Do admcomms google you?

[sociology27]

Hey, I've seen this on the general forum but I was wondering what everyone here thinks. Do admission committees google applicants or are they restrained to what's in the file?

If anybody has answer to this it would be much appreciated.

[mandarin.orange]

Hey, I've seen this on the general forum but I was wondering what everyone here thinks. Do admission committees google applicants or are they restrained to what's in the file?

If anybody has answer to this it would be much appreciated.

Always operate on the assumption that the answer is "Yes."

Last week I went to a panel on my campus about how academic job searches work. All agreed that you need to cultivate a "digital footprint" that is as professional as possible.

This has been - I think response #8 is especially informative.

[contretemps]

I think so. I have an Academia.edu profile where one gets notified when someone views it. When I started sending e-mails to prospective POIs last month I received a couple of views from the USA. (I'm an international student, and my Academia.edu profile is basically blank, LOL.)

[avee]

Second what contre wrote. I have an academia.edu account and have seen people access my profile around the same exact time that they e-mail me back. I think it could be in your favor to have an academia.edu profile so when someone does google you, they see that you are engaged and networking in academics. (In other words, better for them to go to your LinkedIn or Academia account rather than your Facebook!)

[panasic]

Should I created an academia account even though I only have an undergrad degree? Will they think it's strange?

[noodles.galaznik]

I would definitely assume that yes, they do. The first time I met the former graduate director, he actually mentioned that he had googled me, so I would definitely make sure that what you've put out into the great online world is as professional as possible.