<p>When filling out the Common App, I exaggerated my ECs. I then got accepted to a top-15 school. Obviously, I'm not going to get too specific with the details.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>I said I held a part time job for years, but I have never actually worked. However, the guy who owns the place where I said I worked has agreed to cover for me. Significant hours.</p></li>
<li><p>I said I was involved in a student organization for several years, but never joined.</p></li>
<li><p>I said I held a leadership position in another student organization for 2 years, but only held that position for 1 year.</p></li>
<li><p>Made up minor involvement with student gov't.</p></li>
<li><p>Said I did a summer activity for two years instead of 1. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>My question is, can I be caught now that I've been accepted? I know that people say that if you're caught then they can kick you out, but has anyone heard of schools verifying the applications of admitted students (ie random checks)? </p>
<p>I have not told any classmates about this, so there is absolutely 0% chance of anyone ratting me out to the university. As well, my counselor and teacher recommendations must have corroborated my application in some way, as I was accepted. </p>
<p>Please don't tell me that it lying on my app was morally wrong. I understand that it was morally wrong, but that doesn't bother me. College admissions is a game, and to win you have to be willing to play. </p>
<p>Basically, my question is, what are the chances of me being caught if I enroll at this school?</p>
<p>There is a significant, though not very large, chance that you will be caught. Every top college, as far as I know, selects students to review the files of and verify all their credentials. At some schools, this is random. At others, they look more at those who had ECs play a larger role in admission. It is, of course, more likely that this will happen if you enroll, as many of these checks go on during the summer. However, the chance that your particular app will be reviewed is likely in the single digits, and quite possibly very low, depending on the school (though also possibly higher, depending on the school).</p>
<p>
There’s a difference between gaming the system and lying in a way that you find morally wrong. You are hurting another student, whoever would have been accepted if not for you. Though maybe you would have been accepted on your own merits. Not that you’ll ever know.</p>
<p>I know that what I did was technically against the rules. But with admissions so insanely competitive and so many people exaggerating on their apps, I did whatever I had to do. </p>
<p>I had the stats to get in. But when it really comes down to it, unless you have something that is truly amazing on your app, admissions at top schools becomes a bit of a toss up between thousands of top applicants. Exaggerating my ECs just helped me stand out from other academically strong applicants.</p>
<p>It’s not like someone can call up the school and say “Someone lied on their application! They said so on the internet! You better check everyone’s!”</p>
<p>Different schools handle things differently, which is why you’re being asked.</p>
<p>Liars believe that everyone lies (news flash – they don’t). You’ll take this attitude into everything you do, and sooner or later people will figure you out. Then you’ll go through life as that guy – that guy who can’t be trusted, that guy who fabricates things or embellishes the truth, that guy who will do anything to get what he wants, that guy who has no integrity. That will be your punishment, and it’s far worse than not getting into a top school. </p>
<p>BTW, you do know that even if they never figure out the precise lies, they will certainly be disappointed. They’re expecting a superstar – someone who works, who volunteers, who leads. You better learn how to do all that stuff, quick.</p>
<p>NorthWestern, eh? My uncle is a professor there.</p>
<p>I’m going to tell him to inform the adcoms that you lied and they’re going to check over all the applications! Now you’ll be rescinded for sure!</p>
<p>Oh and OP, you’re a real brainiac to post the name of the school in the same thread with your admission of a fraudulent application. I understand that college adcoms lurk on these forums. :)</p>
<p>“Oh what a tangled web we weave…” If nothing else, the truth is just simpler to live with.</p>
<p>lol Northwestern is kinda sketchy in their choices IMO
I got accepted to UC Berkeley Engineering over a straight up rejection from NW
the rankings arent even close</p>
</p>