<p>Question. ^</p>
<p>You should assume that they are looking at everything that is public. They’re not going to friend you or anything, though, to see if your entire Facebook looks fine. Neither do they have special administrative privileges from the site that let them see everything regardless of privacy settings.</p>
<p>I really don’t think they do, especially considering a rise in applications this year…it’s just not plausible to check almost 6,000 facebooks. I wouldn’t worry about it</p>
<p>^ That’s why I said to assume. It’s entirely possible that they just won’t see whatever it is. Even so, though, you shouldn’t just leave pictures that could get you rejected lying around on Facebook. If you turn out to be one of the people admitted, I would expect a quick check to make sure there’s nothing horrible on there.</p>
<p>You really shouldn’t post anything on Facebook (or online) that might be objectionable to adcoms, if you’re worried about this. I don’t think Stanford looks at all of their applicants Facebooks, but I’m sure they look at some. There was an article about this on the WSJ not too long ago.
[College</a> Applicants, Beware: Your Facebook Page Is Showing - WSJ.com](<a href=“College Applicants, Beware: Your Facebook Page Is Showing - WSJ”>College Applicants, Beware: Your Facebook Page Is Showing - WSJ)</p>
<p>Just use your discretion. They might not, but they could see something. Also, you or some “friend” of yours might post something objectionable that might get you in trouble with the school (your high school) which could get reported to the college if it turns into something disciplinary.</p>
<p>I think they potentially might if they’re on the border about you, and your app has made it to the third level or so, where there are a lot fewer applicants. When it’s your vs another app who is equally attractive, it may come down to “oh, he looks irresponsible”</p>
<p>I agree with Wulfran . Chances are that they will only search your fb if they really like you. I also agree. I also agree with Drakemom when she she says that one of your fb friends could post somethings which are less than appropriate and that could make YOU look bad to them.</p>
<p>If you read the article, colleges are MORE likely to search you if you raise red flags.</p>
<p>Yea I gotta agree with Jason, I think that they would only search you if your app raises red flags… I think they understand that teenagers will be teenagers, and they wouldn’t just reject someone if their friend posted something silly. That’s a little unfair in my opinion.</p>
<p>Just don’t give them another reason to not accept you. Deactivate until you’re in (or not)</p>
<p>That sounds like you have something to hide then?</p>
<p>See, i WANT mine to be visited. I’m a home schooler, which is a hook with S, but i’ve also got to prove i’m “normal”. Visiting my profile will show that easily.</p>
<p>
Yeah, if you have to deactivate your FB account for college admissions then that kinda raises some issues</p>
<p>I mean, I’m tempted to deactivate… not because I have anything to hide, but because I’m a total privacy freak, and Facebook is so bad for that that I can’t even make fun of it anymore…</p>
<p>It’s interesting, I attended an academic integrity conference that addressed this about a month ago. If you set your profile settings to “private,” admissions officers CAN NOT get past the privacy settings in any way. There is no special program that allows them access others do not have. If you set your profile as private as it can be, the only thing they can access if your profile picture :)</p>
<p>YAYYYYY thank you courtney for clearing this issue up. and I don’t think that it “raises issues” if you deactivate your Facebook… maybe you’d just rather keep your private life private (and that’s why you shouldn’t accept friend requests from people you’re not friends with/don’t trust)</p>
<p>Re- Profile picture:</p>
<p>“This year, Stanford University has admitted 2,200 applicants, including two cats, a penguin, and one person who is both a girl and her dog.”</p>
<p>^hahahahhahahahahahhaa I love it</p>
<p>@Jason,</p>
<p>Not to be discouraging, but being homeschooled isn’t a hook at Stanford. Homeschoolers are evaluated just like any other applicants, in the context of what was available to them and what they did with those opportunities. If you read the website FAQ about homeschooled applicants, you’ll also see that admissions tends to place somewhat more weight on standardized test scores for homeschoolers, since that is one of the few ways they have to make “apples to apples” comparisons between homeschoolers and other applicants. And incidentally, the homeschooled kids I’ve met here have been particularly amazing, both stat-wise and regarding talents, competitions, etc. Best of luck!</p>
<p>from the article: “foul or offensive language, nudity, or photos of drinking and drug use”</p>
<p>… saying a curse word is as bad as nude photo? lol</p>