Social Media and your application

[Awesome Sauceome]

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So I briefly mentioned this in another thread but it sort of got lost I think. My pre-med adviser strongly suggests that all students applying to medical school should close their social media accounts as it can raise flags.

So two questions:
1) If my facebook is squeeky clean, would it be fine to keep it up? I barely post anything on facebook, and I have never posted anything bad. Also all my photos are from my wedding, graduating, camping, stuff with family, just normal stuff. Absolutely nothing bad whatsoever. I have no privacy stuff on my account because seriously, I have lived a pretty "clean" lifestyle.

2) Could it in fact help? (if they do even take the time to look). I mean you can get a pretty good idea of who I am by my facebook, just a normal, goofy, family man.

Maybe an adcom such as @Goro would have an opinion on this?

Thanks a bunch

 

[WhiteCoatSyndrome]

So I briefly mentioned this in another thread but it sort of got lost I think. My pre-med adviser strongly suggests that all students applying to medical school should close their social media accounts as it can raise flags.

So two questions:
1) If my facebook is squeeky clean, would it be fine to keep it up? I barely post anything on facebook, and I have never posted anything bad. Also all my photos are from my wedding, graduating, camping, stuff with family, just normal stuff. Absolutely nothing bad whatsoever. I have no privacy stuff on my account because seriously, I have lived a pretty "clean" lifestyle.

2) Could it in fact help? (if they do even take the time to look). I mean you can get a pretty good idea of who I am by my facebook, just a normal, goofy, family man.

Maybe an adcom such as @Goro would have an opinion on this?

Thanks a bunch

I would think that most adcoms don't have the time to spend looking at every applicants Facebook, or even just interviewees for that matter. Having said that, if it's something you're worried about you can set your privacy so that no one can find you in a search, which is what I did.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

Absolutely I figured realistically theres maybe what a 10% chance someone on the trail looks at it? But even if they did, my facebook would likely paint a very positive picture of who I am.

 

[WhiteCoatSyndrome]

Absolutely I figured realistically theres maybe what a 10% chance someone on the trail looks at it? But even if they did, my facebook would likely paint a very positive picture of who I am.

Then there isn't much to worry about. I went through and made everything super private just in case because my friends are known for posting some pretty inappropriate things on my Facebook to be funny.

 

[chizledfrmstone]

Then there isn't much to worry about. I went through and made everything super private just in case because my friends are known for posting some pretty inappropriate things on my Facebook to be funny.

+1

I have idiot friends.

I made a separate profile for school related things.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

Hmm really valid, for the most part my friends are pretty tame, but thats something I never thought about.

 

[Goro]

Looking at social media of candidate is outside of my responibilities as an AdCom member, but Deans are known to do it. If you have nothing questionable in FB or elsewhere, then you're fine, leave it as is. I don't think it will ive you any advantage though, if the Dean does look it over.

Basically, don't trash talk potential schools, classmates etc, don't make online threats of violence or suicide, don't post the pic of you toking up or taking a big hit on a bong, drinking when you were 15, or send out naked selfies.

So I briefly mentioned this in another thread but it sort of got lost I think. My pre-med adviser strongly suggests that all students applying to medical school should close their social media accounts as it can raise flags.

So two questions:
1) If my facebook is squeeky clean, would it be fine to keep it up? I barely post anything on facebook, and I have never posted anything bad. Also all my photos are from my wedding, graduating, camping, stuff with family, just normal stuff. Absolutely nothing bad whatsoever. I have no privacy stuff on my account because seriously, I have lived a pretty "clean" lifestyle.

2) Could it in fact help? (if they do even take the time to look). I mean you can get a pretty good idea of who I am by my facebook, just a normal, goofy, family man.

Maybe an adcom such as @Goro would have an opinion on this?

Thanks a bunch

 

[chizledfrmstone]

Looking at social media of candidate is outside of my responibilities as an AdCom member, but Deans are known to do it. If you have nothing questionable in FB or elsewhere, then you're fine, leave it as is. I don't think it will ive you any advantage though, if the Dean does look it over.

Basically, don't trash talk potential schools, classmates etc, don't make online threats of violence or suicide, don't post the pic of you toking up or taking a big hit on a bong, drinking when you were 15, or send out naked selfies.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

I had nothing questionable on mine(fb), but I did make it all private. I don't have any other social media besides the professional LinkedIn. I had no problems getting accepted.

 

[coolingglasses]

Then there isn't much to worry about. I went through and made everything super private just in case because my friends are known for posting some pretty inappropriate things on my Facebook to be funny.

This still happens to me.

 

[WhiteCoatSyndrome]

This still happens to me.

I think this will happen as long as I have a Facebook. I'll probably be 30 with my friends still trying to hack my Facebook and change all my settings/pages to something Nic Cage related.

 

[WhiteCoatSyndrome]

A past profile pic

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

...

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

Another thing I am thinking about though is how could they even find you? Like I could see on Facebook, if you dig hard enough I suppose you could find whoever... but like even on here? How would you be able to link "cooldoc59horserider" with someone?

 

[WalSlave]

Just use your head and don't post questionable things on a website that is representative of you, like facebook. And always be courteous on the forums. I remember a guy on SDN made some racial slurs to another member, and the school he had planned to attend did end up figuring out who that member was which lead to his med school acceptance being rescinded. I'm sure someone has the link or knows how to find it. This isn't the norm, but connections can be made, even on an anonymous forum. Just don't say anything you'd be ashamed to say in person.

 

[TravelingRunner]

Just remember: the Internet is forever.

If your FB is filled with pictures of your family and nothing embarrassing, you're probably fine. Err on the side of caution when considering what "embarrassing" might be - pictures of college Spring Break on the beach might only represent one part of your history, but what if that's all the person from the med school sees? If you'd be fine with your grandma/boss/rabbi/priest/minister/significant other (or future SOs)/kids seeing it, it's probably fine. Consider what pages you've "liked," as well.

Don't do this (caution: language): http://www.webpronews.com/american-airlines-reports-teens-terrorist-tweets-2014-04

That said, it's a level of risk you must assess for yourself. I know several people who deactivated their accounts while trying to get competitive jobs. They just figured it was one less stressor.