Does having (or not having) a Fbook hurt?

[Maybe.a.dentist]

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I deleted my FB account months ago, I was kind of afraid to have one in case admissions stalked me out. That said, there is no pictures, statuses, or anything I'm tagged in that is illegal, trashy, or partying but there is certainly stuff that could come across as pretty doggone redneck (for example wayyyyyy to much camo, rebel flags, country music, etc.) soooo I thought I really don't want this to be seen by everyone. Also, I only had a few friends and didn't want to look anti-social. But on the other hand I've heard not having one can hurt. What's the consensus?

 

[Advance]

I deleted my FB account months ago, I was kind of afraid to have one in case admissions stalked me out. That said, there is no pictures, statuses, or anything I'm tagged in that is illegal, trashy, or partying but there is certainly stuff that could come across as pretty doggone redneck (for example wayyyyyy to much camo, rebel flags, country music, etc.) soooo I thought I really don't want this to be seen by everyone. Also, I only had a few friends and didn't want to look anti-social. But on the other hand I've heard not having one can hurt. What's the consensus?

I doubt adcoms would go stalking your FB, they don't have the time to do things like that. Having one wouldn't hurt you, although when you get accepted you might want to make one to stalk/communicate with your future classmates so FB can be pretty useful.

 

[Likkriue]

It won't hurt you, but it can provide benefits as you can get to know your classmates faster. Also they might provide great information about housing and all that jazz.

 

[SrJulio]

I have like 100 friends or less on FB. Never really posted or shared anything offensive, because I thought the day might come when my future employer checks my social media 😛


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[1070752]

I have LinkedIn, and the only other social media platform aside from Reddit that I'm active on is Instagram. My Facebook has no picture, and it's basically locked from anyone viewing it unless they added me. It doesn't matter.

 

[jeffity]

Facebook was the primary means of communication amongst my classmates and that seems to be the trend these days. It's probably the only way I'll keep in contact with some of them. That's how we shared and collaborated...and at times was our own little therapy. So you almost have to have one for that. As for admissions, use common sense. It's not likely they'll go hunting, but act as though it's a possibility. Keep it tidy and secure, but I don't think removing yourself completely is necessarily called for. And it's not just Facebook. You may have a bigger digital footprint that you think. A classmate of mine had an interviewer at Roseman pull up a YouTube video of him at his interview. Luckily, it was lighthearted and didn't affect him (got accepted), but can you imagine going to an interview and them spinning the monitor around to show you what they saw online? (I'm pretty certain the majority of people aren't going to bother looking around, but those types do exist.)

Another approach is to not use your real name or make a variant of yours, if you're that worried about it. I'm not sure of everyone's motives, but several did that as we neared graduation (maybe they didn't want patients looking them up or something?).

 

[fayevalentine]

I'll just leave this here. "Yeah so if you ever need info about anyone at Harvard just ask. I have over 4,000 emails, pictures, addresses, SSNs... people just submitted it. I don't know why. They "trust me". Dumb fu©k$." Paraphrased from Mark Zuckerberg

 

[Socolaphile]

I deleted my FB account months ago, I was kind of afraid to have one in case admissions stalked me out. That said, there is no pictures, statuses, or anything I'm tagged in that is illegal, trashy, or partying but there is certainly stuff that could come across as pretty doggone redneck (for example wayyyyyy to much camo, rebel flags, country music, etc.) soooo I thought I really don't want this to be seen by everyone. Also, I only had a few friends and didn't want to look anti-social. But on the other hand I've heard not having one can hurt. What's the consensus?

Create another one and start a brand new image of yourself. That's the beauty of the internet. Control who can tag you, what posts can appear on your timeline, and who can view your profile. You can hide your friend list, you know.

Fake it 'til you make it.

 

[SrJulio]

Speaking of social media, how much information do you guys put on LinkedIn? Mine is pretty detailed, but I feel like everyone who looks at it knows my life. That's scary


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[confidentandgood]

Speaking of social media, how much information do you guys put on LinkedIn? Mine is pretty detailed, but I feel like everyone who looks at it knows my life. That's scary

I basically put whatever I would put on a job application.

 

[FlowerGirl35]

Facebook is for squares and trendy followers. Period.

 

[DentalLonghorn2014]

Some of the previous applicants used it to scope out potential spouses after they got accepted lol

 

[FlowerGirl35]

Some of the previous applicants used it to scope out potential spouses after they got accepted lol

I'm ugly as hell so it doesn't matter.

 

[DentalLonghorn2014]

I'm ugly as hell so it doesn't matter.

Don't be like that!!! Be positive!!

 

[fogorvostan]

I would make one to connect with classmates once you get accepted. Our Facebook page is a great place to ask questions and I found my roommate there!

 

[fayevalentine]

There is nothing anti-social about not having a facebook. I actually call and hang out with friends in person. If I am not close enough to you or don't respect you enough to speak with you on the phone, then why do we need to communicate at all? I certainly don't want to be blasted with a bunch of ignorant, homophobic/racist/overly guilt-trippy religious quotes or status updates gushing about some annoying ass kid that I don't care about.

When I did have a facebook, I had a problem with creeps as well. One guy actually told me that he was browsing my photos to find one to masturbate to... that's when I deleted my facebook entirely. Also, Zuckerberg is a giant tool and should not be supported.

Anyway, if you have one just be smart about it. Keep it professional.

 

[confidentandgood]

Twitter is where it's at anyways (if you can ignore the aesthetic extremists).

 

[Frychicken]

Where do people come up with these kinds of questions?

 

[Toothout]

Facebook was the primary means of communication amongst my classmates and that seems to be the trend these days. It's probably the only way I'll keep in contact with some of them. That's how we shared and collaborated...and at times was our own little therapy. So you almost have to have one for that. As for admissions, use common sense. It's not likely they'll go hunting, but act as though it's a possibility. Keep it tidy and secure, but I don't think removing yourself completely is necessarily called for. And it's not just Facebook. You may have a bigger digital footprint that you think. A classmate of mine had an interviewer at Roseman pull up a YouTube video of him at his interview. Luckily, it was lighthearted and didn't affect him (got accepted), but can you imagine going to an interview and them spinning the monitor around to show you what they saw online? (I'm pretty certain the majority of people aren't going to bother looking around, but those types do exist.)

Another approach is to not use your real name or make a variant of yours, if you're that worried about it. I'm not sure of everyone's motives, but several did that as we neared graduation (maybe they didn't want patients looking them up or something?).

Why do you have that as a profile pic if that school doesn't exist?😕

 

[Toothout]

I doubt adcoms would go stalking your FB, they don't have the time to do things like that. Having one wouldn't hurt you, although when you get accepted you might want to make one to stalk/communicate with your future classmates so FB can be pretty useful.

They actually do lol. at least UCONN's dean does

 

[Incis0r]

They actually do lol. at least UCONN's dean does

Wow.

 

[zomf]

I had a beer with an ASDOH admissions team member a few months back. They 100% check your social media before accepting you.

Stay 'noided

 

[Incis0r]

I had a beer with an ASDOH admissions team member

Lucky.

 

[deleted740991]

Yes, it definitely hurts you having an active FB in the short term applying to dental schools. In case you've been living under the rock politically for 10 years, academic institutions and faculty are heavily, heavily liberal on social and fiscal ideas - and issues have become so emotionally charged in this country that people make large assumptions about your character, and your "fit" for being a dental professional, based on statements or beliefs that may have differed from their's. Answer yourself this: after all these years of hard work, is that undeserved judgment worth being viewed in a negative light? Is an attack on your character or qualifications as a dentist worth that extra status post on your belief system or that argument you had with friends online? Just remember that you don't have autonomy in your outward beliefs when it comes to an admissions committee - they are looking for you to say what they want to hear with respect to what they believe is "proper" for dentistry. Don't be naive.

I would heavily advise against you posting any statuses or thoughts on political or social issues during your cycle *especially* if they're against the grain. We live in a hyper-emotional, PC culture that hypocritically judges you if you don't believe what media or "progressivism" spits back at you, that it's not even worth posting anything at all.

If you must have a FB to connect, I would make sure during your cycle to have deleted all statuses, link shares, or pictures that are incriminating to you. In fact, I would delete all newsfeed-based grinds on your timeline and keep the FB as shortly professional as possible. The less others in position of decision-making and pre-judgment have access to you, the better off you'll be in this process.

Please, please, please trust me when I say that adcoms are looking for any reason to deny applicants these days, especially students who fall into majority subsets - there are so many more applications that they have to find ways to draw lines in the sand somewhere. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are so much more destructive in this modern day for people involved in evaluations for jobs and admissions that it's pointless to be active on it.

 

[gfs6]

FB is entirely un-needed in life. Actually, studies are showing FB leads to feelings of depression and inferiority. Life functions perfectly fine (and my opinion, better) without one. Sure, I won't know everyone in my class from day one, but I'm a social guy.

If you don't want one, don't create one. You won't miss out on anything.

 

[Toothout]

I bet a school like UConn gets thousands of apps. No way they have time to Facebook everyone.

Lol that's what the dean told us when he went to our school. He said that older (in age not in "membership") members of the committee don't, but he does.
But yeah, they can't Facebook every single applicant.

 

[Advance]

Yes, it definitely hurts you having an active FB in the short term applying to dental schools. In case you've been living under the rock politically for 10 years, academic institutions and faculty are heavily, heavily liberal on social and fiscal ideas - and issues have become so emotionally charged in this country that people make large assumptions about your character, and your "fit" for being a dental professional, based on statements or beliefs that may have differed from their's. Answer yourself this: after all these years of hard work, is that undeserved judgment worth being viewed in a negative light? Is an attack on your character or qualifications as a dentist worth that extra status post on your belief system or that argument you had with friends online? Just remember that you don't have autonomy in your outward beliefs when it comes to an admissions committee - they are looking for you to say what they want to hear with respect to what they believe is "proper" for dentistry. Don't be naive.

I would heavily advise against you posting any statuses or thoughts on political or social issues during your cycle *especially* if they're against the grain. We live in a hyper-emotional, PC culture that hypocritically judges you if you don't believe what media or "progressivism" spits back at you, that it's not even worth posting anything at all.

If you must have a FB to connect, I would make sure during your cycle to have deleted all statuses, link shares, or pictures that are incriminating to you. In fact, I would delete all newsfeed-based grinds on your timeline and keep the FB as shortly professional as possible. The less others in position of decision-making and pre-judgment have access to you, the better off you'll be in this process.

Please, please, please trust me when I say that adcoms are looking for any reason to deny applicants these days, especially students who fall into majority subsets - there are so many more applications that they have to find ways to draw lines in the sand somewhere. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are so much more destructive in this modern day for people involved in evaluations for jobs and admissions that it's pointless to be active on it.

The thing is. There's an option in FB to make your profile private so only people that have you added have access to your posts and pictures. Problem solved.

 

[deleted740991]

The thing is. There's an option in FB to make your profile private so only people that have you added have access to your posts and pictures. Problem solved.

That still doesn't eliminate people who have access to you, making judgments about you, spreading perceptions about, information trickling out. Are you not FB friends with dental students, faculty, or people associated with dental schools? If not, great, you're in the clear.

 

[Advance]

That still doesn't eliminate people who have access to you, making judgments about you, spreading perceptions about, information trickling out. Are you not FB friends with dental students, faculty, or people associated with dental schools? If not, great, you're in the clear.

I'm friends with my fellow classmates sure, I don't have any faculty added but many of my classmates do. The thing is, dentists and dental students are people too, and our faculty realizes that. We aren't dental robots.

 

[blablabla1]

Yes, it definitely hurts you having an active FB in the short term applying to dental schools. In case you've been living under the rock politically for 10 years, academic institutions and faculty are heavily, heavily liberal on social and fiscal ideas - and issues have become so emotionally charged in this country that people make large assumptions about your character, and your "fit" for being a dental professional, based on statements or beliefs that may have differed from their's. Answer yourself this: after all these years of hard work, is that undeserved judgment worth being viewed in a negative light? Is an attack on your character or qualifications as a dentist worth that extra status post on your belief system or that argument you had with friends online? Just remember that you don't have autonomy in your outward beliefs when it comes to an admissions committee - they are looking for you to say what they want to hear with respect to what they believe is "proper" for dentistry. Don't be naive.

I would heavily advise against you posting any statuses or thoughts on political or social issues during your cycle *especially* if they're against the grain. We live in a hyper-emotional, PC culture that hypocritically judges you if you don't believe what media or "progressivism" spits back at you, that it's not even worth posting anything at all.

If you must have a FB to connect, I would make sure during your cycle to have deleted all statuses, link shares, or pictures that are incriminating to you. In fact, I would delete all newsfeed-based grinds on your timeline and keep the FB as shortly professional as possible. The less others in position of decision-making and pre-judgment have access to you, the better off you'll be in this process.

Please, please, please trust me when I say that adcoms are looking for any reason to deny applicants these days, especially students who fall into majority subsets - there are so many more applications that they have to find ways to draw lines in the sand somewhere. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are so much more destructive in this modern day for people involved in evaluations for jobs and admissions that it's pointless to be active on it.

Lol

 

[NicktheTooth]

I think with the rise of political correctness professionals tend to not be themselves or express their true opinions in public spaces, which is not healthy or productive for anyone. Unfortunately you may still be judged for harmless content given today's level of uncalled for political correctness.

 

[Faux]

FB is entirely un-needed in life. Actually, studies are showing FB leads to feelings of depression and inferiority. Life functions perfectly fine (and my opinion, better) without one. Sure, I won't know everyone in my class from day one, but I'm a social guy.

If you don't want one, don't create one. You won't miss out on anything.

You will actually be out of the loop in dental school if you don't have one. Lots of our class updates are posted on Facebook, along with study guides ect.

People who didnt have one to start, missed out on some important class notices, along with some good documents.

 

[deleted738762]

I had a beer with an ASDOH admissions team member a few months back. They 100% check your social media before accepting you.

Stay 'noided

But what if you have the same name as someone else, and go to the same school. I'm pretty sure ADCOM's know about this potential problem, so they probably don't do it.

 

[deleted696582]

I deleted my Facebook permanently after high school, and only created a new one just now for dental school. I could live without it, but I've heard it's a good way to connect with classmates.