<p>They can ask your GC, who will generally tell them the truth if he wants any sort of relationship with that college in the future. Will they? That’s a different question. But if they ask and they find out you lied, you are sooooo dead in their eyes. They can check online records as well for prominent contests and awards and if your name doesn’t show up, questions are likely</p>
<p>There’s also the chance your GC will screen your app before it goes in and catch you that way as well. Maybe not a a school where they’re overworked, but our GC would surely catch someone applying to a top school in about 30 seconds.</p>
<p>If you’re applying to an elite school where ECs are important, there’s a good chance you could get flagged by someone in the process. And if ECs aren’t important, you’re taking a risk that will gain you little, but could scuttle everything. And finally, at most schools, if you matriculate, your application becomes part of your record at the school. If they later determine you lied on your application, they can kick you out or in extreme cases, even pull your degree years after you graduated. It’s rare, but it has happened.</p>