<p>I am already in college so I am asking hypothetically, and I am not asking about Harvard but all large, prestigious schools. Colleges ask for self-reported grades and to mail in your transcript. But what do colleges do with the transcripts you mail? I would think there is no way larger schools such as the UCs would be able to attach/compare one’s transcript to their application…therefore isn’t it possible to completely lie about your self-reported grades in the application?</p>
<p>Why do YOU think they ask for self-reported grades PLUS an official transcript?</p>
<p>Here’s my thoughts:</p>
<p>1) the self reported GPA is a quick factoid for them as they peruse other aspects of your application. It gives them context.</p>
<p>2) the official transcript is reviewed to verify if it matches the other GPA.</p>
<p>If you lie or more likely, given the benefit of the doubt and assumed to be mistaken by a fraction, it’ll be noted and if not large, you’ll get a pass. If you’re stupid enough to lie by a considerable amount, then you deserve what you get.</p>
<p>At MIT, the self-reported grades and the official transcript are reviewed together – the purpose of the self-reported grades form is to get everybody’s transcript into a standardized format, and thereby make it easier to read the official transcript. If there were a discrepancy between the two, it would be noticed right away.</p>
<p>It is always possible to lie about grades, and it is always possible that the college you are applying to finds out that you lied. The consequences can be severe. Don’t know why anyone would lie about readily verifiable information.</p>
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<p>Right, and there’s probably no way that the IRS can match up and compare your W-2 with the number you write on your 1040.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t lie about the GPA, if you look like a great applicant but they find out you lied about your grades just so they get a glance at your application you definitely are out.</p>
<p>This smells a lot like Adam Wheeler reincarnated…remember, he successfully transferred from Bowdoin College to Harvard by doctoring all his documents and recommendations…</p>
<p>Looking at OP’s posting history, he/she did poorly at one college and is considering transferring to a college that rejected him/her out of HS. OP is alternatively wondering about Community College and then transferring. I would think the “friend” is the OP.</p>
<p>If you’re a serious candidate then Adcom will verify grades to transcript. If you’re not then they probably don’t even bother.</p>