Your Social Media While Applying to Business School
Originally published on October 19, 2023. Updated on November 6, 2025.
Social media is where a lot of life happens. It’s how we share opinions, celebrate wins, jump into debates, and show up for the communities we care about. But how does that play out when you’re applying to an MBA program? Could sharing a strong take on a political issue, reposting someone else’s opinion, or commenting on a trending topic actually influence how admissions committees see you?
It’s a fair question, and one we hear often. Especially in a world where your feed isn’t just curated reels anymore. It’s a mix of unfiltered moments, strong opinions, and whatever was trending that day. When you’ve spent years using social platforms as a personal outlet, it’s easy to forget that someone in admissions might see it through a different lens.
So, how much digging will an MBA admissions committee actually do? It’s quite likely that they will at least review your LinkedIn profile. Many applications even ask for the link. Depending on what comes up in a quick search, they may also see other public profiles, including Instagram, Reddit, or X.
Why Your Social Media Matters in MBA Admissions
If you’re granted an interview, your online presence may give interviewers an added perspective on your background and interests. (We always tell applicants to assume that their interviewer will have looked them up.) And once admitted, you’ll meet plenty of new faces at admitted students’ weekends and on campus…and we all know how tempting it is to look up a new peer online, right?
So, how can you ensure that your social media doesn’t negatively impact your MBA applications?
Pro Tip #1: Give Your Social Media the Mother-In-Law Test
One simple way to assess your public online presence is the “Mother-in-Law Test.” Imagine meeting your significant other’s family for the first time. What would they find if they Googled you?
Start by searching your name online and reviewing what’s publicly visible. Then, take the following steps:
- Check Privacy Settings: Update privacy settings on all social media accounts to control what others can see.
- Curate Your Public Content: Make sure your public posts and comments reflect positively on you. Avoid anything that could raise questions, such as photos involving excessive drinking or posts that could be taken out of context. Even small adjustments can make a big difference.
The idea isn’t to sanitize your personality. It’s to make sure what’s visible aligns with how you’d want to be perceived in a professional or admissions context. Just like you’d dress thoughtfully or choose your words carefully when meeting a future in-law, your online presence should convey self-awareness and good judgment.
Post Thoughtfully and Lead with Positivity
MBA programs value diverse perspectives and thoughtful dialogue, so while sharing your viewpoints is fine, avoid engaging in heated debates or posting anything that might be viewed as insensitive or divisive. If in doubt, seek a second opinion from someone with a different perspective.
Demonstrate leadership through positive engagement by showing support for others. Congratulating peers, acknowledging achievements, and offering encouragement can help build a strong leadership profile, an important quality that admissions committees look for in candidates.
Pro Tip #2: Social Media Is an Extension of Your Personal Brand
When managed strategically, your social media presence can actually strengthen your MBA application. Think of it as an extension of your personal brand, reinforcing the unique skills and career goals you’re showcasing in your application.
Optimize LinkedIn and Add Authenticity to Your Profile
Start with LinkedIn. A polished, professional profile can go a long way in making a strong first impression.
- Craft a clear headline: Use more than just your job title. For example: “Strategy consultant with expertise in consumer products and technology, passionate about mentoring first-generation college students.”
- Ensure consistency: Your LinkedIn profile should align with your resume and application materials — no contradictions or surprises.
- Add a personal touch: If you mention running, traveling, or volunteering in your application, include that in your online presence too. It makes your story more complete.
You can also build credibility by following industry leaders, engaging with thought leadership, or sharing content relevant to your goals. These small details help admissions teams see a well-rounded, engaged, and authentic version of you.
Your Digital Footprint Is Bigger Than You Think
We’ve talked a lot about social media, but let’s zoom out for a minute. Your digital presence doesn’t stop with what you post on Instagram or LinkedIn. In reality, anything about you that lives online could show up in an admissions committee’s Google search, and sometimes, it does.
That might include an op-ed you wrote for your college newspaper, an old club blog, a personal essay you published on Medium, or even a news story with your name in it, good or bad. Maybe it’s something you’re proud of. Maybe it’s something you’d rather forget. Either way, it’s out there, and it’s part of your story.
“I remember Googling a client to better understand the story she shared in her essay about her family’s involvement in a legal scandal,” says Kristen Lindeman, a Vantage Point consultant and former MIT Sloan admissions committee member. “If there’s something out there that could raise questions and you can’t control it, the smart move is to address it head-on. The optional essay can be a great place to take accountability, as long as you’re not drawing more attention to it than necessary. And if it’s a matter of public record, you definitely don’t want to say it didn’t happen. That’s an honor code issue.”
So what does that mean for you as an applicant?
It means you can’t always control what shows up online, but you can control how you address it.
Here’s how to think about it:
- If there’s something publicly available that could raise questions, like a disciplinary issue, legal matter, or article that tells only part of the story, consider using the optional essay to get ahead of it. Not to rehash every detail, but to show ownership and maturity. A clear, measured explanation can go a long way.
- Don’t skip questions about past infractions or misconduct just because you think no one will find out. If it’s a matter of public record and you say it didn’t happen, that becomes the issue. Integrity matters. Schools can revoke offers if something concerning surfaces after the fact.
- Make sure your story is verifiable. It’s not just about avoiding big red flags. It’s about consistency. If you say you led a 20-person team or were featured in Forbes, make sure that claim holds up when someone Googles you.
And yes, even the seemingly minor stuff, like your comment on someone else’s post, your Reddit username, or the pages you follow, can pop up. Admissions officers don’t have unlimited time, but they don’t always need to go down a rabbit hole. If something questionable is visible in a quick search, that may be all they see. As Kristen puts it, “It’s not just your profile. They might see who you follow or what you like.” Think receipts, screenshots, timelines (Real Housewives style!) While affiliations alone aren’t likely to bias an adcom, your online behavior could shape their impression of you.
The bottom line? Your digital footprint doesn’t need to be spotless. But it should be intentional, consistent, and reflective of the story you’re telling in your application. A quick search shouldn’t create confusion. It should reinforce your credibility and strengthen your overall candidacy.
If you’re applying to business school and looking for more MBA admissions advice, follow our social media presence (see what we did there) on LinkedIn and Instagram! You can also reach out to schedule an initial 30-minute consultation here.
Katie is a passionate mentor and coach, helping her clients craft a unique, compelling story by leveraging her experience as a corporate executive, alumni interviewer, and campus recruiter. Before completing her MBA at Kellogg, Katie spent five years in banking where she learned practical finance skills as well as how to operate in a demanding, high pressure environment. She pursued an MBA in order to transition to an industry role where she could utilize her finance knowledge to drive change within an organization. Post-MBA, she worked in finance and strategy for a leading CPG firm, progressing to an executive role leading the finance function for a $2B business segment. Her experience managing diverse teams led to a passion for developing others. In addition to her day-to-day responsibilities, she led her firm’s MBA recruiting efforts and served as an alumni admissions interviewer for Kellogg.
