Hi guys, I was just wondering whether colleges verify your extracirriculars before or after you get accepted? Thanks!
For your benefit, just assume that they do.
So before or after acceptance coolweather?
Assume they have the right to do it at any point.
Don’t lie. If you don’t have something done yet (didn’t earn or win something), say “planned” or “projected”. Then you don’t have to care.
If it is a good enough EC to make the difference in being admitted or not, assume that it is in some way verifiable. Obvious examples are (big) awards and leadership positions. Don’t forget that your GC will be writing a LoR, and is likely to touch on important ECs. You list a bunch of important stuff and GC says something that makes it clear you aren’t the leader type, and you are done.
More to the point, as @intparent says: don’t lie. For most students, ECs don’t make a huge difference in the outcome of the application. It’s really, really, really not worth lying about.
What if I have already been accepted collegemom3717? Why whould colleges go back and ask for verification after the fact?
@throwawayboi69 Why are you concerned about verification?
OP, did you already lie or exaggerate on your apps? A college can rescind you if they find out.
As far as I know, only the University of California is the only college system in the country that has a “formal” process in place for this. They take a random sample of applications every year (approx 10% according to the CC article linked below) and ask applicants to verify something on their application (EC’s, awards, etc.). Failure to submit proof results in denial of admission from all campuses, and they keep a record of it.
http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/000323/
They also reserve the right to do additional post admission verification at any time and for any reason, and individual campuses also have the right to do their own verification. Any student or applicant who is found to have falsified their application is subject to expulsion and even revocation of their degree after graduation.
While other colleges may not have a formal procedure in place, I believe they all reserve the right to verify an applicant’s info at any time and are subject to the same penalties.
IMO, not worth the risk. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.
Yes they have the right to rescind any acceptance that they find was falsified or exaggerated. They check back with schools throughout the process, that is why you send things like final reports and why students are rescinded for poor grades. Entering false information is an even greater concern IMO, and there have even been students that have had their diplomas after entering college rescinded because of it
If you lie on your app colleges can rescind your acceptance or (if they find out after you graduate) revoke your diploma and require you to pay back all financial aid. They won’t ask you to verify your ECs – they’ll ask your GC (or look to see if your GC mentioned it), do a Google search, reach out to whatever organizations you mentioned, etc. You’ll never know if/when they’re verifying the details on your app. If you embellished it, you may want to send an update saying “projected winner” of x and “planned participant” of y.
@project21 this is something your counselor at high school should be made aware of. Then it can be referred to in the letter of rec.
OP, be careful. Guidance counselors at school often refer to activities a student has been involved in. Did you say you are president of a club? The colleges might wonder why the GC didn’t mention it in the letter of Rec. They call the counselors, who know nothing about it. You are rejected. Admissions officers absolutely call high school counselors, most often if there is some kind of discrepancy on the app. This has happened many times, and it will happen more and more as students get increasingly desperate to make themselves competitive.
Just don’t bother. It really isn’t going to make any dfference for the most part and the risk isn’t worth it. It is very difficult to get away with lies about important ECs and awards, and the kind of colleges where ECs make a difference are most likely to check on it. If they are trying to choose between you and Jimmy, and Jimmy was pres of the robotics club and you were president of the chemistry club, they are going to look at your essays and recs as a deciding factor. Not routine ECs.
Lindagaf, I already gave my teachers and counselor my activities sheet and I’m sure that they mentioned my ECs in their letters. However, some of my extracurriculars may raise some questions. For example I work 40-45 hours a week at my family’s business but I don’t know how I would prove it because I don’t get paid. I also have a lot of volunteer hours but it’s a really informal thing so I don’t have lots of actual proof. So I’m just wondering, even though I already got accepted, would colleges seek verification.
Since you actually did what you wrote, I wouldn’t worry. If a college does ask for any verification (and it is likely that won’t happen) you will be able to find a way to provide it. For example if need be someone in your family busienss can write a letter verifying how much you worked.
Yeah it would be really wasteful and inefficient to verify students after they’ve been accepted. I’m hoping that they’ve already talked to my counselor if they had any questions.
Guys, don’t worry. They are not trying to trip you up. If something seems odd, they ask. If all is legit, you needn’t even think about this!
HRSMom, they would do all of this before decisions are made right? Because it wouldn’t really make sense to check after the fact.
They could do after if they found something odd. But generally, LI would say yes. Relax, nothing is going to ruin it.