Manhattan Prep/Kaplan Survey: Most MBA Applicants Consider Their Social Media Posts “Fair Game” in the Admissions Process

Rhea-AI Summary

A recent survey by Manhattan Prep and Kaplan reveals that most MBA applicants believe their social media posts are 'fair game' for admissions officers. The survey, conducted among 306 aspiring business school students, found that 59% consider social media checks fair, while 41% view it as an invasion of privacy.

Furthermore, 66% of respondents believe their social media content would not impact their admissions chances, 22% think it would help, and 12% feel it would hurt. Only a small portion (3%) plan to delete posts before applying.

Stacey Koprince, director of content and curriculum at Manhattan Prep, notes that while social media is a factor, key admission criteria include standardized test scores, work experience, GPA, recommendations, essays, and interviews. It is advised that applicants remain cautious about their online presence.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• 41% of surveyed applicants believe social media checks by admissions officers are an invasion of privacy.
• 66% of respondents feel that social media checks have no impact, which raises questions about the effectiveness of such evaluations.
• Only 3% of respondents plan to delete social media posts, suggesting a potential risk of negative content impacting admissions.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A new Manhattan Prep/Kaplan survey of more than 300 aspiring business school students finds that a majority believe they have little to fear when it comes to their social media posts harming their admissions chances.* Among the findings:

• Legit Factor: Of those surveyed, 59 percent say that what prospective students post on social media sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok is “fair game” for admissions officers to use to help them decide who gets in; but 41 percent disagree and think it’s “an invasion of privacy that shouldn’t be done.”
• Low Impact: Two-thirds (66 percent) of respondents say that if an admissions officer had full access to all of their social media posts right now, it would have no impact on their chances of getting in; 22 percent said it would help their chances; the remaining 12 percent say it would hurt their chances.
• Minimal Scrubbing: So confident are respondents in the content they posted that only 3 percent say they will “definitely” delete social media posts before applying to business school; 10 percent say “probably”; 38 percent say “probably not”; 35 percent say “definitely not”; and the remaining 13 percent say they are “unsure.”

“The vast majority of today’s business school applicants are millennials and Gen Zers who grew up on social media, regularly using it to tell stories, share, and express themselves, so it’s not too surprising that most are comfortable with admissions officers evaluating them on the content they post. Though it is notable that some respondents told us that they are concerned their political views shared on social media might be held against them,” said Stacey Koprince, director of content and curriculum, Manhattan Prep, which is owned by Kaplan.

“In separate conversations we’ve had with many business school admissions officers, we found that they largely agree that it’s ‘fair game’ to visit applicants’ social media profiles, though most told us they rarely do it,” Koprince added. “While social media remains a wildcard in the process, we encourage prospective students to focus on what we know will most impact their chances of getting in, namely their scores on the GMAT®, GRE®, or EA®, work experience, undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, admissions essays, and interviews. That said, we also caution everyone to be careful what they post online. The hunt for online clout can sometimes have unexpected consequences.”

Contact russell.schaffer@kaplan.com to speak with a business school admissions expert.

Test names are the property of the respective trademark holders, none of whom endorse or are affiliated with Kaplan.

*The online Manhattan Prep/Kaplan survey was conducted in March-April 2024 and included responses from 306 aspiring business school students across the United States. All answers were rounded to the nearest whole number.

About Kaplan

Kaplan, Inc. is a global educational services company that helps individuals and institutions advance their goals in an ever-changing world. Our broad portfolio of solutions help students and professionals further their education and careers, universities and educational institutions attract and support students, and businesses maximize employee recruitment, retainment, and development. Stanley Kaplan founded our company in 1938 with a mission to expand educational opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Today, our thousands of employees working in 27 countries/regions continue Stanley’s mission as they serve about 1.2 million students and professionals, 15,000 corporate clients, and 3,300 schools, school districts, colleges, and universities worldwide. Kaplan is a subsidiary of the Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC). Learn more at kaplan.com.

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240624228440/en/

Press: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com

Twitter: @KaplanEdNews

Source: Kaplan, Inc.

FAQ

What did the Manhattan Prep and Kaplan survey reveal about MBA applicants' views on social media checks?

The survey revealed that 59% of MBA applicants believe social media checks by admissions officers are fair, while 41% consider it an invasion of privacy.

How many MBA applicants believe that social media content would not impact their admission chances?

According to the survey, 66% of MBA applicants believe their social media content would not impact their chances of admission.

What percentage of MBA applicants plan to delete their social media posts before applying?

Only 3% of surveyed MBA applicants plan to delete their social media posts before applying to business school.

Who commented on the implications of social media checks in the MBA admissions process?

Stacey Koprince, director of content and curriculum at Manhattan Prep, commented on the implications, advising applicants to be cautious with their online presence.

What are the key admission criteria mentioned in the Manhattan Prep and Kaplan survey?

The key admission criteria include standardized test scores (GMAT, GRE, EA), work experience, undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, admissions essays, and interviews.