Using LinkedIn to Tell Your Story
Student athletes are recognized as leaders in the making. Many of them are balancing rigorous academics, competitive sports, and commitments to their family and community all while in pursuit of their many goals. Sharing this with the world, especially with college admissions professionals and college athletic coaches can be a true difference maker during the recruitment and admissions process.
This is where LinkedIn comes in.
What Admissions Teams & Coaches Want
Colleges aren’t just admitting GPAs and coaches aren’t just filling their rosters with capable athletes. From an admissions perspective they are admitting students with the institutional mission in mind, while from the athletic perspective they are building their teams with their program in mind. Numerous factors are at play. Admissions officers want to understand what motivates you, just as coaches do. How you carry yourself, and what you care about matters. LinkedIn gives student athletes a powerful and professional platform to show this.
It is not about trying to look perfect. It is about showing up with purpose.
How Student Athletes Can Use LinkedIn
Here are a few ways we encourage student athletes to make the most of LinkedIn:
Showcase your story: Use your profile summary to explain your values, what you are passionate about, and how your experiences on and off the field have shaped who you are.
Highlight impact: Add achievements like academic awards, athletic honors, leadership roles, service projects, and internships. These tell colleges that you take initiative and follow through.
Build your network: Follow coaches, admissions reps, mentors, and programs you are interested in. The more you engage, the more doors you open.
Create thoughtful posts: Share reflections after a big game, community service event, or academic milestone. These posts help college admissions professionals and coaches see your voice in action.
Why It Matters
You already have a full plate, so why add something else? Because LinkedIn gives you a chance to control your narrative. It is your space to connect the dots between athletics, academics, and your future ambitions. And in today’s world of college admissions and NIL opportunities, that clarity makes a difference.
It’s as simple as visiting the LinkedIn website or app, agreeing to their terms, and creating your profile.
Beyond Admissions & Recruitment
At POLARIS, we help student athletes build a strategy that includes recruiting, college admissions, and personal growth. A professional digital presence is part of that game plan. LinkedIn is not just a resume. It is a reflection of who you are becoming.
The thoughtful presence that student athletes create on LinkedIn extends beyond admissions and recruitment. In the NIL realm, brands are seeking student athletes who represent their values and engage with their communities. LinkedIn provides those decision makers with the opportunity to learn more about their potential partners in an organic way.
Good things happen when student athletes showcase leadership, articulate their goals, and highlight partnerships or service projects that reflect their identity. LinkedIn positions them not just as student athletes, but as young professionals with a personal brand rooted in substance.