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I'm sure many of you have heard the recent story of Harvard rescinding offer letters to several students due to social media activity the administration deemed inappropriate. A few reports that stemmed from the news noted that many admissions reps turn to social media to learn more about their applicants and around 40% said it left a negative result on their application. Has anyone thought of completely deleting all of their social accounts prior to applying to law school just to be safe?
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53 comments
@gregoryalexanderdevine723 said:
I havent had social media in years, my wife and I used to compete in body building competitions, and most of our friends were in the same situation so every time i opened IG it was half naked people flexing, and we decided maybe its time to focus on better things lol. But yes I seen people not get jobs because of IG or Fb i mean that picture rocking sunglasses in a night club drinking water with the facial expression of melting butter screams crackhead... who know maybe school frown upon those things if not delete at least clean it up. take a picture with a dolphin or a president, well not trump that may ruin your chances.
I can see that. I delete my FB and remake it every few years for that reason. In college it was just everyone "flexing" in the club or doing something school-related where I was. Afterwards, it was just everyone from my job complaining about the same stuff.
And lmao of the description of the crackhead. I'm just imagining a few people who might fit this description. They're in Finance mostly and not going to law school. So it's all gravy for them, haha.
@35684 said:
I have no idea if they can see when it was deactivated but I'm sure they can find out during the application process by asking you why you don't have social media, when you deleted it, etc. and it probably wouldn't be best to lie haha also it probably wouldn't be good to say I deleted it right before applying and they ask why and you essentially say so you guys wouldn't see anything and deny or rescind my admission so this really is a tricky topic @gregoryalexanderdevine723
I'm starting to think we are extrapolating a little too much here, haha. There's some threads on TLS of common interview questions from the top schools, and they don't ever seem to ask why you don't have a FB/Twitter/Insta. Then again, you never know.
I havent had social media in years, my wife and I used to compete in body building competitions, and most of our friends were in the same situation so every time i opened IG it was half naked people flexing, and we decided maybe its time to focus on better things lol. But yes I seen people not get jobs because of IG or Fb i mean that picture rocking sunglasses in a night club drinking water with the facial expression of melting butter screams crackhead... who know maybe school frown upon those things if not delete at least clean it up. take a picture with a dolphin or a president, well not trump that may ruin your chances.
I have no idea if they can see when it was deactivated but I'm sure they can find out during the application process by asking you why you don't have social media, when you deleted it, etc. and it probably wouldn't be best to lie haha also it probably wouldn't be good to say I deleted it right before applying and they ask why and you essentially say so you guys wouldn't see anything and deny or rescind my admission so this really is a tricky topic @gregoryalexanderdevine723
@35684 said:
I deleted all social media four years ago. At first it really sucked but now I believe its left me in a better position because now I get information from actual sources and articles and not in 140 characters or less from just anyone. Also its kept me from posting things about heated topics that I know I would've ended up regetting later. As for deleting it right before applying to law school that might seem kind of fishy but it really is a judgement call. If your social media is clean then you have nothing to worry about but in today's climate you never know what someone might find offensive and attempt to hold against you. If you do decide to delete it just make sure you have a way to keep in contact with your family and friends :)
Can you see when a Facebook was deactivated now-a-days?
Also, so darn true. That's probably why I'm so pro-deactivate crowd.
I deleted all social media four years ago. At first it really sucked but now I believe its left me in a better position because now I get information from actual sources and articles and not in 140 characters or less from just anyone. Also its kept me from posting things about heated topics that I know I would've ended up regetting later. As for deleting it right before applying to law school that might seem kind of fishy but it really is a judgement call. If your social media is clean then you have nothing to worry about but in today's climate you never know what someone might find offensive and attempt to hold against you. If you do decide to delete it just make sure you have a way to keep in contact with your family and friends :)
I don't know anyone who has their full name on any of their social media besides Facebook and that can be easily changed and made private. Admissions people aren't like, computer hackers, they're not gonna be able to find out that you're cutiepie123 on Insta. Google your first/last name and search your first/last name on social media and if you don't like what pops up then delete it.
@markcoleman1987831 said:
Sorry I posted the above before refreshing this page.
@gregoryalexanderdevine723 said:
If someone wants to find you they can. Namely, like the feds, lol. Law schools ain't got time to be tracking you down like a private investigator. You'll be good if you just set to private/deactivate.
Ok, good. I was wondering whether I should really deactivate Facebook (I don't want to because I have friends who I can only use Facebook to contact...) Now I only have to worry about the feds! lol
Yeah, be wise and prudent with what's on there. From talking to you on here you seem very mature and I highly doubt there will be any problems whatsoever.
Sorry I posted the above before refreshing this page.
@gregoryalexanderdevine723 said:
If someone wants to find you they can. Namely, like the feds, lol. Law schools ain't got time to be tracking you down like a private investigator. You'll be good if you just set to private/deactivate.
Ok, good. I was wondering whether I should really deactivate Facebook (I don't want to because I have friends who I can only use Facebook to contact...) Now I only have to worry about the feds! lol
@gregoryalexanderdevine723 said:
No, just set your profile settings to private on all accounts. But this would have to include comments and groups and such.
My accounts (including posts and groups) are all set private, but @jayjack34911 & @gregoryalexanderdevine723 are saying that it doesn't matter. So I'd like to know what I can do. Deactivating Facebook is the last thing I want to do.....
@gregoryalexanderdevine723 said:
No, just set your profile settings to private on all accounts. But this would have to include comments and groups and such.
Oh Didn't see this until now... Yup, exactly.
Something we definitely overlooked in this overdrawn discussion is making sure your groups are private. I know my college clubs group wasn't always private and there were pictures of me drinking an alcoholic beverage which involved the fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from cereal grain starches—most commonly from malted barley. I just want to be careful incase the feds are watching ;)
@markcoleman1987831 said:
@jayjack34911 said:
Just saying as an investigator, it didn't matter how private an account was set to. I could find the information I was looking for in a matter of minutes. Since being an investigator I have scrubbed all of my social media accounts.
I have a different email address for my Facebook and don't have the cellphone number associated with the account. There are literally more than hundred people in my city with the same first name + last name. Can you still track me using my postal address or something? In other words, what can I do to hide my profile!?!?!?!?! lol
If someone wants to find you they can. Namely, like the feds, lol. Law schools ain't got time to be tracking you down like a private investigator. You'll be good if you just set to private/deactivate.
I'm not sure about how postal addressing and searching works. I just have a buddy whose dad was a PI and I can attest how easy it is to find people when you have the software and know how.
No, just set your profile settings to private on all accounts. But this would have to include comments and groups and such.
@jayjack34911 said:
Just saying as an investigator, it didn't matter how private an account was set to. I could find the information I was looking for in a matter of minutes. Since being an investigator I have scrubbed all of my social media accounts.
I have a different email address for my Facebook and don't have the cellphone number associated with the account. There are literally more than hundred people in my city with the same first name + last name. Can you still track me using my postal address or something? In other words, what can I do to hide my profile!?!?!?!?! lol
@jayjack34911 said:
Just saying as an investigator, it didn't matter how private an account was set to. I could find the information I was looking for in a matter of minutes. Since being an investigator I have scrubbed all of my social media accounts.
Yeah, there's some pretty crazy software out there. I have some programs I was able to access to trace any phone number back (cell phones to whose name's the bill was in) also to be able to see private FB/Twitter/Instagram accounts.
I can't even imagine what you had access to as an investigator. This is again why I will be de-activating all my social media. I definitely post questionable and partisan things, at least from what an admissions person might see. LOL
@zil020511522 said:
@gregoryalexanderdevine723 LOL! You're right. I don't post Future's lyrics. I post 21 Savage's and Logic's lyrics instead.
You're definitely good then. ;) HAHAHA
Just saying as an investigator, it didn't matter how private an account was set to. I could find the information I was looking for in a matter of minutes. Since being an investigator I have scrubbed all of my social media accounts.
@gregoryalexanderdevine723 LOL! You're right. I don't post Future's lyrics. I post 21 Savage's and Logic's lyrics instead.
@zil020511522 said:
@gregoryalexanderdevine723 said:
It's almost like your comment contradicts itself, haha. At least how I read it.
I can see how the comment could be read as a contradiction. However, I was speaking in terms of my personal assessment of risk vs. reward. I personally believe the risk of my account being red flag is low though it is still possible. Therefore, to me the reward of having social media (family, friends, information) is worth the risk for me. Yet, I can understand how for someone else this may be different.
Haha I am sure your page is fine. There tends to be only 2 types of people on FB. Those who share with family and post wholesome things. Then there are those who post like Future lyrics.... I think you are the former for sure :)
@gregoryalexanderdevine723 said:
It's almost like your comment contradicts itself, haha. At least how I read it.
I can see how the comment could be read as a contradiction. However, I was speaking in terms of my personal assessment of risk vs. reward. I personally believe the risk of my account being red flag is low though it is still possible. Therefore, to me the reward of having social media (family, friends, information) is worth the risk for me. Yet, I can understand how for someone else this may be different.
@zil020511522 said:
I don't think anyone is suggesting deleting their account to cover up something. I just think they are saying better safe than sorry. Plus, some don't want crazy but very possible things to occur such as their account getting hacked and crazy posts being made without their knowledge/consent. That being seen by admission officers could hurt their admissions. I personally will not delete my account because I use it to be social with family and friends and see no significant harm in keeping it. However, I do understand the concern and see why people choose to be either private/delete their account.
In the end, like I said, it probably doesn't matter. I'm a black dude, 6'2, and some of my friends look like the thugs they are from the hood I'm from. I just don't want to take the risk of being stereotyped. Everybody thinks they have nothing bad on their accounts until they do and it's too late. It's almost like your comment contradicts itself, haha. At least how I read it.
But still, short of standing with a gun standing next to George Zimmerman, wearing a MAGA hat, you'll be good. Everyone knows admissions / academia are liberals and we should act accordingly. At least make your profile private.....
Actually, now that we've had the discussion ad nauseam, I just don't care anymore. I've passed the wisdom I received from the pros. Some of ya'll know better.
Back to the Norica vs. Wopex pencil debate ;) The real debate that matters!
@tylerdschreur10199 said:
Lots of good points, @gregoryalexanderdevine723 said the only thing that matters though, it can't help get you in but it can keep you out. Even of there's a 1 percent chance that an admissions rep sees you posted about Hilary and happens to be a Trump fan, their objectivity might crack. I'm deactivating FB right now, for application purposes and because honestly Facebook is a huge timesuck, don't need that anymore :)
Exactly. It makes no sense. Again, ask any admissions consultant about this, it's simple shit. Idk why I sit around and debate it. I need to start playing online Chess/Poker again or something, lmao.
I don't think anyone is suggesting deleting their account to cover up something. I just think they are saying better safe than sorry. Plus, some don't want crazy but very possible things to occur such as their account getting hacked and crazy posts being made without their knowledge/consent. That being seen by admission officers could hurt their admissions. I personally will not delete my account because I use it to be social with family and friends and see no significant harm in keeping it. However, I do understand the concern and see why people choose to be either private/delete their account.
Lots of good points, @gregoryalexanderdevine723 said the only thing that matters though, it can't help get you in but it can keep you out. Even of there's a 1 percent chance that an admissions rep sees you posted about Hilary and happens to be a Trump fan, their objectivity might crack. I'm deactivating FB right now, for application purposes and because honestly Facebook is a huge timesuck, don't need that anymore :)
Interesting. But if you don't have anything to hide, why delete? I'm sure that even if you deleted your account, top law schools have the skills, finesse, and resources to access your deleted profile. Social media experts and tech guru's have all attested to the fact that once something is uploaded to social media, it's out there even after being 'deleted'. Perhaps another course of action could be to delete content off your social media that may be questionable but having recently deleted your profiles makes you look guilty and disingenuous at worst, and questionable at best. If you want to delete your social media account, delete it because you genuinely want to and not out of a motive of hiding or covering up or just because you think that will increase your chances of getting into a particular law school. Why are you trying to change yourself, just to get in? Positive content on your social media may speak to the fact that you are a well rounded, cultured individual that may work in your favor. In addition to being the right fit academically and externally, more importantly, top law Schools are also looking for people who are going to be real and be themselves wherever they are. Be true, be you. Just a thought :)