<p>Yes, the number of coincidences are many. Considering that his highschool is not big and the particular college is enormous and not at all in our area makes it even more of a remarkable coincidence. But these coincidences come up more than most kids can fathom. Our family spent Thanksgiving in NYC and we numbered nearly 24 coming from coast to coast and the Midwest. One of my brothers teaches and coaches at a top private school; he is also very active in a sport. Any kid who is good at that sport would not be wise to misrepresent himself to any of us who might mention him to my brother who could set that straight in a heartbeat. His wife, who has a different surname from his, and works for a college has no interest in sports and seems like such an unlikely spouse that few people would match them up. Many times in the past, stories have been caught through very strange coincidences. </p>
<p>I used to compile college acceptance data based on the parents' and students' say so. I no longer do so after I caught some people in some pretty big whoppers. And totally through coincidence. My data base has been diminished greatly even with a reward bounty because I now only use info confirmed by the letter from the college. I have found that many highschools have had to go the same route. </p>
<p>Many times people who are caught in these lies do not even know they are discovered as few of us like confrontations. It is just noted. It is madness to fabricate some story when you are truly within striking range of getting something you want, when the downside is so great, and the upside unlikely anyways. Many kids who end up in the more selective schools know each other from elite programs and situations. To lie about the very small number of selective awards that make a difference to the top schools is a risky thing to do.</p>
<p>The University of Illinois app asked for a contact number or e-mail for every EC. I think that's an easy enough way for the school to verify what's what. On the other hand, schools that provide very limited space for EC's are going to get unverifiable summaries from the kids.</p>
<p>On way some colleges try to detect fraud is through the interview. If you were really involved in ECs, you'll have lots to talk about. If you weren't, there will be lots of long, cold silences and awkward moments.</p>
<p>A lot of you are right in that it doesn't matter if you were in an activity from 9-12 or 10-12, and also that it doesn't matter if you were in 5 or 6. However, if you make significant embellishments to your record and are discovered or exposed, you will be blacklisted, other colleges you applied to will be informed, and you may very quickly find yourself living in an apartment over your parents' garage or standing guard on a street corner in Iraq.</p>
<p>Jaman, I respectfully think that you've gotten caught up in the whole quantification of admission stats. I partly blame the colleges themselves for this, as well as the media (US News, etc.) who supports this frenzy of competition, ranking, score medians, & published freshman profiles. But please listen to 2 things: (1) to describe, rather than to list (or count) will be in your favor. It will help you get specific as to your role or your engagement with the e.c. You'll find the space filled up by descriptions which will be so much more intriguing to the adcoms than long lists which make their eyes glaze over. (Read another post in CC: The one entitled "High drama...") And incidentally, getting specific will keep you honest. You'll love yourself in the morning. (2) If a college is suspicious about a teacher rec -- or the signature, or the wording (adult vs. non-adult, educator vs. non-educator), you risk losing it all -- as another post said. At our school we are not allowed to send out recs on our own accord. We supply the rec envelopes to the teachers, who seal them & send them to the GC. GC sends out those recs along with the Sec.School Report + official transcript. I'm asking for a separate rec for an out-of-school e.c., but I'm asking my recommender to sign his name over the envelope seal, so that I won't be opening it when sending it. </p>
<p>I wish you'd just be happy with who you are & realize you don't need to embellish. </p>
<p>Again, getting specific keeps you honest. If you're accurate, & provide names, addresses, numbers for some of your ec contacts (I did but wasn't required to), it's only in your favor: you look LESS suspicious then, & perhaps out of curiosity someone will touch base with one of your stated contacts & get a fuller picture of you, in your favor.</p>