The Pros And Cons Of Online Checking

An eye-opening survey last year showed that 27 percent of admission officers for college applicants said they have Googled prospective students, and 26 percent had looked up applicants on Facebook. Of those officers looking on applicants social media accounts, 35 percent said they had found something that negatively impacted an applicant's chances of getting in, nearly tripling from the year before (Kat Cohen). More admission officers are checking out applicants actions online. They are not taking the chance of accepting someone that may be making negative comments or having unnecessary behavior. Others are saying that the internet can help the applicant in making the right decision for college and connecting to have a feel what it could be
like. Social media can negatively impact college admissions: however, it can also help students market themselves and choose the appropriate college. Students every day do not think about what they are doing online. They comment and post and do not think about it twice. Easily distracted, they never take responsibility on how their actions can come back to haunt them. “As certain high school seniors work meticulously this month to finish their early applications to colleges, some may not realize that comments they casually make online could negatively affect their prospects”(Singer). This quote explains that college applicants do not think about how people can check them online to help make a final decision for the students college application. In fact, some college officers may not notify the applicant why they did not get accepted. “If colleges find seemingly troubling material online, they may not necessarily notify the applicants involved”(Singer). This can also be troubling for the applicant because they may want to know why they were not accepted. This can get parents involved wanting to know why. If the officers told the parents about what they found, the applicant could get in a whole lot of trouble. These two quotes show that social media can negatively impact college admissions. There also may be ways that social media can positively impact a college applicant's chance of getting into college. For example, one college applicant trying to apply to Leigh. Klaudia Jawinska used Twitter to make the right decision and reach out to current students and professors. “In Jawinska’s case, social media served a positive purpose both as an essential tool in the decision-making process, and a constructive means to reach out and connect with community members before she began”(Weaver). This piece from the article is a great example of how useful social media can be, you just have to use it the right way. In Jawinska’s case, she did the right thing on social media and really reached out and took the initiative to put herself out there. In fact, more and more people have learned their lesson on what they should and should not do online. “Many students are becoming more cautious about what they post, and also savvier about strengthening privacy settings and circumventing search”(Schaffer). This is good. More students should start using their privacy settings and being cautious about who can comment on their posts and who they comment on. These two quotes are good examples to show college applicants. These can influence them the next time they try to comment on someone's online account. To choose the appropriate college you need to have the right mindset.
In fact,”Despite the growth in online checking, however, there’s been a dip...in the number of admissions officers reporting that they’re finding something that negatively impacted an applicant’s admissions chances”(Russell Schaffer). This is good news because less students are making the wrong decisions online and more schools are trusting that their students they allow to go to that college are the right people. Schools are more concerned now about how students behave not just in person, but online. The internet can give them an insight beforehand and not after they notify the applicant if they are accepted or not. They are also reaching out online. This is good for timid applicants because if a school has social media or online website they can visit it and find out more to help finalize their decision. “Increasingly, schools are using their own social media accounts to connect with future applicants in a positive and informative way”(Kat Cohen). Schools around the country are now reaching out to any future or current students through social media (Kat Cohen). Kat Cohen did a good job informing the reader about how social media can be good in the decision making process. “Remember that social media outlets are tools to stay connected and informed and are important to pay attention to when going through the application process. Be careful not to let it become something that can be used against you. Instead, use it to your advantage! Stay smart online and in the classroom, and you’ll be on your way to getting into your best-fit college or university”( Kat
Cohen).
Many kids are becoming more self aware of what actions they are taking online. Many people make the wrong decisions that impacts them, while others are doing great things for their future. “Remember that social media outlets are tools to stay connected and informed and are important to pay attention to when going through the application process. Be careful not to let it become something that can be used against you. Instead, use it to your advantage! Stay smart online and in the classroom, and you’ll be on your way to getting into your best-fit college or university”( Kat Cohen). This is a very good quote to reference when making a decision about your future.