What would you tell your child to do?

[Jeafl]

My son is going to be a senior and is in the process of choosing a college. He visited Valparaiso University on Monday and really liked it. I think there is a good chance he may end up there.

Well, today he got a notification on Facebook that the Director of Admissions at Valparaiso wants to be a Facebook friend of his. He asked me what I thought he should do, and I have no clue. On one hand, if you say no or ignore it, will they take it the wrong way and not offer him admission? On the other hand, should the admissions department be privy to your facebook page?

The good thing is, there is really nothing on there that could jeopardize him at this point, although occasionally his friends post things on his wall with some colorful language. I did check out his Facebook page (with his permission) and I didn't see anything bad, but I still don't know what to tell him to do. We didn't have to worry about this kind of stuff in "my day".

 

[AlaskaMOM]

I'm sitting here trying to come up with a smart answer for you, but nope, don't know what to tell you.

Wish you luck in the decision, and hopefully someone else knows a good solution.

So glad DS15 doesn't have any interest in facebook.

 

[abdmom]

IMHO, the safest thing to do would be to ignore or reject it. There was something on the Dis yesterday about a teacher being fired over a picture one of her friends posted on "their" Facebook page.

 

[We_Love_Disney]

Your son needs to review the settings on his facebook. He can allow this person to only see certain aspects of his site.

 

[kwelch10377]

Your son needs to review the settings on his facebook. He can allow this person to only see certain aspects of his site.

I agree with this. Have him accept, but go in and change what this person is allowed to view on his FB page. You can have it setup so he can't view anything on his wall.

 

[Nennie]

I'm thinking that it's a professional FB site, kind of like being a "fan" of a college. I bet the admissions director's FB page is not a personal one, but for the sole purpose of recruiting, etc, with daily or weekly posts about the college...to get potential students interested in attending.

I would tell him to accept the request, and see if it's a professional page. If it's not, and it's the dude talking about what he had for lunch, or posting pics of himself on vacation....well then I don't know what to tell you! LOL!!!!

P.S. Of course, if he accepts, he should put his wall postings and photos on private!!

 

[daisyduck123]

I have a DD15 looking at colleges as well. We did two college visits last week. If she were to receive a friend request such as your DS's, I think we would tell her to ignore it.

 

[klacey1]

Your son needs to review the settings on his facebook. He can allow this person to only see certain aspects of his site.

This. I would accept the quest but block the Director from all of his pictures. I would think "colorful language" said by someone else on his wall would not be detrimental to your son getting into the school.

 

[onelilspark]

I'd adjust the privacy settings and accept. I have an entire group for work people (customers) so I can accept them, but control what they see.

 

[KAMLEM]

I have a DD15 looking at colleges as well. We did two college visits last week. If she were to receive a friend request such as your DS's, I think we would tell her to ignore it.

I know this is OT, but I had to ask. You are already visiting colleges and she's only 15?

 

[Lanshark]

No advice but wanted to say that I grew up close to Valpo University. It's a nice area.

 

[daisyduck123]

I know this is OT, but I had to ask. You are already visiting colleges and she's only 15?

She will be a senior this year. (Skipped a grade and has a later birthday, turning 16 next month).

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I agree with this. Have him accept, but go in and change what this person is allowed to view on his FB page. You can have it setup so he can't view anything on his wall.

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

First of all go through scan for bad photos, bad wall posts etc. Any info etc that could be seen as bad.
Have it so the person cannot see the wall (you cant control what your friends post) then add him ignoring him could seem kinda rude i added my profs to facebook but I keep a fairly clean facebook page (no photos of me partying etc)

 

[tiggerlover]

Interesting, I didn't realize they would do that. I am not sure what I would tell DS.

 

[bumbershoot]

She will be a senior this year. (Skipped a grade and has a later birthday, turning 16 next month).

A good friend of mine was in that same position. November birthday, skipped a grade...

I'm thinking that it's a professional FB site, kind of like being a "fan" of a college. I bet the admissions director's FB page is not a personal one, but for the sole purpose of recruiting, etc, with daily or weekly posts about the college...to get potential students interested in attending.

I would tell him to accept the request, and see if it's a professional page.

If it's a professional page, much or all of it should be visible.

I think he should have set it up as an institutional page instead of a personal page..so one would "become a fan" rather than "friend".

My university has a website, and there are lots of undergrads or wannabe undergrads, posting on the wall. I personally think it's a little bit strange, but it's a level of interaction I didn't have (I never even visited ONE college, and only applied to the one I went to), and I'm also sort of jealous.



I would probably suggest that DS "become a fan" of the main university FB page, and perhaps send an email to the admissions guy to let him know he'd done that...and go from there?

 

[Jeafl]

Thanks for the opinions. I asked him what he did, and he said he accepted the guy. I will ask him to change his settings though just in case someone posts something on his wall that isn't "appropriate".

 

[r&kmommy]

Accept him and set his privacy settings to only see certain things... he can also go status update by status update and exclude him. If he fools around w/ privacy settings he will see all the different options. It would be uncool to not accept his invite good luck to your ds!!

 

[disney1990]

I think this is an invitation for the "college" facebook page. I know my daughter has her college added as a Group. I can't see individual's associated with the college asking to be "friends'.

 

[golfgal]

A lot of colleges are turning to Facebook to help place kids with roommates. They set up a page and have the kids chat back and forth and find a good "fit" and line the kids up that way vs blind selection. The Director of Housing at DS's school said that they are starting this for next fall's class and he is excited because if there are roommate issues they will no longer be "his" fault .