<p>I think it happens a lot more than the public thinks, but I don’t think everyone is doing it. My husband and I have developed strategies for catching applicants in a lie: about their EC’s, their reading, etc. </p>
<p>But I think some schools do it too. There is at least one elite private school in my area that I think rigs their student’s resumes to match a successful applicant from years ago. It’s almost a game for them. So I ask for a lot of information (in different ways) about books the student reads, parent support, current events. And I don’t do my interviews the same way twice to prevent students from the same school from coaching each other. You’d be surprised how many straight A, perfect score kids barely know who is President. Or tell me about a great book they read, but then can’t summarize it or remember the details. Or give me details about homework and other academics. The generic “off the rack” replies are often dead giveaways. </p>
<p>On balance, I see enough great kids from ordinary families (rich and not) who get high marks for allowing me to see them warts and all. Most schools don’t want perfect students, they want imperfect ones passionate about learning so there is room for growth.</p>
<p>Hence my amusement when a student admitted he’d done EC’s just to get them on his resume but didn’t really enjoy them. His parents had told him what he needed to do to get into an IVY and he just did it.</p>