Internships, non-profits, independent research, app development, passion project, passion project, passion project—recognize any of these terms?

If your internal voice just said yes, I can almost guarantee that you’ve come across these potentially anxiety-inducing words through, I hate to say it, that phone of yours. 

I could go on about how social media has changed the way we feel, think, and ultimately receive our information. Social media gives a platform to the loud and confident, or influencers, who can play a part in how young people think. If you’re new to the age of the For You Page, the “influencer” generally has their own niche: including but not limited to fitness, cooking, gaming, and, of course, college admissions.

The college admissions influencer usually shares statistics like standardized test scores, GPA, and extracurricular activities that helped them get into the U.S.’s top universities. Their pages hold valuable information for high school students as they provide an idea of what college admissions officers are looking for in applicants. 

However, such influencers end up making an ideal application profile that can cause high schoolers to feel unqualified for spots at top colleges.

So, should you listen to this sort of influencer? In my opinion, the short answer is no—yet you shouldn’t completely rule out the perspective of students that made it through the ultra-competitive admissions processes of the most elite universities.

Simply put, social media pages of all sorts are brands. The primary goal of influencers is to gain followers, profit off of views, and ultimately grow their brand. Achieving a high virtual presence is no easy feat, so influencers depend on rapid, short-form content loaded with energy and high stakes. These videos, helpful or not, are designed to grab the attention of the consumer within seconds.

The problem that I find with this type of content—especially in the case of college admissions videos—is that they neither provide the bigger picture nor showcase other perspectives. 

The brevity of college admissions content then inadvertently makes the road to a top school seem like a one-size-fits-all program. You may hear as you’re scrolling that you must create a college resume stacked with national awards and high impact passion projects; after all, these are the activities that the influencer did during their time in high school.

And while it worked for them, it may not work for you.

Now, I’m not saying to completely give up being involved in your extracurriculars. As college admissions influencers frequently emphasize, the extracurricular section of your application can be a valuable asset if used correctly. My opinion is that the activities that influencers recommend aren’t exactly tailored to each of your individual interests.

Although doing certain extracurricular activities solely to look better on paper is an attractive strategy to get into a dream university, college admissions officers value authenticity and variety in their incoming freshman class. That said, the best way to stand out from the vast field of applicants may be to develop a resume that doesn’t adhere to a plan outlined in a 30-second video.

The college admissions advice in social media apps has the potential for students to look at the profiles of high-achieving students. Unfortunately college admissions content, like the other effects of social media, has created feelings of stress and inadequacy in teenagers.

Recently, I attended an open house at the University of Chicago to hear from members of the admissions committee. Something that stuck out to me was their calm disposition (compared to the high-energy admissions influencer) when discussing the application process, often highlighting the importance of using the essay to become a unique and distinguishable candidate.

Another takeaway was this: college application season should not be a time to stress or feel insufficient; instead, it should be a time to reap the rewards of the work that you’ve put in during the last three years. 

So, whether you listen to influencers is up to you. But answer one more question: are universities looking for students who conveniently get their information from social media, or individuals that engage in critical thinking beyond the For You Page?