<p>I've heard that colleges now look at your facebook or myspace pages for background research. Is that true for Columbia as well? If it is, how would they go about doing that? By e-mails? I have a facebook and i understnad how that works but i just never had a myspace...
I do not have anything that I have problem them looking at, but I am just wondering. Does anyone know?</p>
<p>For Facebook, it's easy to pretend to join the high school or city network that you're in and then view your profile.
Of course, one can change their settings to "friends only" instead of "some networks/all networks"</p>
<p>Doubt there's anything they can do to view private MySpaces except send a friend request</p>
<p>A kid had his acceptance cancelled at Princeton last year due to a Myspace or a Facebook viewing by adcom people that apparently turned up some not very flattering pictures of him. (Probably alcohol/drug usage.) Sucks for him, but honestly, I wouldn't want that kid there either.</p>
<p>I have no reason to believe that Columbia does this (but I'm not really in the know). Even if they have done this in the past, they're not going to do it for 20,000 people.</p>
<p>They're deciding whether you're good enough to attend a college -- a college where people do drugs, are underage drinkers, have premarital sex, etc. It's not like you're trying to get a security clearance for an FBI/CIA job or to get accepted to BYU.</p>
<p>HAHA funny post.</p>
<p>Where did you hear that they search through your facebook/myspace?</p>
<p>Also, I don't think taht they go through 20,000 applicants, I think taht they only do it (if they even do it) to those who they are considering accepting.</p>
<p>You know what I think? It's all in the e-mail. If your e-mail is <a href="mailto:joesmith@gmail.com">joesmith@gmail.com</a> then they're not going to think much of it. But if your e-mail is <a href="mailto:sexychick08@hotmail.com">sexychick08@hotmail.com</a> then yeah, maybe they'll be tempted to look you up.</p>
<p>They're not going to search 20,000 people or 1,800 people. It isn't a background check.</p>
<p>Well, I didn't mean Columbia specifically and I'm sure they won't check everyone, but I'm just saying if you have something that stands out in a negative way, they might. On the other hand, they also may not care enough to look you up.</p>
<p>I heard it from guidance counselors and some teachers.
I knew it wouldnt be a definite part of admissions but i was wondering if Columbia would do such thing as well.</p>
<p>Again, I have no problems with it.
I'd be honored if they looked at my facebook HAHA.
Yeah I'm definitely obssessed..</p>
<p>if it concerns you too much, privatize your profile, otherwise don't bother, it's logistically retarded for an ad com to go through facebook profiles regardless of how they decide which to go through. the princeton kid is either an urban myth or a freak coincidence, when an admissions officer found out by chance.</p>
<p>And don't post any pictures anywhere that have you doing drugs.</p>
<p>I guess there's always the possibility that someone who doesn't like you or sees you as competition could make a suggestion to admissions that they take a look at your online profiles. A simple link attached to an email could be devastating.</p>
<p>Sounds like a distortion of the facts.</p>
<p>Admissions committees do not actively seek out this information--but they do warn you that it is in the public domain and, as such, it is accessible to others. There is the potential for them to be sent negative material from these sites about an applicant and they make no promises that they will ignore it.</p>
<p>Who would send it? Don't know, maybe another applicant or an overly curious alumni interviewer.....</p>
<p>Actually this was on one of the morning news shows back during the duke case in NC and top tier colleges do look into them. I agree that they don't check 20K, but they openly admit that they google the candidates that have matriculated. Again this is for top tier, not every college, i.e. Rutgers couldn't go through 12k students, it would take a year to find out. Duke on the other hand doesn't want to get caught in any troule again.</p>
<p>Listen guys, if you put stuff on My Space or Facebook you are giving up your rights to privacy for that information. Anything you put on there is available to the public and admissions officers are part of the general public. </p>
<p>Now if you list all your accomplishments and links to various interests and delete anything with offensive or childish material it won't harm you. If your friends are putting things up like "oh my god he was so cute I can't believe you made out with him," then it is possible that someone who sees it will not consider you a responsible adult for allowing such things to be posted on your public space. </p>
<p>I'm pretty certain that Admissions Officers have enough work and in most cases wouldn't bother. There are occasions where someone (admissions officer or alumni interviewer) may be inclined to look you up for some more information (i.e. a really hot chick) and that's where it would pay to make sure you come off as a well rounded individual and not immature.</p>
<p>If you are worried about this the answer is simple - DELETE THE ACCOUNT, this way not only will admissions not be able to see it, but none of your friends or classmates can use this against you.</p>
<p>
[quote]
And don't post any pictures anywhere that have you doing drugs.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Or drinking alcohol, partying, in a bathing suit, posing with a stupid gesture, kissing your boyfriend/girlfriend, etc.</p>
<p>Not that any of that may be offensive, but if it was me, I wouldn't want to take the chance. Better safe than sorry kids.</p>
<p>Maybe they didn't look up that Princeton guy? Maybe someone linked them to the page or they stumbled upon it? The internet is a big place and you can't forget the admissions people have lives too. Maybe some surf the net all the time? Once you post something on the internet, you'll never know where it ends up, so play it smart and safe. Don't post anything you wouldn't want your mother to see.</p>