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<p>I frankly don't see a moral problem with writing that he entered them "unintentionally"<<</p>
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<p>Hmmm--you admit that this statement would be an additional falsehood, but don't see submitting such a statement in writing to the UC as a moral problem? There are times when lying is not a moral problem (when the Nazis have knocked on your door and asked if you have Anne Frank hidden in your attic, for example)--but I don't see this as such a case. </p>
<p>There has to be a better reason not to tell a lie than the fact that it wouldn't be an effective cover-up...</p>
<p>Judging from past posts, groovin hard is not a parent.</p>
<p>The UC applications are already on-line for those who applied a couple of weeks ago; if your son has received his UC identification number, he can log on and correct the scores directly on the application. They do not ask for an explanation. (The only glitch was that while it allows you to change the self-recorded "highest" scores for the cr, math, and writing, it didn't allow you to put in a new total...maybe they do that themselves). The information online also lists the "highest official" scores, which they receive directly from the College Board. They must receive the official test scores by late January; unlike for high school grade transcripts, you do not wait until after acceptance by a particular campus.</p>
<p>This is what it says on the UC Application Status website about official SAT score reports:
"Freshman eligibility requires submission of the official test scores for two SAT Subject Tests (in two different subject areas) and either the ACT Assessment plus Writing or the SAT Reasoning Test. Your scores must be sent by the testing agency to the campus(es) to which you applied. You must take the exams no later than December 2006 if you are applying for the Fall 2007 term. If the University does not have official score reports on file by late January, your admission may be jeopardized."</p>
<p>I just find it interesting that a person would tell a lie he/she knows no one would believe. The reason a lie is immoral is because it's an attempt at decieving somebody. So, I guess saying that you wrote the scores down unintentionally would be bad. But when the kid lied about his scores in the first place, it couldn't have been with the attempt to fool anyone, seeing as official scores are sent, anyway. </p>
<p>Which is why I really don't see why somebody should have to "work hard" to regain trust in that instance, especially since it seems that admitting to falsifying the scores and wanting to correct them is an obvious turn-around...from an original action that just seems illogical, not necessarily "bad".</p>
<p>Well, I still think that the best course of action is to correct the scores on line... and if that isn't done, then a letter without explanation is best. I don't think that the letter would be a "red flag" of anything, because I think that the UC system probably gets thousands of letters and it is unlike that the clerical staff who read the letters or make database entry have much time to speculate.</p>
<p>As to the lie -- I think its wrong, but given the futility, I think in the greater scheme of things it is relatively minor. The "greater scheme of things" is the many thousands of applications the UC system undoubtedly receive where students have exaggerated the level of their out of school accomplishments & EC's, and the hours spent on them - facts that are not so easy to refute or verify. I mean.. if a kid lies and says he was President of such-and-such club... who would be the wiser? Given the fact that the UCs don't require or accept teacher or GC recommendations, I'll bet there is a LOT of fudging on the activities.</p>
<p>IN the grand sheme of your son's life, this is going to matter very little. I would not be at all surprised if, due to your parenting and communication skills, he ends up blowing everyone away with his future success. </p>
<p>He has clearly learned his lesson. Isn't that what we all hope for when our kids mess up? And they all do!</p>
<p>ellemonope, audits tend to catch only those who tell outlandish lies, not those who merely fudge or exaggerate. So the kid who writes down that he was editor-in-chief of the year book, when he wasn't even on the yearbook staff, is probably going to be overlooked but if audited will definitely be caught. The kid who spent 30 hours a year volunteering at a homeless shelter who writes down that he spent 100 hours will probably not be caught even if audited, because it can be verified that he really did volunteer and no one is tracking those hours. </p>
<p>My point is that at some level, I'll bet there is a lot of exaggeration, especially when it comes to roles in various activities. The difference is that those kids are far less likely to get caught.</p>
<p>" agree with ellemenope. To send a letter saying the wrong scores were reported unintentionally would be a second falsehood and one that you would be condoning."</p>
<p>I agree. He can correct the scores without lying about the reason. All he needs to write is something like, "Please correct the scores on my application from xxxxxx to Xxxxx. I apologize for inconveniencing you."</p>
<p>If you support his writing that what he wrote was unintentional, you are giving him the message that it is fine to lie to try to keep from feeling the consequences of his behavior. That's the wrong lesson to give him.</p>
<p>After all, it already seems that the only reason that he's bothering to change the scores is fear of getting caught, which doesn't demonstrate a strong sense of ethics.</p>
Get this - some kids (top-end type kids) I'm aware of would count 4 volunteer hours on Sunday as 'double time' and consider it 8 hours. I made it clear to my kids how ridiculous and unethical I thought this was but fortunately they had already reached the same viewpoint as me before telling me about it.</p>
<p>My daughter helped out with a booth for her softball league at the July 4th carnival . She worked 3 hours, the coach wrote down 5 hours on her volunteer form "because she was so helpful." (She collected money and smiled). I know he meant well, but I don't think that's a good lesson to teach!</p>