‘Social networking can be wild card for college applicants’

Almost every high school student applying for college is warned about their activity on social media.  But, how much do admission counselors really rely on social media when making decisions about their applicants?  A recent Telegram & Gazette article asks Ann B. McDermott, director of admissions at the College of the Holy Cross, to weigh in on this pressing topic.

McDermott states that with roughly 7,000 applications coming through her office each year her staff doesn't have time to randomly check the social media accounts of its applicants. They do pay more attention to admitted students' sites, which are monitored by staff and social media interns, to clear up factual misinformation.

They might also follow up online to see where an admitted student who doesn't enroll chose to attend.

"It's more for information and background," says McDermott. "It's more kind of filling in the blanks after the fact."

McDermott adds that high schools pay attention to students' social media lives, too. One private school saw a post about a student drinking and suspended him. The high school notified Holy Cross, where the student had applied. After communications with the student, the college did not enroll him.

"Just because colleges aren't watching every move, this stuff doesn't die," says McDermott. "It's always good to keep in the back of your mind: Who else might be watching this?"

Click here to read the full article.

This “Holy Cross in the News” item by Jacqueline Smith ’15.