<p>you mean, they want us to dilute the hours?</p>
<p>Here’s my question, should I be worried if I didn’t put down on my application that I was a member of SG, but my rec said I was? (I was shown the letter after it was sent) I was never officially a member, but the SG at my school has asked me to consult on a number of projects they had including one where they asked me to emcee an event they held to raise money for charity. That’s why he put down I was a member. All of the consultation and outside work to assist them can be varified with the SG advisor, but just not being an actual member. Should I be worried about it?</p>
<p>ten96lt, I wouldn’t. One of my writers did the same thing for me, only for our honor society group. The way I see it is that you wanted to focus on your <em>most important</em> activities, but you were so involved overall that you didn’t even list everything. I think that you should be glad that he mentioned it, not worried.</p>
<p>Interesting thread. I have an anecodotal and true story to relate to you all. A person we know through that person’s sibling informed us that the sibling was awarded the prestigious full ride Morehead Scholarship to UNC-Chapel Hill. She unfortunately decided to embellish her clubs with saying she was an officer. They checked. She wasnt and they yanked the scholarship and reneged on her offer of admission. This happened about three years ago. She did however get into an Ivy and learned her lesson. It wasnt dishonesty per se…it was the intensity of the competition that made her embellish an otherwise impeccable application. Colleges cant check the facts on every application obviously. But they spot check and particularly on scholarship applicants.</p>
<p>Be warned.</p>
<p>If someone is just a no good cheat, and they exist…and often at the TOP of the high school class, they will sooner or later in life get caught. These people sometimes make headline news. The level of lying on professional resumes is also at record levels, sadly. </p>
<p>I would rather live in a double wide down by the river than be a dishonest success story.</p>
<p>There is nothing you take with you to Heaven and something that can never be taken away from you earth by others, but your integrity.</p>
<p>Success in life is not measured by how many toys you own or how much you earn, though many are fooled to think that it is. It is measured by your success as a human being: parent, work mate, partner, spouse, etc. Who you are inside, not what is inside your home or your wallet.</p>
<p>Nor really what school you went to.</p>
<p>I think it is better to be honest and get into a lower ranking school and thrive, than to lie and get into a prestigious school and perhaps struggle or forever be tainted with that notion you had to lie to get in.</p>
<p>People do however make mistakes, as I related above. It was a costly mistake and that person learned a valuable lesson. Sadly, she didnt need the embellishments as she would have won the scholarship without it anyway. It was an immature thing to do under pressure. She is sorry she did it and has made amends and is a fine person and successful student at this prestigious Ivy school now.</p>
<p>I am who I am and that is okay with me. That is a phrase we should all practice.</p>
<p>Awesome post catfishin! I couldnt agree with you more. Where have our morals and values gone? We put so much self worth into “labels” instead of who we are. Thanks for a wonderful post</p>
<p>Wonderful post, Catfishin. I agree with all you say. Most of you kids who are applying to your choices are within the range of possible acceptance. Tweaking that app a bit with lies are not going to help, as the honors that truly count are National Awards and other things that are easily verified. The difference between being a valuable member of a club and an officer is not going to make or break the app. But things can truly blow up if you get caught in a lie. THe young lady in the above post is lucky that her lie did not hurt her in her other apps.</p>
<p>To frazzled:</p>
<p>The college admissions process is quirky and sometimes capricious. It is infuriating at times when people with lesser scores and qualifications get into the school that you really want to attend. I know someone who applied to schools to shadow her friends applications…with the intent of muddying the waters and seeing if she could bump somebody off. She did. A friendship ended immediately. She paid a heavy price for being a crappy person.</p>
<p>People will sometimes lie to achieve things in life, including getting into college. Its ugly and its disturbing, but its also reality. Dont let it color your view of the world or make you change YOUR standards. </p>
<p>Be happy for what you achieve, whether you get your first choice or not. My kid didnt get into his/her first or second choice schools. They got into a third choice match school…actually it was closer to safety than match…lets call it a lower tier match school. My kid is now happy as a lark, thriving and hasnt looked back. </p>
<p>The college admissions paradigm is that prestige is all wrapped up in the selectivity rankings of colleges. That is a fool’s errand. Dont take the bait.</p>
<p>Pick schools that you are well suited for…a great fit. A fit for you and a fit for them. In such schools you will thrive, have a great time and make lots of friends. That may or may not be your first choice and it may or may not be a prestigious our elite school. </p>
<p>The point is, go where you are comfortable and can achieve your best and don’t worry too much about other people. You will see cheaters in college too, sadly. Its disgusting. They will get caught sooner or later in life. </p>
<p>But your integrity and hard work are what matters…not what other people say or do. Measure yourself by your own standards of honesty and hard work. Not others.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>to cpt:</p>
<p>My understanding is she only embellished the Morehead Scholarship application and not any other apps. But its a true story and she learned her lesson. Her family was very embarrassed.</p>
<p>But thanks.</p>
<p>“It wasnt dishonesty per se…it was the intensity of the competition that made her embellish an otherwise impeccable application.”</p>
<p>It was dishonesty that did her in. People who lack character can always find a reason to be unethical.</p>
<p>“know someone who applied to schools to shadow her friends applications…with the intent of muddying the waters and seeing if she could bump somebody off. She did. A friendship ended immediately. She paid a heavy price for being a crappy person.”</p>
<p>I don’t understand that… Did she even want to attend the schools? It sounds, unless I misinterpretted, like she just wanted to see if she could get in over her friends (prove she was better maybe?). I hope that I misunderstood…</p>
<p>Sometimes I think that I am both jaded and naive at the same time lol. I understand far too well how corrupt our world is, but I also find myself in disbelief when I actually witness something that is messed up.</p>
<p>I’m glad that your kid is happy. It is such a difficult process, really.</p>
<p>Thanks catfishin.</p>
<p>Northstarmom- </p>
<p>I think this is the first time that I have ever disagreed with you but SG officers work incredibly hard to do what they do. Actually, planning a prom (or homecoming in my case) is a month of pure hell that involves giving up lunchs, study halls, and extensive after school hours to pull it together. Its incredibly draining and not fun work that goes on behind the scenes to pull together those mundane high school activities.</p>
<p>I do think the band uniform person put in a TON of work too
^^^^^Not a job I would be willing to do. Kudos to her.</p>
<p>davnasca,
I don’t think Northstarmom was trying 2 put down the work SG’s put into a dance. I’ve watched a hc get organized and it looked like it took a lot of hard work and effort for the SG to put it together. I think the point that she was trying to make is that you are not the only one in the country that has done that and it isn’t unique. Practically every high school in the country has a prom or dance and there is a lot of people that can put that down on their applications and I’m sure the admissions people have seen a ton of those applications. I think her point is that if it’s something unique, it would be something the admissions people would be look at more closely instead of something more common like organizing a dance.</p>
<p>ten96lt explained my point better than I did. 
There are thousands of SGA presidents who apply to Ivies and top universities. To stand out, one has to do more than plan a prom and homecoming. The SGA president whom I know who in addition to handling the usual duties of an SGA president managed to get all of the high schools in a county building a Habitat House is an example of the type of achievement that would make one stand out.</p>
<p>Fair enough, but it is still (at my school at least) a very time consuming EC, even if it is common among applicants.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You can go up to the point where you think to yourself, “This is an exaggeration,” meaning this is where I’m not just using glowing terms and now I’m deceiving.</p>
<p>To some that translates into “you can’t exaggerate” but that’s both too unforgiving and yet it’s deadly accurate advice. I would explain that you’ve got some leeway as to how you present yourself…as long as you’re not exaggerating (deceiving).</p>
<p>If that seems like semantics, you’re right. The point is that you should take notice that I have remained true to my belief here while working along a somewhat broad spectrum of ideas. You have that sort of leeway when describing yourself on your applications. </p>
<p>If you need a more concrete analogy, then consider that, as far as I know, you can wear make-up in every state. OTOH, in almost every state, wearing a mask is illegal. If your application is a mask, rewrite it. If you’re simply wearing makeup and toning down the zits, that’s fine. You don’t have to diminish what you’ve done or bend over backwards to put a spotlight on warts and blemishes. </p>
<p>But once you think you’re full of crap, then that’s the point where you are full of it. If you believe you’re exaggerating, then you’ve crossed into the “full of it” zone. Go back immediately. You do not have a visa to enter that zone.</p>
<p>I would say at most you could put say if you did 23 hours of service or worked 18 hours a week, you could round up to 25 and 20. I don’t see them pulling an offer if you simply explained you were giving a solid number estimate. Just don’t put 50 if you only did 20.</p>
<p>Northstarmom Do you think tutoring a younger student would look better versus just volunteering at a nursing home?</p>
<p>Northstarmom, I have taken part in some protests against some of Bush’s policies and particularly against his war in Iraq, and so do you think this is worthy of being placed on my application? Or is it much too controversial? By the way, I’m planning on applying to schools such as Princeton, Yale, Stanford, UChicago, and perhaps Harvard.</p>
<p>Gametheory, this is my opinion but northstarmom might have a completely different opinion. After visiting U of Chicago and from the rep of Harvard etc. A lot of those schools IMO have more liberal leaning viewpoints, so it might be an advantage to you depending on the school (For example I wouldn’t put it down on an application to West Point). For example of what I mean, I went to visit U of Chicago recently. On the same day, there was an “End the death penalty convention” in one of the buildings. (I’m only mentioning because I think it’s more associated with liberal ideals, but I don’t want to get political) So I think they may find that more favorabily than you saying that you attended a pro gun rally, but I think they’ll see a lot of people putting down what you will. What would probably get their attention the best is if you organized a major anti war rally.</p>
<p>"Northstarmom, I have taken part in some protests against some of Bush’s policies and particularly against his war in Iraq, and so do you think this is worthy of being placed on my application? Or is it much too controversial? :</p>
<p>Describing one of those experiences and what you learned from the experience, and why you did it could be a good essay. It also could be something to thoughtfully discuss during an interview (whatever the interviewer’s personal political views are). Even though I’m a liberal Democrat, I gave high ratings to a student who was a conservative Republican, and that student got in.</p>
<p>Particularly the elite colleges want to attract students who follow current events and care about making a difference in the world (regardless of what the student’s political leanings are).</p>
<p>I can’t see mentioning those activities as ECs or community service, however, because unless you were a major organizer of the protests, it wouldn’t be that much work.</p>