<p>my friend has been asking me this question for a while: how do they make sure you arent lying on your college applications when they ask for things such as volunteer hours?</p>
<p>I know someone who is getting 200 hours for free from a family friend that owns a retirement home. i just dont find it fair. how do they check to make sure that you are actually doing these hours?</p>
<p>They can't.</p>
<p>I think a fraction of the applicants are sent out letters to verify their ECs. Otherwise, they can't really check (don't have the time or manpower to plow through everything).</p>
<p>^mme-lin is right. they randomly background check a certain percentage of the application pool.</p>
<p>just to expand, these factors are really not THAT important (at least i think so). I think GPA/SAT are BY FAR the most important factors. Next are the essays, and last will be your ECs. EC's only matter in context of how you benefited and grew as a result of your experience (which is what your essays are for)</p>
<p>Yep, don't lie on your application.</p>