Admission Officers Requesting to Connect on Linkedin

[Chops13]

The Admissions Coordinator one of for the Psychology Departments that I am applying to requested to connect with my profile on Linkedin. As someone who has never been through the process, I do not know the protocol. I just wanted to see if this is a normal occurrence. Is this a sign of something good or are they just scanning for obvious red flags?

Edited January 15, 2014 by Jcpalmer

[stereopticons]

A lot of times, when people join linkedin, they just invite all of their email contacts. If you've ever corresponded with this person by email (even if they just sent you one email), you'll show up on the list of people to invite. I've had requests from all kinds of people I've never spoken to because of this. I honestly wouldn't read anything into it. And if it were me, I wouldn't accept it, but that's totally your call.

[Chops13]

I had not previously had contact with the Coordinator. Thank you for clarifying that I shouldn't read too much into it!

[PsychGirl1]

Agreed- decline. It's inappropriate for her to try to connect with you, she won't know that you rejected her (they don't get a notification), and it's possible that her address book did it by accident (however that happened). That said, if you have a great LinkedIn profile, then maybe you want to accept. I'd err on the side of no.