When it comes to college prep, parents usually focus on grades, test scores, and application deadlines. But there’s another area that’s becoming increasingly relevant and sometimes overlooked: your teen’s social media presence. College admissions officers aren’t just reading essays and transcripts. In some cases, they’re Googling applicants and checking out what’s publicly available online.

So, what should parents know about the role of social media and college admissions, and how can you help your teen put their best digital foot forward?