Facebook used for admissions

Undergraduate and graduate college admissions officers are no longer just looking at essays and letters of recommendation. They are now checking Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other popular social media networks during applicant assessments.

For the 2012 Kaplan Test Prep survey of college admissions officers, 350 admissions officers from the nation’s top 500 colleges and universities were polled. The survey was taken to see if social media networks impacted the chances of students being accepted into a school.

According to the annual survey, 35 percent of admissions officers reported discovering information that negatively affected the chances of admission for prospective students. The current percentage is up from last year’s 12 percent.

After online evaluations of potential students, admissions officers found evidence of plagiarized essays, blogs with vulgarities and photos of excess alcohol consumption.

With the popularity of Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram and blogging, it has become easy for employers and admissions officers to conduct Google searches and find any additional information on potential employees and students.

The Kaplan survey also found that 15 percent of colleges currently have rules that forbid the checking of social media networks. This statistic still leaves the vast majority of admissions officers the allowance to conduct searches as they see fit.

In an effort to help students put their best foot forward during the admission process, Kaplan Test Prep released 10 tips, listed below, to help students safeguard their social media networks.

Social networks are no longer uncharted territory for admissions officers. An inappropriate Facebook picture or derogatory tweet can keep students from being admitted into their top school choice.

 

Social Media Tips

1. Check your digital trail and make sure it’s clean

2. Limit your profile searchability

3. Keep your profile photo appropriate

4. Control who can contact you on Facebook

5. Remove your past posts from public view

6. Take control of tagging on your profile

7. Filter your friends network

8. Make your Twitter account permission-only

9. Or, change your Twitter handle to something not associated with your name

10. Be smart and think about everything you post online before you do it