Graduate programs may be screening Facebook profiles
Angelica Patterson
Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: News
Last update: 10/2/08 at 1:51 AM EST
"People should realize that when you put things on your profile, you are putting yourself out there for anyone to see it," Pernischová said. "Everyone just needs to be careful."
Robert Bellamy, a media law professor in the Journalism and Multimedia Arts department, said it is legal for graduate admissions offices to view a Facebook.com profile.
"[Facebook.com profiles] are public Internet social networking sites so whatever you post there is fair game," Bellamy said. "Of course, a lot of people never think about this as they post and blog away."
Mark Jovanovich, a 22-year-old multimedia graduate student said he has mixed feelings about admissions viewing profiles.
"In their defense, the information is being displayed on a public forum, so I guess that means they have a right to view it," he said. "On the other hand, no way! It's Facebook. It still bothers me that anyone can join it. It started as a fun way to college kids to connect and laugh at the great times they have. So why should people of authority get to view our private life like that?"
According to Kaplan data, 15 percent of law school admissions officers have visited applicants' social networking sites. Of those 15 percent, more than half said what they saw decreased those students' chances of being admitted.
Joe Campion, director of admission at Duquesne's Law School, said that even though the Law School doesn't look at Facebook.com, students shouldn't risk their hard work at college.
"It's a competitive world out there," Campion said. "Why put a handicap on that?"
Other faculty members at Duquesne agree.
McCue said he would advise students to think twice about what they post on their profiles.
"I don't think it's a problem to use Facebook. I just think you need to temper it so it doesn't hurt you in the future," McCue said.
Robert Bellamy, a media law professor in the Journalism and Multimedia Arts department, said it is legal for graduate admissions offices to view a Facebook.com profile.
"[Facebook.com profiles] are public Internet social networking sites so whatever you post there is fair game," Bellamy said. "Of course, a lot of people never think about this as they post and blog away."
Mark Jovanovich, a 22-year-old multimedia graduate student said he has mixed feelings about admissions viewing profiles.
"In their defense, the information is being displayed on a public forum, so I guess that means they have a right to view it," he said. "On the other hand, no way! It's Facebook. It still bothers me that anyone can join it. It started as a fun way to college kids to connect and laugh at the great times they have. So why should people of authority get to view our private life like that?"
According to Kaplan data, 15 percent of law school admissions officers have visited applicants' social networking sites. Of those 15 percent, more than half said what they saw decreased those students' chances of being admitted.
Joe Campion, director of admission at Duquesne's Law School, said that even though the Law School doesn't look at Facebook.com, students shouldn't risk their hard work at college.
"It's a competitive world out there," Campion said. "Why put a handicap on that?"
Other faculty members at Duquesne agree.
McCue said he would advise students to think twice about what they post on their profiles.
"I don't think it's a problem to use Facebook. I just think you need to temper it so it doesn't hurt you in the future," McCue said.
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