Could You Get Turned
Down Because of Facebook?

college planning articles and tips

In recent years, many stories have surfaced revealing employees getting fired or potential employees never hired because of the information on their Facebook profile. These days, everything from pictures of your most recent event to details regarding your whereabouts are on public display. Irresponsible high schoolers may post photos of a day on the town during school hours, or worse yet, check in at the local cafe 20 miles from the school. If the teacher or principle saw it, you may get reprimanded, but could it also destroy your chances during the college admission process?

A 2011 survey conducted by Kaplan revealed that nearly 80% of college admissions officers will check the profile of potential students. This number is up from 10% in 2008. Knowing this, students applying for college should invest some time in cleaning up their social media presence. Your Facebook profile should be suitable for your grandmother, your best friend and everyone in between. It is no longer a place to post your wild nights out. In fact, broadcasting your questionable behavior on your profile may become a detriment to your college admittance.

Students should use the social networking platform to show off the best of what they have to offer. Use photos, status updates, links and check-ins to your advantage. Take photos at the next event that you are participating in as a volunteer, or create an album of your summer Red Cross trip to Africa. Update your status to convey valuable tidbits in your field of study, express an interest in political happenings, and keep your friends updated on the latest breaking news. Post links to relevant news articles about things that interest you. Use check-in status to show that you volunteer at the local homeless shelter or nursing home every other Saturday.

Of course, balance it all out with the fun things that you do too. Post photos of yourself and your friends. Check-in at the local park before you head to your basketball game. Update your status with something funny and witty that will make everyone laugh. Link to a really funny video that you just came across on YouTube, or a video of someone doing something really amazing. Be creative with it and have some fun while social networking. You do not always have to show an incredibly serious side of yourself.

Learning how to balance out the fun and the serious is a large part of growing up. Colleges want to see that you have a life outside of the classroom, but using discretion on what they see will go a long way. College is a time of preparation and training for a life in your career field. You must learn early on that whether it is a teacher, employer, mother or acquaintance, no one wants to see a photo and status montage of your most recent drunken adventure. If you can master this before you even hit college, you will be way ahead in the game.

Chelsei Henderson is a student, entrepreneur and minimalist. She loves writing, and does it for site like Degree Jungle and as a hobby. At any given time, you will find her working hard while penning her next big idea.

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