<p>Seems like lots of people are changing their Facebook names to hide from admissions officers, but is it really necessary? Do they really check? My facebook doesn't even have anything bad, but I'd still rather it not be a factor in their decision. Are applicants' facebooks frequently checked enough that it truly makes sense? There is also the rumor that adcoms have the ability to break through privacy restrictions and see anything on one's profile. I don't particularly believe that rumor; however, I am concerned about the rumor that if it comes down to a decision between you and another applicant then they will check your facebook and such. I feel like with such a seemingly perpetual pile of applications nowadays, however, that it would be nearly impossible for them to actually check up on us, but I'm not sure. So is it worth it?</p>
<p>The rumors about them being able to break through privacy restriction are bogus. They are college admissions offices, not the NSA! :eek: Do not change your name. You should, however, tighten your privacy settings if you haven’t already to only allow your friends to see things. And for heaven’s sake, remove or hide anything an admissions office might find offensive if they did see it (red cups, offensive posts, etc.). I doubt they are looking, but this holds true in the future for employers, etc. Just don’t put stuff on social media that you wouldn’t want consumed by a wider audience.</p>
<p>Look at it this way – in four years, someone on your Facebook might help you find your first job. My D1 ended up getting a job with a company through a student at her college that was one year ahead of her. And she also friended people she met at internships, etc. The lines between work and play start to blur in the next couple of years, so clean up your accounts now and keep them clean with that in mind.</p>
<p>I swear if they do, then I can file a petition for violating my privacy settings :D</p>
<p>you’ll do lot better if you can temporarily deactivate it or lock the wall. because sometimes friends do tag stupid things. and they really want to do that? one admission officer only spend 8-10 minutes per application.</p>
<p>Intparent has given really good advice.</p>
<p>You should make your privacy settings on Facebook pretty restrictive, not because you’re applying to college, but because you should do that anyway.</p>
<p>You should remove from your Facebook anything that might reflect badly on you if a college admissions officer saw it, not because you’re applying to college, but because it’s the Internet. They call it the World Wide Web because it’s public, and only a grade-A idiot would knowingly put such stuff about himself or herself online.</p>
<p>And if you’ve done those two things, there’s no earthly reason why you need to change your Facebook name, or take down your Facebook, or do anything else of the kind.</p>