College Admissions:Resources for Advisors, Students, and Parents

Reality Check: Your online image matters!

• COLLEGE ADMISSION:• A survey of 500 colleges found that 10% of

college admissions officers admitted viewing social-networking sites to evaluate applicants.

• Of those who viewed the sites, 38% said that their view of the applicant was “negatively impacted” by what the applicant posted online.– Some admissions officers admitted rejecting the

applicant because of the applicant’s online content.

• Only 25% said that their view of the applicant was improved by what they saw online.

• http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122170459104151023.html

Reality Check: Your online image matters!

• COLLEGE ATTENDANCE:• Calvin College expelled a student AND referred

him for a mental health evaluation because of comments he made on Facebook about his ex-girlfriend.– http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/

2009/02/calvin_college_expels_student.html

• Millersville University denied a student her teaching degree because of ‘unprofessional’ pictures and posts about her supervising teacher on MySpace.– http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/

social_network_profile_costs_woman_college_degree.php

Reality Check: Your online image matters!

• BEYOND COLLEGE:

• In one study of companies with 1,000 or more employees, 8% acknowledged having fired employees because of their behavior on sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.

• 15 percent have disciplined an employee for violating multimedia sharing / posting policies

• 13 percent investigated an “exposure event” involving mobile or Web-based short message services

• 17 percent disciplined an employee for violating blog or message board policies

• http://mashable.com/2009/08/10/social-media-misuse/

Safeguarding your online reputation…

• Use common sense: If you don’t want your parents, grandparents, school administrators, or the general public to know about it, don’t post it!

• Consider the possible consequences of your posts.• Use your privacy settings to limit access to your online

profile, and keep up-to-date with any changes in your privacy options.

• If possible, keep your list of online friends hidden…remember that their info may also be visible to others, and you may be deemed ‘guilty by association’.

• Consider how quickly your information can be forwarded to people beyond your group of friends via text, IM, or email.

Safeguarding your online reputation…

• Avoid cyber-bullying! Internet comments are not necessarily private, and you do not want to be perceived as a bully.

• Make an effort to use your online profile as a POSITIVE tool…intentionally post occasional updates about your accomplishments, interests, school involvement, etc…anything that will reflect WELL on you.

Internet Protection: Tools for Parents/Schools/Employers

• Types of Protection:– Internet Filtering/Blocking

• Filtering/Blocking access to sites that a parent/school/employer finds objectionable or that is not conducive to learning/productivity.

– Internet Monitoring• Monitoring a computer’s search history, websites

visited, keystrokes, IM conversations, etc.

• Internet Filter Software Options:– http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/

Other Useful Tools for the College Admission Process

• Test prep, Study Tips, and Financial Aid info:– http://www.studyguidezone.com/

• Data sharing between high schools and colleges, and between counselors, students, and parents:– http://www.connectedu.net/corp/