<p>Yeah, I know that UC's do random checks. For example, a friend of mine was the Assistant Captain of an event in Speech&Debate (Interp or OPP, I think). UC Irvine actually called our coach to verify.</p>
<p>You need to balance two things honesty and marketing.</p>
<p>You must never lie on your application. Even though colleges dont check everything, you dont want to take any chances.</p>
<p>At the same time, you should never sell yourself short. Judge for yourself as to whether or not you deserve to be the captain.</p>
<p>They're never going to catch you...</p>
<p>i've heard horror stories about things like this.....guys, just be honest. im serious.</p>
<p>bad idea
i think more colleges should check</p>
<p>1/10 chance of being caught if lying, and after you're admitted, you still run the risk because an adcom may verify on his/her whim..</p>
<p>the UC's randomly audit ~10% of all apps....</p>
<p>Because you are writing the application, you get to characterize your role in the organization. Why not truthfully describe your role in a few words, rather than focus on the title? After all, what they're looking for is leadership, not a title. For example, if you really organize the debate meetings, etc., just say that. For your soccer team, I think Co-Captain is about the best you can do.</p>
<p>don't lie. they will probably ask you about it in an interview especially since its debate team captain</p>
<p>a kid at my school lied about something similar and got caught by his top choice. needless to say he didn't get in, even though he was qualified as far as scores and grades are concerned</p>
<p>make sure nobody else who is an actual captain applies to the same school.
Even the chances of getting caught unless you are right next to him alphabetically is pretty slim (assuming its a big university).</p>
<p>I think it is wrong that they don't check. I realize that the bigger schools have other problems to deal with, but couldn't they just ask for a verifying letter from the activity coordinator or something? My Key Club is having a huge problem with this. Kids who aren't even members are claiming to be officers. It is really unfair to those kids who worked hard and stepped up to the plate.
As to whether you should lie or not, I agree with the majority here. Just tell the truth. In all honesty, the fact that you aren't captain and you still did the work speaks volumes about your character and how dedicated you are.</p>
<p>hmm sorry to bring up this thread by i have the same question
my coach says that i could put down that i'm the captain for the varsity team, when in fact he does this wierd thing where he alternates captains and everything...so i don't really have a TITLE that goes in the school's computer or something (wait, do they have all the officers in the school's computer?) he says that if i put that on a college app he won't dispute it. so does my math team adviser, since we don't really have a math team even tho we win all regionals/most state competitions. altho i do really act like the captain. SO if my teachers say that i am, even tho it's not written down, can i put it?</p>
<p>Sure write it down
I don't think they keep "records" or whatever in the computer, and if your EC directors say you are .. you are.</p>
<p>Honestly, not everything has to be verified on paper. Not everything is always "official." But if it can be verifiable, then it's most likely worth it to list it. Along the same lines, don't ever lie. If you did 23.5 community service hours and say 24, that's no big deal at all. Anything above that for me is a big no-no.</p>