Online Presence can hurt Scholarship Chances

Will your online image affect your scholarship chances?

As a teenager you are part of the generation referred to as, the connected generation, the net generation, the dot com generation, the i-generation, and the google generation. These are all words used to convey your widespread use of today’s technology.

Like any tool the internet, while useful, also has it’s drawbacks. Ease of use, widespread availability, and the agelessness of cyber space, are three areas that can be viewed as a liability.

Posting something online is  as easy, as a few key strokes. Posting is so easy, even adults can do it. However, the ease of posting  allows people, adults and teens, to post before thinking. Widespread availability means  once something is posted, anyone can find and view it. Not only is the internet available to you, and everyone else, but it also has no expiration date.

Ease of use also means that in a few years, when you’re applying for scholarships the committees will be able to access you online. For this reason it’s vital you not post anything you don’t want the whole world reading or knowing about. You don’t want to hurt your scholarship chances because you were just goofing off.

Scholarship committees a have an image they want portrayed. They want their scholarship recipients to fit in with that image. They use all the tools at their disposal to find the perfect fit for them. In the past they only had the candidates scholarship application, reference letters, and high school transcription, to use to help them make their choice. Today they have the internet.

Of course you’re going to do silly things that may embarrass  you when  your older. You’re a teenager, that’s what teenagers do. Ask some of the adults in your life, some of them have most likely done something they don’t want the world knowing about. Doing silly, or embarrassing actions is one thing, allowing the world to see them is another.

Remember, think twice (at least) before posting an image, video, rant, or anything really online. The internet is a useful tool, and like any tool must be used properly.