<p>Out of interest, what do people reckon Harvard would do if they got an application from pretty much the most incredible student they'd ever seen, but found that he'd lied about some tiny thing in one part of his application - would they reject him outright for his dishonesty, or look past that and take him anyway? Tough moral dilemma for admissions.</p>
<p>It would not be a tough dilemma. I would bet my mortgage that they'd reject him as would many of the top colleges that value ethics. The minute they found out that he was a liar, he would no longer be the most incredible applicant they'd ever seen. In addition, for all they would know, he could have lied and cheated his way to whatever other things on his app indicated he was incredible.</p>
<p>Harvard plainly states that if you lie on your application you will be rejected. If they discover the lie after you have been accepted, you will be rescinded. If they discover the lie after you have enrolled, you will be dismissed. If they discover the lie after you have graduated, your degree will be withdrawn and all your coursework nullified.</p>
<p>They take it pretty seriously.</p>
<p>hah considering harvard's motto is veritas, that person probably wouldn't be in the best shape.</p>
<p>It's not fair to admit someone who is deceitful like that when there are 20,000 other kids trying to get into Harvard the honest way.</p>
<p>I read somewhere that if they find out that you misrepresented your credentials after you have earned a degree from Harvard, they have the right to and will usually rescind the degree.</p>
<p>So do you reckon they would turn down the next Einstein if he said he'd come first in a competition when he'd actually come second? Or he said he did two weeks of work experience when really he'd only done one?</p>
<p>from coureur's post, the answer seems to be an unequivocal yes.</p>
<p>y would u make up stuff like that any ways?? one week instead of two wont get u admitted... and to lie about contests is a bad idea, cos they can always check with the organizers... stick to the truth man</p>
<p>Haha you people are so cynical. I'm literally just wondering whether you think Harvard prizes minor matters of integrity over brilliance. It sounds bad, but as an admissions person I would find it tough making the choice. I think in the end I would reject the applicant, but I would have to think about it for a while.</p>
<p>Ace, you are not an admissions officer. And also, you're obviously NOT the next Einstein if you feel the need to fake your application on something minor.</p>
<p>True and true. Well done that man.</p>
<p>The thing is if someone put first place instead of second for a competition, it is likely that they didnt do it to "lie" but rather made an honest mistake.</p>
<p>From posts I've seen on these boards by students who somehow think it's OK to exaggerate their wins, hours doing ECs, etc., odds are that someone who misrepresented their win probably did it on purpose.</p>
<p>There are so many very very smart applicants vying for spots at Harvard -- a little lie by one is a good excuse to reject that applicant because there are so many others who (are honest and) can easily replace him or her.</p>
<p>m_c: that's a good point, but what if the applicant was literally going to be the next Einstein? Some complete and utter genius, who for some bizarre reason lied on his application. Would Harvard pass over the opportunity to have such a big name associated with it, just because he's said two weeks instead of one?</p>
<p>I would hope a genius would realize the stupidity of lying on an application. No one here is an admissions officer, obviously, so no one knows for sure, but I think plenty of people have already answered your question. The general consensus seems to be YES.</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>but what if the applicant was literally going to be the next Einstein? Some complete and utter genius, who for some bizarre reason lied on his application....<<</p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>This is a situation that is so hypothetical as to be irrelevant. To begin with, if someone really is that obviously brilliant he or she won't have to lie. Their honest brilliance will be enough. </p>
<p>And in practical reality Harvard will never have to make such a choice - mostly because who the "next Einstein" is isn't going to be apparent at age 17 or 18. Einstein himself did nothing special until age 26. Newton was a bright lad at age 18 - promising enough that his rural school teacher pulled strings to get him into Cambridge. But no one had any notion that he was going to rewrite the world of physics and mathematics. His mother wanted him to stay home and work on the farm.</p>
<p>Very few of the young child geniuses amount to anything big in the long run. They often flame out along the way. The more typical path for the highly-accomplished adult genius is for a very bright but not particularly notable kid to blossom some time in his early to mid 20s.</p>
<p>So if Harvard admits or rejects the next Einstein, it's probably going to be unwittingly either way. The new Einstein at age 17 will probably be pretty much indistinguishable from the hundreds of other very bright kids whose applications are in the stack. And in the meantime they expect everyone, genius or no, to fill out their applications honestly.</p>
<p>yeah, apparently harvard is really stringent if you lie before you are part of their community... once you're there, though, they develope this cunning ability to look the other way.</p>