Will I get caught lying on my college application?
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009Dear Babs,
Can I get caught lying on my college application? My extracurricular activities are looking pretty grim. I was on the yearbook committee for two years, and I ran track for three. I did debate club all four years, but I never got a role. I was thinking of saying that I did all of my activities all four years, and “making myself” editor of the yearbook. Do admissions officers really check up on that kind of stuff?
-Sneaky Sara
—
Dear Sneaky,
Uh, yes. Not to mention that lying on your application is wrong.
Moral lecture aside, the truth is that college admissions officers don’t have time to check up on every fact. But if a lie is small enough to not get caught, in all honesty it’s small enough to not make a difference on your college application. Not to mention that if you do get caught, you’ll be automatically rejected: no wait list, no transferring. And remember, your guidance counselor will be submitting a letter summarizing your academic AND extracurricular achievements along with your application. If those facts don’t line up, it’s a giant red flag for the folks at admissions.
You need to ask yourself: is it even worth it? Adding a couple years of participation, or a title like “editor” isn’t going to make or break your college application. If your GPA is sub-par, or your SATs don’t cut it, editor or president of this and that won’t help you come admissions decisions time.
Rather than risk getting flat-out rejected, why don’t you be honest, keep your integrity, and give it your best.
Good luck!
Babs
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