Social Media and Admissions

[DBC03]

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I've received multiple alerts on linkedin about my profile either being searched for or viewed by some of the schools I have applied to. How often does that happen and what are adcoms looking for? I keep a low profile on social media and have absolutely nothing even remotely concerning, but I wasn't sure if there are other ways a linkedin profile or facebook profile could be an issue. Are there any ways they could be helpful? I have updated my profile with my current job, but I don't list my extracurriculars (such as volunteering). I have a moderate amount of endorsements. I've never really paid that much attention to linkedin, so I wasn't sure how adcoms use it.

 

[HomeSkool]

I'm not surprised they're looking at your LinkedIn profile. Social media is a very good way to see if someone is the same in real life as they are on AMCAS. Glaring discrepancies in your personal, educational, or work histories will catch adcoms' attention in a bad way, as will unprofessional or inappropriate posts on Facebook. Many a job has been lost because of derogatory, inflammatory, or otherwise indiscrete social media usage.

I recommend taking the time to build your LinkedIn profile so it reads like an online CV. Not only does this display professionalism to adcoms and potential employers, but it also allows future employers to identify you through your contacts. Such networking can be very valuable as you build your personal brand and move forward into your long-term career.

On the other hand, I don't think having a mostly blank profile will necessarily hurt you, it'll just keep LinkedIn from helping you as much as it potentially could.

 

[Goro]

I've received multiple alerts on linkedin about my profile either being searched for or viewed by some of the schools I have applied to. How often does that happen and what are adcoms looking for? I keep a low profile on social media and have absolutely nothing even remotely concerning, but I wasn't sure if there are other ways a linkedin profile or facebook profile could be an issue. Are there any ways they could be helpful? I have updated my profile with my current job, but I don't list my extracurriculars (such as volunteering). I have a moderate amount of endorsements. I've never really paid that much attention to linkedin, so I wasn't sure how adcoms use it.

Admissions deans can and do look at social media. I know of at least one SDNer who had an acceptance rescinded due to inflammatory material he posted on FB.

The Deans are simply doing due diligence, as the wise Homeskool pointed out.

So for those of you out there with pics of you taking a hit from a bong, or waving the Nazi flag, or spewing racist language, you have every right to do that, but it will cost you an accept. Make smart choices.

 

[DBC03]

n=1 but someone from UCSF viewed my LinkedIn profile and then I got a rejection a month later. Not sure if there is a connection though lol.

Yeah - I’ve been rejected from one school that looked at mine. There’s nothing bad on the profile and it matches my application, so I can’t think of any reason it would make a difference to adcoms - hoping for better luck with the more recent school.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[WingedOx]

I can't see any benefit to having a a LinkedIn during the application process to medical school.

 

[Master Thinker]

@Goro @HomeSkool Do you guys recommend that premeds create a Linkedin profile for medical admissions purposes?

 

[Lucca]

I can't see any benefit to having a a LinkedIn during the application process to medical school.

I agree with this. The only information I would plausibly put on my LinkedIn would be repeated on my application anyways. If they want to see my face they'll have to send an interview invite, I'm afraid.

In general my personal opinion is that you should control the kind and amount of info that gets to adcoms as much as is physically possible and turning off all social media, taking down blogs, etc. is the best way to do that.

 

[HomeSkool]

n=1 but someone from UCSF viewed my LinkedIn profile and then I got a rejection a month later. Not sure if there is a connection though lol.

Unless you've got a picture of yourself crapping on the UCSF logo, it's probably just a coincidence.

@Goro @HomeSkool Do you guys recommend that premeds create a Linkedin profile for medical admissions purposes?

I don't think it's necessary, but I recommend taking the time to create a well-made, professional-looking profile anyway. Having such a profile probably won't have much of an impact, but it may help you sell yourself as mature and professional, and at the very least it won't hurt you. Why not give yourself every possible advantage, no matter how small?

 

[Pharaoh95]

Is it safe to stay on Tinder

 

[Master Thinker]

Is it safe to stay on Tinder

Only if your profile picture has you in a white coat and a stethoscope 😛

 

[Goro]

@Goro @HomeSkool Do you guys recommend that premeds create a Linkedin profile for medical admissions purposes?

Nope. It will just flood your Inbox with spam.

 

[HomeSkool]

Nope. It will just flood your Inbox with spam.

Just set your spam filter to direct it all to @Robin-jay's account ([email protected]) and you should be all set.

 

[Goro]

Just set your spam filter to direct it all to @Robin-jay's account ([email protected]) and you should be all set.

Damn it, you did it to me again!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

[TelemarketingEnigma]

I can't see any benefit to having a a LinkedIn during the application process to medical school.

As someone with a really easily googleable name, I find it useful to have control over something that I know will appear in the top couple google hits for my name. My linkedin is basically my resume online - I don't use it for anything beyond that, and certainly wouldn't put things I don't want an adcom to see. The rest of my google results tend to be old track meet times/employee listings/old newspaper articles about high school awards, so it's nice to have a current, professional representation of myself sitting at the top of the search.

 

[Robin-jay]

Just set your spam filter to direct it all to @Robin-jay's account ([email protected]) and you should be all set.

I was getting typical inbox mail about xXGirlsXx and XxxFunInTheSunxxX earlier,

...and then all of a sudden SDN spammed my inbox with "top 10 med. schools" articles and "join our med. school for a meet and greet" emails.

 

[calivianya]

Don't have a LinkedIn, my facebook is under a fake name. I am not google-able. Searching my name with direct quotes, with or without my middle name, turns up exactly zero pictures of me or anything else about me at all.

That's exactly how I like things to be. Zero easily searchable internet presence = zero problems with admissions/job searching and social media.

 

[MDhopeful324]

Is it rthat difficult to keep your social media accounts setting private? I've tried doing a Facebook search on my profile as a public user and I can barely see anything. Is a name change really necessary?

 

[bananafish94]

Counterpoint: you don't have to delete your Facebook or make it completely private, but rather take advantage of the fact that people will be looking at it and use it to present yourself well.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[jazzmetal]

I can't see any benefit to having a a LinkedIn during the application process to medical school.

As a career changer who gets leads in my current career from LinkedIn, I need it, and it has to stay tailored to my current career. Which may apparently be a drawback for med school applications, although hopefully they really are only doing due diligence, not expecting my professional work profile to read like an AMCAS primary...