective college students gather information about schools, offering an unfiltered peek into campus life that traditional tours simply can’t provide.