<p>How do colleges know that you actually did the activities you list in the application? Do they actually check to see that you did them? Or can you just list stuff and pretend you did them? Like if I write that I did 20 hrs of volunteer service at the public library...how do they know I actually did them?</p>
<p>Chances are, the admissions officers will not check up on your EC list; it's up to you to be honest. There are ways, however, for the admissions committee to detect inconsistencies. For example, if you claim to have been the leader for XYZ clubs, but your GC and teachers make no mention of it in their recommendations, it might seem a bit odd.</p>
<p>This has been discussed fairly in depth on another thread:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=105468&page=1&pp=20%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=105468&page=1&pp=20</a></p>