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TECHNOLOGY Tuesday 20 June 2017
Think before you post: Admissions experts’ social media tips

By JOCELYN GECKER to check that out,” Ross
Associated Press said.
Google yourself. He cited a case from a
Curate your online pho- few years ago where a
tos. The general rule of student bragged on so-
thumb, as one private cial media that she ap-
high school advises its plied early to Colgate
students: and another institution,
Don’t post anything which violates an agree-
you wouldn’t want your ment students sign to
grandmother to see. apply early to only one
Guidance counselors school.
have warned college “That was brought to our
applicants for years to attention.
mind their social media I was in touch with the
posts but can now cite other dean of admission,
a high-profile example and we both agreed it
at Harvard University, was in violation of each
which revoked offers of institution’s rules, and
admission to 10 students the student was denied
for offensive Facebook at both.”
posts. This June 16, 2017 photo shows social media app icons on a smartphone held by an Associated EDIT ONLINE USERNAMES
Colleges rarely revoke Press reporter in San Francisco. Make sure your email
admission for online of- Associated Press address is appropriate,
fenses, but social me- growing reality. Here are post — if you’re trying to admission offers can be says Nancy Beane, as-
dia’s role in the college some experts’ tips on get into college. withdrawn if their be- sociate director of col-
admission process is a what to post — and not WHAT RESEARCH SHOWS havior calls into question lege counseling at The
Research from Kaplan
EU considers sanctions to Test Prep suggests online their moral character or Westminster Schools in
maturity.
Atlanta, and president
scrutiny of college appli-
respond to cyberattacks cants is increasing. THE GRANDMOTHER of the National Associa-
RULE
tion for College Admis-
BRUSSELS (AP) — Europe- objectives” through cyber- Of 365 admissions of- San Francisco University sion Counseling.
ficers surveyed, 35 per-
High School seniors are
an Union foreign ministers attacks, and pledged a cent said they check given a warning each Silly, vulgar or otherwise
have agreed to prepare a united response. Instagram, Facebook, unprofessional user-
joint response to cyberat- While the ministers said Twitter and other so- fall to clean up their on- names might look good
tacks in the 28-nation bloc, they prefer to settle cy- cial media sites to learn line presence — and nix to teenagers but send
including imposing sanc- berspace disputes peace- more about applicants, any posts they wouldn’t the wrong message to
tions on offenders. fully, they stand ready to according to a poll re- show Grandma, said adults.
The ministers said in a state- make full use of the means leased in February. Jon Reider, director of Beane also advises stu-
ment Monday that they at their disposal “includ- college counseling at dents to be mindful of
would develop a “cyber- ing, if necessary, restric- Kaplan Test Prep has the elite private school. how they treat others
diplomacy toolbox” to re- tive measures.”EU sanc- conducted annual sur- “The mythical grand- online, including com-
spond to malicious activi- tions usually target people, veys on the subject mother is held up as ments and trolling of
ties online. groups, companies or orga- since 2008, when 10 per- an icon of moral stan- other accounts.
They expressed concern at nizations with asset freezes, cent of admissions offi- dards,” Reider said. MORE DO’S AND DON’TS
the “increased ability and travel bans and economic cials said they checked Another word of wis- The Princeton Review
willingness of state and non- measures like import or ex- applicants’ social media dom: Don’t make jokes offers social media tips
state actors to pursue their port restrictions.q pages. online. for college applicants,
European police launch The Harvard case high- “Unless you are certified including “Google your-
lights that “admissions
as being the funniest kid
self” to see what turns
campaign targeting doesn’t necessarily end in the class, don’t be up.
at the acceptance let-
online extortion ter,” says Yariv Alpher, funny,” Reider said. “A “Maybe you’ve made a
sense of humor can be
comment on a blog that
executive director of re- dangerous online.” you’d rather not have
THE HAGUE, Netherlands criminals target victims to search for Kaplan, the DON’T BRAG, ESPECIAL- show up, or a friend has
(AP) — The European Union get more sexually explicit test-preparation com- LY ABOUT WRONGDO- tagged you in an un-
police agency and forces material for financial gain. pany. ING flattering photo,” Princ-
across the continent are European police are The case included jokes Colgate University ad- eton Review says in a tip
launching a campaign launching a campaign us- about the Holocaust missions officers don’t sheet on its website.
warning of the rise in on- ing the hashtag SayNo to and sexual assault that routinely cruise prospec-
line extortion targeting chil- raise awareness and give were shared on a pri- tive students’ social me- It also advises students
dren, saying that victims as youngsters advice on how vate Facebook group to check their privacy
young as 7 are falling prey to deal with online preda- for incoming Harvard dia sites, says dean of settings to know what
to the crime, also known tors. freshmen, according to admissions Gary L. Ross. can be seen publicly,
as sextortion or webcam Exact figures about the in- The Harvard Crimson, “However, there are and to edit their online
blackmail. crease in the crime are not which broke the news occasions, very rarely, photo galleries.
Europol says in a report available, in part because earlier this month. were something might “A picture is worth a
Monday that criminals victims are often unwilling be brought to our at- thousand words, so
prey on children who have to report it, but Europol says Harvard has declined tention, and it would be make sure you’re OK
shared sexual images of the phenomenon is “sky- to comment but says it foolish for us, if the mat- with what those words
themselves online. The rocketing.” q tells new students that ter is serious enough, not might be.”q