What do your kids'
Facebook profiles say about them? Some universities are using the social networking tool to screen applicants. Information on their profile can could keep them out of college.
Glenn Dillard, in admissions at Harding University, uses Facebook to communicate with prospective students.
"Fifteen years ago it was email, then it was instant messaging. Who IM's anymore? Now it's Facebook. It's great to be able to get in touch with students. So many students use Facebook from their mobile phone, from their iPhone, their Blackberry," says Dillard.
But here's a warning for students and their parents. Ten percent of admission officers are now using Facebook to evaluate applicants. What is on your child's Facebook page right now that might get him or her denied admission to college?
"The social media is just one more way for us to verify information about applicants," says Thomas Griffin.
Thomas Griffin is director of undergrad admissions at North Carolina State University and says in rare cases when admissions officers have concerns about an applicant, they look them up on Facebook and
Myspace.
Questionable Facebook and Myspace postings have become so common colleges are now warning students via their own social networking sites.
"There have been times when a student does something online, we have to go back and look at it. It can affect our decision negatively," says Janet Rapelye, Dean of Admissions at Princeton.
In fact, a survey found more than a third of the time admissions officers said their impressions of the student were negatively impacted, potentially preventing or revoking admission.
"You have to have common sense whatever is on your Facebook is out there for anyone in the world to see," says UALR student Wes Copeland. "I've definitely seen some stuff that I would not, if I were that person, I would not allow myself, you know if I saw myself being tagged in a photo or something, I would get rid of that tag immediately."
"If there is something compromising on that page or something you have done you're not proud of. You should probably clean that up before starting the admissions process," says Rapelye.
It is good advice and if not heeded, it might keep you from getting into the college of your choice. The survey also mentioned 31 percent of the admissions officers were positively impacted by their evaluation on the social networking sites.
