Dangerous Facebook...???

[141113]

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>Is there any way the admissions officers would look at your facebook profile? If they weren't sure about something or wanted to verify something... Could it realistically happen?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

[Browniebaker]

<p>This is why you need to manage your privacy settings. However, I understand you cannot control being tagged by name in a photo posted on Facebook.</p>

[yodastreet]

<p>I believe you can remove the tag if you wish, even if the photo is not yours.</p>

<p>Back to the question though, yes, it could happen. Unless you set your privacy settings to the highest levels. But would they seriously take time out of their already swamped schedules to do that?</p>

[Browniebaker]

<p>I Google interviewees in advance of the interview to understand their ECs better. Sometimes their Facebook profiles come up in Google searches. If so, I look at the Facebook profile.</p>

[WindCloudUltra]

<p>The answer is yes, they potentially can and might. Do they definitely do so on every case? Probably not. </p>

<p>Nonetheless, don’t underestimate the power of curiosity in human beings, which if case you need a reminder, most admissions officers (and interviewers) are. :)</p>

[Browniebaker]

<p>Also, you can remove a tag, but someone could put the tag back on. Therefore, you really can’t control tags.</p>

[WindCloudUltra]

<p>Just block access to your photos with the exception of friends–or just block them completely.</p>

[Browniebaker]

<p>^That just blocks access to YOUR own photos, not access to photos that have your name tagged to them that are posted by others.</p>

[Mustafah78]

<p>Harvard’s admissions office does not “Facebook” applicants; they seriously don’t have time for that. Plus, most of the admissions officers I’ve met are not naive, prudish, or petty enough to care about an unflattering picture of you with a red Solo cup in your hand (drug-use might be another story). Some were members of fraternities or sororities during college, and they know what goes on in high school.</p>

<p>But go ahead and turn up your privacy settings, anyway. You won’t regret it when you’re applying for that summer internship or term-time job.</p>

[WindCloudUltra]

<p>@Browniebaker: Actually, you CAN block access of any tagged photos of yourself FROM your own profile. Sure, other people can still see those photos if they clicked on someone else’s photo album, but there’s no way to do so from your profile. So theoretically someone who checks out your profile can’t access those photos by clicking on parts of your profile. However, if they happen to accidentally check out some photo album of someone else’s that you’re tagged in, that’s certainly possible.</p>

<p>@Mustafah: That’s probably true. Harvard adcoms (and members of the community at large) generally aren’t puritanical people despite being the place being founded by the Puritans.</p>

[Northstarmom]

<p>It’s probably easier for alum interviewers to see your profile if they happen to be friends with one of your FB friends. It can be a very small world. Don’t put anything on FB that you wouldn’t want an admission officer or prospective employer to see.</p>

[Tres_Elefantes]

<p>they won’t check. they haven’t the time. but the best fix for your paranoia: adjust privacy settings to make everything just available to friends. don’t post drinking pics where they might POSSIBLY be accessible to strangers. i think this is just good advice in general… why allow strangers access to any more personal info than necessary?</p>

[sirquixote]

<p>I’m ashamed that this is a serious question.</p>

[dreaming92]

<p>once you’ve untagged yourself, you can’t be re-tagged.</p>

[Browniebaker]

<p>You can be re-tagged in the same photo if the photo is re-posted.</p>

[dreaming92]

<p>fair play.</p>

[735375]

<p>idk, but for the very reason, my mom jacked my fb. asian parents ftw.</p>

[theskylitup]

<p>[Applicants</a>’ Facebook profiles may be viewed - The Daily Princetonian](<a href=“http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2010/02/10/25088/]Applicants”>http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2010/02/10/25088/)</p>

<p>

While the Office of Admission says it does not systematically investigate each applicant’s Facebook profile, prospective students should not consider their online activity safe from scrutiny.</p>

<p>“If an inappropriate or offensive online post came to the attention of the admission office, we would examine it,” Dean of Admission Janet Rapelye said in an e-mail. “As a regular part of the admissions process, we will consider any information that might cause us to doubt a student’s character, whether it is something posted online or another issue that comes to our attention.”</p>

<p>She added, though, that time constraints prevent admission officers from checking each applicant’s Facebook or Myspace profiles.</p>

<p>Max Lyons ’13 said he is not worried about Facebook’s effect on his future.</p>

<p>“I don’t put anything on Facebook that would deter me from furthering my life and career,” he said.</p>

<p>Alumni interviewers, as representatives of the admission office, are also asked to focus on face-to-face interactions with prospective students rather than their online personas.</p>

<p>“They do not generally view applicants’ online information,” Rapelye explained. “Their reports to our admission office are to be based on the in-person interviews they have with candidates.”</p>

<p>The admission office guides alumni interviewers through the interviewing process, asking them to “devote their full energy and attention to being receptive to how candidates present themselves in their in-person interviews,” Rapelye said.</p>

<p>“That said, we encourage students to think carefully about the material and information they post on the Internet,” she added.</p>

<p>Once students matriculate, Facebook and other social networking tools can also play a role in job and internship searches.</p>

<p>“Students should be aware that their Facebook profile may be accessible to others, and it is possible that inappropriate content posted there could jeopardize their chances of a job offer,” Beverly Hamilton-Chandler, director of Career Services, said in an e-mail.</p>

<p>“It is possible for employers to Google a candidate’s name as part of the candidate-selection process or background check and review information available on the Internet as a way to determine whether the candidate would be a good fit for their organization,” she added.</p>

<p>Hamilton-Chandler said that many employers are on sites like Facebook or LinkedIn for publicity and to connect with potential employees.</p>

<p>“In short, employers are on Facebook, and students should be very aware of this,” she said.</p>

<p>Hamilton-Chandler said she advises students who use Facebook, MySpace or similar social networking websites to “set the privacy settings on their profile so that any personal information or photos they do not wish to share with potential employers are not readily available for public viewing.”</p>

<p>She also suggested that students search their own name online to see what information is available to employers — or anyone else.</p>

<p>Emma Lawless ’13 said she adheres to Hamilton-Chandler’s recommendations.</p>

<p>“Everything on my Facebook is private, so that no one can see what I’ve posted on my wall,” she explained.</p>

<p>Sites such as LinkedIn are increasing in popularity for their use in professional — rather than personal — social networking.</p>

<p>“LinkedIn is becoming more popular with students, especially seniors,” Hamilton-Chandler said. “This site differs greatly from Facebook in that its main purpose is professional networking, not personal.”</p>

<p>LinkedIn operates similarly to an online resume and allows students to connect with professionals, though “students should be aware that connecting with professionals on LinkedIn is not the same as sending a ‘friend request’ on Facebook,” Hamilton-Chandler added.</p>

<p>If students are concerned about the image they are portraying online, Hamilton-Chandler noted that Career Services is “always happy to help guide students as to how they can present the best possible image to employers.”

</p>

[altruition]

<p>Northstarmom: lol. just go to Lamebook.com. You’ll see some of the…strangest things ever. Some of the stuff I didn’t even know existed.</p>

[anothercrazymom]

<p>My son’s boarding school just sent out an e-mail to all students and parents reminding them about facebook and social networking sites and their potential negative impact on college admissions. They usually do this in reaction to something the college counseling office has seen or feedback they have received from a university. Be sensible!</p>