Generally, college admissions officers are often too busy to conduct online searches for every applicant. However, if something within your application causes them to have concerns or makes them curious about you, they may indeed perform a search.
The Reality of Online Searches by Admissions Officers
The primary duty of admissions officers is to review a high volume of applications, which means their time is highly constrained. This busy schedule usually prevents them from proactively searching for every applicant online.
When an Online Search Might Occur:
While not routine, there are specific situations where an admissions officer might feel compelled to look you up:
- Puzzling or Inconsistent Information: If there are inconsistencies in your application, or if something you've written or submitted is particularly unusual or raises questions, an officer might search to clarify or understand the context.
- Concern for Character: If something in your essays, recommendations, or disciplinary records hints at potential character issues or concerning behavior, an officer might do a quick search for additional insights.
- Exceptional Claims: If you make an extraordinary claim about an achievement or experience that seems difficult to verify, a quick online search might be performed to corroborate the information.
Policy Regarding Discovered Information
It's important to understand that even if an admissions officer does search for you online and finds information, they are generally not supposed to use any information they discover in their final decision on your application. This policy is in place to ensure fairness and to base admissions decisions primarily on the official application materials submitted by the applicant.
| Scenario for Online Search | Likelihood of Search | Policy on Discovered Information |
|---|---|---|
| Standard, Clear Application | Low (due to time constraints) | N/A |
| Application Raises Questions | Possible, if specific elements prompt curiosity or concern | Not supposed to be used in the final admissions decision |
In summary, while it's not a common practice for every applicant, there are circumstances where an admissions officer might conduct an online search. However, the information they find is not officially supposed to influence their decision.
