While this article is focused on undergraduate admissions, grad school applicants need to consider this as well. There is some important advice about social media and college admissions, but also good advice for everyone.
“… if you wouldn’t want something you posted to end up on a jumbotron in Times Square, DO NOT POST IT.”
Read the full NYT article by
We have been reading more and more that some medical school admissions committees and employers really look at applicant’s pages and posts, so we are now telling students to assume that all admissions committees look up applicants online. Barbara Fuller, M.P.H., director of admissions at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University says,
“Students on the admissions committee are more tech savvy and actually have been responsible for presenting information on candidates-acquired through internet searches-that changed an acceptance to a rejection. As an applicant, you are responsible for the ‘public face’ that the connected world sees.”
How do you find out what’s out there about you? Do web searches from various browsers and see what comes up. In addition to your social media accounts, you may find links to news articles, petitions you have signed electronically, and comments you have left on websites.
What might negatively influence the admissions committee? Anything illegal, showing poor judgement, or might be controversial can hurt your image.
How to protect yourself: Make all social networking accounts private. Approve all tags or check-ins and delete anything you are not proud of, or that might be misconstrued. It is best to err on the “less is more” idea.
Social media best practices:
- Make all accounts private
- Keep pictures, statuses, and comments clean
- Approve tags and check-ins from friends
- Always sign out of a public or shared computer
- Never share your password
*Excerpted from the AAMC Quick Answers to Common Questions About Getting Into Medical School