If you’re like me you love Face book, Twitter, and Linkedin and connecting with new and old friends.

It’s amazing that if we are out of touch with someone we can look them up and reconnect with a number of different online tools, not available several years ago. It’s astounding, who we can find and learn about online.

While this does amazing thing for your social life, it can do something less than amazing for your professional and college life if you’re not careful.

I was stunned…

Several years ago I picked up the phone to call a potential student who had made an inquiry. Two minutes later with my finger on the end call button, I felt my jaw drop! Words escaped me, what do you say to that…

The ‘gentleman’ on the other end of the phone had a very racy voicemail, filled with sounds and things that should remain behind closed doors.

A few days later I was able to get in touch with him he revealed that he was looking into college and getting a new job.

I mentioned that he’d probably hurt his chances with several colleges and many potential employers with the voicemail he had. He had very little to say but…

He seemed genuinely surprised!

Common Sense to some is not common sense to others.

Other students I’ve worked with provided e-mails and profiles that were similar, or they mentioned guns, or other types of violence.

Now with Face book, Twitter and other social connections, this has only increased the ability to see what a potential student may be like.

Not all schools check these sites, but some do and if what they see seems like someone that could tarnish the image of the college this can persuade them to look at students who are more in line with the goals of the college.

Admitting students who have the potential to give the college a bad name ends up hurting the college because they can lose financial investors; which can in turn increase tuition for everyone.

So be careful, look at all of your social accounts and make sure that the image that can be seen is one that you want a college to see.

 Getting into college can be hard; don’t hurt your chances of getting in by having something on there that might be deemed inappropriate.

 

You may not believe this but…

Believe it or not this has further implications, in looking for a job employers want to know what type of person they are considering for hire. So they’ll check social media as well.

Don’t let your favorite connection site prevent you from being who you really want to be.

This may feel unfair like it can hurt your chances at getting into a good college and even potentially your dream job. However, with colleges and employers have to be concerned with safety and protecting others, as well as how they are perceived.

There is good news you can turn this around in your favor,

Use the internet to put your best foot forward. Make sure that you are the most desirable student and employee that a college or company would want with your social networking. Put together a profile, e-mail and etc. showing your best side.

This is something you control, let them see your best side.

Please re-tweet this, and share with family and friends. Oh and don’t forget to get a copy of your FREE thanks you gift.

Sophie- to your success!

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