Image: iStockphoto

You probably could’ve guessed it, but now we have scientific proof: College admissions officers are checking things out online when they consider applicants. And more and more, they don’t like what they see.

Kaplan Test Prep, the well-known company that provides tutoring courses to prepare for standardized tests like the SAT and GMAT, surveyed 350 college admissions officers from among the nation’s top 500 schools. “The percentage of admissions officers who searched Google and Facebook increased slightly from last year to 27 percent and 26 percent, respectively, but the number of searches that turned up something that soured the officers’ attitudes jumped from 12 percent to 35 percent,” USA Today reports. Ruh-roh.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Keep the crazy off the Internets if your accounts are public. Check your Facebook privacy settings so you can better manage who can tag you and where or when those posts appear. And parents, talk with your children about their online presence, reminding them that behavior captured by the Web stays caught in it and is available to the public.

Among the things that are setting off the admissions officers are plagiarism (don’t ever take credit for other people’s work!), drinking alcohol and using profanity.

Jeff Olson, VP of data science at Kaplan said in a press release statement:

With regard to college admissions, the traditional application — the essays, the letters of recommendation — represent the polished version of an applicant, while often what’s found online is a rawer version of that applicant. Schools are philosophically divided on whether an applicant’s digital trail is fair game, and the majority of admissions officers do not look beyond the submitted application, but our advice to students is to think first, Tweet later.

Good advice.

Soon prospective students applying to the University of California may be asked to divulge more personal information than their academic record and race. The school’s academic Senate has recommended that students have the option of identifying themselves as lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transgender on their admissions applications.

The recommendation has garnered a mixed reaction from UC’s Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools, according to CBS Local. The board agrees that the question would allow the school to collect important statistical information, but they suggest putting the question on the SIR forms instead of college applications to protect students’ privacy.

Support has been pouring in from across UC’s various campuses since UCLA’s campus paper broke the story in the Daily Bruin. By and large, students believe the data will lead to more services to support LGBTQ students, such as special dormitory floors, once school officials realize what a large population they are.

“I think the numbers are way bigger than we really imagine or know,” said Queer Alliance Board member Luis Roman who spoke with university officials about the proposal, and supports its passing.

When asked whether he would mind being questioned about his sexual orientation, High School Senior Brian Vo, who was visiting UC’s campus, said he wouldn’t have a problem with it:

“I think it’s fine. They’re just collecting information to kind of cater to the population. It’s not obligatory — it’s voluntary — so it’s up to you whether you want to or not.”

Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs Lawrence H. Pitts will be responsible for deciding whether to pass the proposed measure which would be implemented across the entire UC school system. As long as answering the question remains optional, it seems the recomendation could be passed without any backlash.

What do you think about this proposal? Should all school’s start asking applicant’s sexual orientation for statistical purposes?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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