10 November 2020
With over a quarter of a million members, r/ApplyingToCollege is home to a lot of students – who flock there to talk with one another about their concerns, share memes, and ask questions about college admissions.
If you’re not familiar with Reddit, it calls itself the “front page of the internet”. Founded in 2005 – and not changing a huge amount since then – Reddit allows any user to post and share images, links and stories which other users then “upvote” and comment on. It’s like many other social networking sites – but users tend to use nicknames rather than real names, and conversations are sorted into themed “subreddits”.
With 330 million monthly users and 21 billion views per month, Reddit is “more influential in higher ed than you think.”
r/ApplyingToCollege is one such subreddit. It was founded in 2013 as a place for students to discuss their college application process. For admissions professionals, it offers a unique insight into the mindset of college applicants. They declare their woes with college websites, they share the real disappointment of missing out on a place at their chosen school, they guide one another through the confusing world of college apps.