Using Captions and Hashtags on Social Media to Gain Exposure to Colleges and Universities
Social media is a powerful tool for high school students seeking college athletic scholarships or academic opportunities. Platforms like Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok are not just for entertainment—they’ve become strategic channels for personal branding. One of the most overlooked yet effective tactics is using strong captions and hashtags to increase visibility among college coaches and admissions officers.
Why Captions Matter
Captions help provide context to your posts. Whether you’re showcasing athletic highlights, community service, or academic achievements, a compelling caption can guide a viewer’s attention and communicate your values, goals, and personality.
According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), colleges are increasingly examining students’ social media as part of their holistic review process (NACAC, 2023). A well-written caption can show maturity, commitment, and purpose—traits that colleges value.
Tips for Writing Better Captions:
- Include your graduation year and position (e.g., “Class of 2026 | Midfielder”).
- Tag relevant teams, schools, and organizations.
- Use action-oriented language: Instead of “Game was good,” write “Led the team with 3 goals and 2 assists in today’s win!”
- Express gratitude or growth: Colleges want to see character development.
How Hashtags Boost Discoverability
Hashtags make your content searchable. When a coach or recruiter searches for prospects on Instagram or X, they often look through hashtags such as #studentathlete, #ClassOf2027, #NCAARecruit, or sport-specific tags like #lacrossercruit or #trackrecruiting.
According to a 2024 report by Hudl, more than 40% of college coaches say they have discovered new athletes through social media hashtags and follow-up searches (Hudl, 2024). That number is even higher among DII, DIII, and NAIA programs.
Effective Hashtag Strategies:
- Use a mix of general and specific tags: e.g., #studentathlete, #highschoolQB, #collegebound.
- Include location-based hashtags (e.g., #AZfootball, #CaliTrackStars).
- Avoid banned or overly generic tags: Stick to those relevant to your sport and year.
Which Platforms Work Best?
A study by the Journal of Social Media in Society found that Twitter/X and Instagram are the top platforms coaches use to research recruits, followed by Hudl and YouTube for video (JSMS, 2023). TikTok is growing in popularity, especially for showcasing athleticism and personality through short clips.
Make It Easy for Coaches
Use a pinned post or bio link to share your highlight reel, GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and contact info. Also, include your high school, club team, and a clear email address. Coaches value convenience when evaluating prospects.
References
- NACAC. (2023). Social Media’s Role in College Admissions. Retrieved from https://www.nacacnet.org/news–publications/newsroom/press-releases/social-media-admissions
- Hudl. (2024). Social Media and College Recruiting Report. Retrieved from https://www.hudl.com/blog/how-to-get-recruited-using-social-media
- The Journal of Social Media in Society. (2023). College Coaches and Athlete Recruitment on Social Media. Retrieved from https://thejsms.org/index.php/TSMRI/article/view/123
- NCSA. (2024). How to Use Hashtags to Get Recruited. Retrieved from https://www.ncsasports.org/blog/using-hashtags-to-get-recruited
- Sprout Social. (2023). Hashtag Research for Increased Engagement. Retrieved from https://sproutsocial.com/insights/hashtag-strategy
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