MySpace Could Hurt College Admissions Chances
Posted 27 Aug, 2007
If you have a teenager, then you have no doubt heard of Facebook, MySpace, Friendster, Blogger, Xanga, or LiveJournal.
Facebook, Friendster, and MySpace, called “social networking sites,” are websites that allow you to post personal information—favorite music or TV shows, photos, instant messaging names or email addresses—so you can keep in touch with friends or meet new ones. Kids use these, as well as online journal sites like LiveJournal, Xanga, and Blogger, to keep in touch via comments on each other’s pages, or by messaging, chatting, and posting regular updates to their own pages.
Both social networking sites and blog sites have exploded with growth due to this generation of teens and college students. Many parents are concerned about the safety issues involved with their children putting so much personal information online that could be viewed by the wrong set of eyes. But did you know that information on your child’s blog or MySpace page could also hurt his or her chances at getting admitted to a particular college?
It’s true. There is at least one confirmed account of a student being rejected from a college because of statements he made on his blog. Some college admissions officers have accounts on these social networking sites, mostly as a way to make themselves more accessible to students with questions about the educational experience at their school. But the bottom line is these officers could end up viewing your child’s page—which means students may want to be careful about how they portray themselves online.
All the best,
Deborah Fox
Deborah Fox is the founder of Fox College Funding, a nationwide company that helps families find creative ways to reduce their college costs.
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Related Posts
If you have a teenager, then you have no doubt heard of Facebook, MySpace, Friendster, Blogger, Xanga, or LiveJournal.
Facebook, Friendster, and MySpace, called “social networking sites,” are websites that allow you to post personal information—favorite music or TV shows, photos, instant messaging names or email addresses—so you can keep in touch with friends or meet new ones. Kids use these, as well as online journal sites like LiveJournal, Xanga, and Blogger, to keep in touch via comments on each other’s pages, or by messaging, chatting, and posting regular updates to their own pages.
Both social networking sites and blog sites have exploded with growth due to this generation of teens and college students. Many parents are concerned about the safety issues involved with their children putting so much personal information online that could be viewed by the wrong set of eyes. But did you know that information on your child’s blog or MySpace page could also hurt his or her chances at getting admitted to a particular college?
It’s true. There is at least one confirmed account of a student being rejected from a college because of statements he made on his blog. Some college admissions officers have accounts on these social networking sites, mostly as a way to make themselves more accessible to students with questions about the educational experience at their school. But the bottom line is these officers could end up viewing your child’s page—which means students may want to be careful about how they portray themselves online.
All the best,
Deborah Fox
Deborah Fox is the founder of Fox College Funding, a nationwide company that helps families find creative ways to reduce their college costs.
Subscribe in a reader
Subscribe by Email
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