<p>Hi everyone. </p>
<p>Just a note from an alumni interviewer (for what it's worth, an Ivy, although could be any school).</p>
<p>I just received the last of my student interview assignments for the season. The name sounded familiar, and I wanted to make sure there was no conflict of interest (name was the same of a classmate of mine), so I did a quick google. What came up immediately was a twitter account and a FB presence. The twitter account came up with a piece of information that indicated to me I might indeed have that "conflict of interest", so I clicked into it, and was immediately so sorry I did. A string of pretty careless quotes and a "party picture" was the first thing that flashed before my eyes. Two weeks left to do interviews, and I think I'm going to have to pass this young person's interview to another alum.</p>
<p>Not because I even know I have a conflict, but because up until now, I have been able to appreciate meeting every student for exactly the first time. The way they would like to present themselves to me in the interview is the way they should be able to present themselves. I am not a private detective and don't seek to find fault with students. Getting into college is hard enough as it is. As I've said in other posts, I view my job only as one of trying to help the student get where they would like to be. Admissions will do their job.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I really feel like now I should decline the interview, because of this young person's decisions to post the "party pictures" and quotes ... even if they came in looking like America's Next Top President, I don't think I would be able to see them the same way.</p>
<p>Likewise, I'm adding on here now that I have the opportunity, I have been really bothered by many posts on the "chance me" sections and "admitted/denied stats?" Some posts are so detailed that I absolutely fear that young people are leaving themselves open to be identified by admissions staff and their comments online tracked. It is not so hard these days to narrow things down. </p>
<p>As many of us "olds" say, thank heaven the internet and cell phones, etc. were not around when we were young. True we have also said and done many things to regret, but human memory is quite different than digital memory. Please be careful about what you post. I say this with best wishes for every member of this site.</p>