Keep in mind that unless you make yourself invisible to everyone except your friends on FB, people can still find you in a search and see your name, main photo, a selection of your friends, and some of your interests and pages. People can tell a LOT and make judgement calls from just these little bits of information. If you go private, make sure that you are completely private except to your friends.

Honeychile wrote: <<Private = Discreet. Discreet = Mature.>> LOVE THAT. So true.

Private period. People who you do not actually know shouldn't know all your life's details. Some campuses even have rules requiring sorority members to make THEIR profiles private during recruitment and forbids communication between PNM's and actives...my campus does this. That isn't going to stop them from looking at yours, though. And even if it's "clean" you want to control ACTIVELY what they do and do not know about you so that you can present yourself accurately. For instance, say you're a fan of Widespread Panic, Phish, and the Dead and list them under your favorite bands. It could be that you don't smoke drugs, do shower, and just happen to like jam bands...and by the way, I'm using that example because I did have those bands listed on my profile and the conclusion was that I was a pothead even though there were no references to drugs at all on my profile. But even if there are no references to illegal substances or drinking on your profile, they'll still make assumptions based on things as simple and shallow as your music choice...or favorite tv shows, or hobbies. These are the things you should be talking about during parties because a) you have a better chance of elaborating on things such as a jam band obsession and b) you need material with which to keep the conversation going. And one more point-if you allow posts on your wall you can't be positive your profile will stay clean. It only takes one inside joke taken out of context to make your friends, and therefore you by association, look like Lindsay Lohan.

Personally I've never held a private profile against a PNM-I've just assumed they're smart.

For safety reasons, you should have it private, anyway. At least hide all personal information like birthdate, family/bf/gf relationships, activities, address, etc.

Aww, KSUViolet, I wanted SOOOO bad to join "I don't get drunk, I get AWESOME!" (kidding, of course!) =P

Something that I discovered the other day, if you add yourself to a network it WILL change your privacy settings. I had everything set to "only friends" and it changed the settings to "Network & friends," it was annoying to have to change EVERYTHING back.

This is just so hypocritical! Susie Q has a drunk facebook picture! No, we won't invite her back to our house even though the girls all go out on Tuesday nights to the local bar. This is the problem with Greek life. We try to hold images of ourselves that don't exist. We can judge someone and exclude them for the very things we do. Who are you fooling? Everyone knows what you do so why should someone who has the same picture that you are tagged in be held guilty for it? The only person who can say they shouldn't join us is the virgin who has never drank. That would be few ppl in any organization because we are sinful in nature at heart.

Some of the comments above prove what is wrong with Greek life when I read each of them. You are judged for something even though it isn't true. I know this very well because one night my big took me to get high but he said if any members ask if you get high say no. I didn't say it ism't bad because it is illegal but the actives do it and openly with some pledges but you are suppose to hide from the ones who say drugs are bad? What kind of image does that create for the organization, that you are hypocritical and judgemental, yes!

There is a difference from having a few drinks and getting plastered and having the pictures of it all over the internet.
Yo asshole. If it was accepted by most of the chapter, you wouldn't have to hide it. And how bout this. Since you hate Greek life so much, why don't you do yourself a favor and just disaffiliate.

I wouldn't assume that atoheadlines is really in a GLO. Atoheadlines could be anyone--a current poster, Xanthus, a previous lurker, a Nigerian investor, someone's granny......

LMAO at this list.

Completely agree on the "private" status and also be sure you change it on the back end (access through your friends). Everyone admits to stalking FB prior to recruitment just to check people out.
If you are a PNM, I might suggest that you do a composite photo collage -- these are really big and sometimes required at SEC schools. Basically an 8 x 10 assortment (maybe your favs off FB -- no, not the one dancing on a pool table at the bar) showing you with friends, family, volunteering, whatever.
I will say that my daughter recently went through recruitment (with a private FB status and recs for every chapter) and had a great experience. She ended up creating the photo composite later in the "securing rec process." I will say that the chapters that were sent her composite -- kept her the longest. Coincidence, maybe.

Again, it's just a thought.

Emphasis on the bold. These work at ginormous SEC rushes (where the sisters are glad to have anything that makes a PNM memorable and makes their job easier) but at more laid back schools...it could make you look kinda desperate and creepy.

Yes, totally agree on laid back schools. Mine went through at a very competitive (non SEC) school. So decide accordingly.

Great call 33 girl!

I don't think anyone will think ill of you for having a private profile! I have always kept my profile private just because I don't want creeps seeing what I've been up to (Honestly, I get some WEIRD messages... and that's with a private profile!)