Do colleges really verify everything you say....

spideygirl
Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:02:05 +0000

Having been a part of hiring hundreds of people, I can say that when you look over a resume (even one in a pile of 2000) your eye is trained to spot red flags. I am quite sure admissions officers can smell exaggeration. Recommendations written by your teachers and guidance counselors would in all likelihood allude to your leadership positions in the school if they were a real part of who you are. If nothing is mentioned, it will look strange and stand out.

Oh, what a tangled web we weave…

Be careful. You are “enough” just the way you really are. Don’t let the insane admissions marketplace cause you to lower your standards. Being meticulously honest is a profitable habit to get into. Good character and a fine reputation are two things which will help you to put a roof over your head and food on your plate throughout your life.

I think you would be better off finding a way to share an image of who you really seem to be, which is someone who is helpful, eager to pitch in, and willing to pick up the slack. There is nothing “pathetic” about that. Don’t ruin your good efforts by misrepresenting them.