<p>Hi, I'm heading to Columbia this fall :) congrats to all you guys! I've got a semi strange question: I don't have Facebook (decided my senior year would be better spent having fun rather than photographing it) but I'm considering getting one again. I don't really want one, but would it be a disaster if I was w/o easy online contact? I don't exactly jump at the idea of being a cloistered nun, especially since I've heard that at Columbia it's a little harder for freshmen to make friends than at other places. </p>
<p>What do you think? Would you assume I was a serial killer if I didn't have a Facebook profile?</p>
<p>Out of the 200ish people I’ve met at Columbia, I’d say I know 2 who have decided not to have a Facebook. I think Facebook is very useful to keep in touch with people and find out what events are going on, etc. But if you have a really close group of friends and want to take the stance that you’d rather see people in real life than connect on Facebook, you can definitely get away with it. It will make it tougher to network with people and follow up with random people you meet at parties, etc. but you’ll survive as long as you can find a close-knit group of friends.</p>
<p>That said, you really have to consider how you want to act your freshman year. Do you want to meet tons of people and try lots of things? It will be difficult to stay in touch with everyone without a Facebook presence. Remember that you got rid of your Facebook in senior year when you already knew everyone; next year will be very different. So it might not be a bad idea to re-activate your Facebook, go on an NSOP/freshman friending frenzy, and then delete your Facebook once you’ve found your social circle.</p>