<p>Ok, here's another concern. I had a chance to look at one of my child's peer's posting on CC listing their many ECs and attributes. From first hand experience with her, and our school system, I know half of them are in her own mind and the other half are sorely exagerated, yet she was waitlisted at Andover.</p>
<p>What do you think the chances are of appliants stretching the truth? Can adcoms spot them or is it more difficult? Is the real emphasis on grades and SSATs anyway? I heard from someone on Yale's adcom that they employ an auditor now to check out what's for real. Anyone with experience know if Adcoms at BSs do the same?? Just curious, what people are getting away with...gaming makes it hard for my kid reporting REAL accomplishments.</p>
<p>How do you know what is posted here is what was actually on the applicant’s resume? If the EC’s don’t resonate with the letters for recommendation, it would be easy to see a discrepancy.</p>
<p>The CC board is a place where a lot of anonymous people exaggerate their accomplishments. No one takes it seriously here. Why do you? And why do you not give Adcoms more credit than that? It’s been a constant trend to try to find flaws and conspiracies in the system to try to explain why other children may not fare as well.</p>
<p>I don’t appreciate personal attacks. My question may have gotten lost in my post. Do BSs employ an auditor to check on what students submit as ECs or accomplishments? Anyone know for real?</p>
<p>RBG2 - I think people are reluctant to comment on this thread since it seems like you are asking this question so that you/your son/others who view this know whether or not they can lie on applications without getting caught. Obviously, such actions are not in the spirit of CC (or the honor code of any boarding school) so that may explain the silence. </p>
<p>Rest assured that anyone gaining access to BS (or anywhere in life) through a lie will certainly pay the price eventually. The only person they are cheating in the end is themselves. Although this board focuses on admitted and rejected applicants, please remember that many students are “not asked back” to boarding schools and that just because you weaseled your way in, that does not mean that you will remain at that school. If you check the “lost but not forgotten” pages of various BS yearbooks, you will see that number can be as high as 5-10% of the graduating class (who never make it to graduation). Not sure if those stat’s are still the same today- but they certainly were in my time. </p>
<p>If you lie on your app/interview that you are the first chair violinist with your local symphony, you can be sure that there will be repercussions when the school year starts up and the administration realizes that you have never played violin before. Also, if you can’t really talk about that EC during the interview then the interviewer could realize that you are exagerating your interest or involvement - or worse, that you are a lame duck and can’t articulate this passion you claim to have ( as listed on your application). Either way, the lie will work against you. </p>
<p>But – finally — to answer your question. My daughter was given an award at her school which was mentioned in her applications. I know that at least one of the BS she applied to contacted her middle school to verify that she was the 2009 recipient. I have no idea if any other items were fact-checked. </p>
<p>Also, I would not assume that you know everything about someone else’s child. I have seen many parents act geniunely shocked that my daughter has been doing XYZ outside of school for five years. They had no idea, because neither I, nor my daughter, had any reason to talk to them about it.</p>
<p>Preposterous, Totally unwarranted, Disrespectful, May be a sign of BS Alum egotistm/elitism? Me and myself totally pious, rest… umm… We can use a break from this crap. </p>
<p>It will tell you whether there are checks and balances in a system/process. If broken, it can be fixed, lol. You need to know that there is a disease called Parkinson’s before you can find a cure. Got it? How is that for exercising the brain a little bit?</p>
<p>No, it is not the same as Parkinsons. It is the same as a job applicant asking if the firm does background checks. One would only ask if they have something which would show up on a background check. </p>
<p>It is very odd that you are thinking you could “cure” a school. If you actually believe that a certain school is sick or broken, then I advise not applying there. These schools are private entities and it’s time everyone stops acting as if they are public institutions which need/require/solicit random public input about their admissions process. As long as they operate within the boundries of USand State law, as well as applicable governing membership bodies, then it is really out of line for you to question their process – as I see you often doing on these boards.</p>
<p>If you think asking this question is normal and appropriate, then by all means, call up the schools you are applying to and ask if they fact check. And since what you are doing is noble (in your mind) don’t forget to give them your full name so they can note it in your file.</p>
<p>Posts from previous threads by this person:</p>
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<p>and here:</p>
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<p>According to previous thread posts, RBG2 and Scholwannabe are the same person.</p>
<p>A reading of prior threads shows why we should just stop responding to posts by this person which are often accusatory, negative, or seeking validation that BS is a “magic ticket” to a top college. This current post is not as much a question, but a consistent search for excuses to explain why their son failed to gain acceptance into Andover.</p>
<p>Which reaffirms my faith in Adcoms and interviewers.</p>
<p>May this pathetic quest to denigrate successful applicants rest in peace - finally.</p>
<p>No need for ugly remarks, Exie. I’m just a poor slob trying to understand the process. And when a top student who is “nice” and has stop SSATs and grades and athletics and national awards can’t get in, but someone who at least appears (you’re right, I’m not the parent of the other child, or the other child herself) to be less qualified gets WL’d with what again appears to be made up ECs or at best exaggerated, I want to know if there are checks or balances or is it only honor system/self report only. I’m not asking so I can lie and game the system. I found it interesting that Yale has come around to my way of thinking. One of the adcoms who I work with told me that they got suspicious when there were several kids from the same school all documenting they were President of the same club. My child was already accepted on his own merit. I do wonder about some of these other profiles posted however where the applicant walks on water. I think my question has been answered in part. Many people make up things they post on the board; adcoms are probably good at spotting fakes and phonies given their experience, and as someone posted, if a candidate can’t talk persuasively about an EC, it’s probably transparent they didn’t do it. Listen folks, I want to be able to express experiences, worries, concerns, questions etc. No need to go on the attack. Can we be a little more tolerant of folks who don’t conform to your own personal ideas? That’s what diversity and tolerance is all about…geesh! Thanks, Pulsar for your clear headed thinking.</p>
<p>The reticence to comment from a number of people are based on your body of posts rather than an individual post and the inconsistencies represented by both the RBG2 posts and those by Scholwannabe.</p>
<p>So the observations are based on trends. A spirited debate means that we can disagree with you in order to provide accurate information to other people who may be lurking and not well served by the innuendo and false accusations.</p>
<p>If you already “knew” Adcoms you wouldn’t have to ask the question. The fact is - your child didn’t get into Andover, you are still grieving and by your own admission, angry, and you’re searching to indict students who may have attributes you can’t see given the body of paperwork each student must submit. And although you claimed your son’s chosen school was less desirable you now post ad naseum about Choate - could it be the same school you referenced? And given Scholwannabe’s posts, it appears that the child - or another child (who claims to be a girl) go into no schools.</p>
<p>A number of credible people on this board have tracked your trends and have told you to move on. It appears you are still searching for smoking guns where none exists.</p>
<p>And the reality - as I suspect you know - is that you may have been a critical factor in your child’s failure to achieve the desired goal. </p>
<p>I hope you are able to give your son/daughter (depending on the posts) the breathing space they need to make their own path in life. It’s not your journey - its theirs. </p>
<p>I’m not lurking here as you propose, I’m the one who started this thread…You may be confused. At any rate, I’m raising legitimate concerns…if I’m a factor, you are as well my dear,</p>
<p>Ok… just felt the need to give everybody a major REALITY CHECK.</p>
<p>We are on the INTERNET. We most likely don’t know each other, and if we do, it is usually entirely coincidental. Thus, we need to learn to be polite and courteous to one another. People really need to learn to stop personally attacking other people time and time again just for the heck of it. I’m sure none of the individuals in conflict are having fun, and TRUST ME, the rest of us aren’t either. </p>
<p>I’m not trying to point fingers, just being realistic. :)</p>
<p>That being said, lets all be happy. This is just a nice, friendly internet board, not to be taken too seriously. :)</p>
<p>Thanks for that luckyduckyme…I’m sorry that an eighth grader needs to be telling adults to behave. </p>
<p>The Internet is a strange and wonderful and awful place…awful in my opinion because it’s so easy to forget that the person typing that response has a real, human face.</p>
<p>I think some applicants do exaggerate or out-and-out fabricate their ECs. Those who do are playing with fire. All it takes is one misplaced word, an extra alert admissions officer or another applicant claiming the same position/award and the file goes from the “viable applicant with strong academics and mediocre ECs” pile to the “Do not admit under any circumstances” pile.</p>
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