<p>Going to Yale because you didn’t get into Harvard due to too many liars does not qualify as “someone getting hurt.” Almost every person embellishes their application, so tipping the college off about this person is just making it okay for the people who do it to a lesser extent/more stealthily to get in. Don’t tell on her.</p>
<p>I am sure that Harvard has neither the resources nor the interest to research whether or not someone was the president of the debate club. However, remember that she will have letters of recommendation in her application too, and if they do not jibe with what is on her application, that will be a red flag. For example, if she says she was the president of several clubs, but her guidance counselor recommendation makes no mention of leadership ability or experience, it will not add up. Plus, if she has an interview, the interviewer will likely ask about her activities, and this might expose her, too.</p>
<p>If she has to make up credentials, she is probably not Harvard material anyway. Even people with spectacular grades, scores and genuine leadership experience are not admitted to Harvard. So if her application is so flimsy that she needs to pad it that much more, it probably won’t get her anywhere.</p>
<p>I understand your desire to call Harvard and tell on her. I really doubt, however, that a little bit of padding is going to make much of a difference in her application. She will either be what they are looking for or not, and saying she was the president of the basket weaving club will not determine admittance.</p>
<p>I think your best course of action is to go to your high school guidance counselor and tell that person about your concerns. Even if she goes to a different high school, you can call/email the counselor at her school and bring your concerns to light. However, if you do decide to tell someone about this, I’d be very careful to tell them EXACTLY what you know. A vague discussion of “lies” will go nowhere. But if you are certain that she has, say, written her essay about overcoming cancer when you know FOR CERTAIN that there is not a shred of truth involved, you might want to pass that along.</p>
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<p>There’s a difference between putting a legitimate spin on things and lying outright. My wording can make my leadership position seem more glamorous than it really was, and that’s fine as long as it’s factually correct; I cannot make up the existence of the leadership position.</p>
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<p>Because everyone knows that nobody who lies to Harvard also lies to Yale.</p>
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<p>It’s called a telephone.</p>
<p>What do you mean it’s not fair? You can lie too. Everybody can. </p>
<p>Instead of complaining, why don’t you congratulate yourself for having ethics and a sense of dignity? :)</p>
<p>@OP, Seriously, mind your own business. Rating out someone only demonstrates immaturity.</p>
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<p>It’s not fair to people with integrity.</p>
<p>I agree with RedSeven here. A lot of you are quite foolish believing you are giving good advice when you say not to tell Harvard, you will regret it, etc. If you believe it is the OPs wrong doing in telling Harvard then stop giving advice to people on this website. Ohh so the OP “told on” this person, oh no! Is this preschool or what? We might as well have nap time seeing how immature many of you guys are. Guess what; some one that ACTUALLY was a club president and won awards and stayed honest now has a higher chance of getting in.</p>
<p>@RedSeven - Life isn’t fair. Get over it. Every action has a consequence. If a student decides to lie on his/her application, he/she may face repercussions. It’s all about the rewards vs. the costs.</p>
<p>And this person telling the OP about lying also has consequences, one which is the OP writing Harvard. Yes, life isn’t fair.</p>
<p>I think OP should anonymously report this to Harvard, if you are paranoid about whether you will be tracked down then use a pay phone or have someone else do it. I think it’s her business to report this but the OP should not make efforts to find out what happened due to this. This is similar to reporting people cheating in SAT to College Board, the cheater’s cheats because he or she thinks it outweighs future consequences or costs. One should be anonymous tipster, but they have no right to find out whether said person’s scores are canceled.</p>
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<p>Did I ever say it was? No. The argument is that by lying on her applications, this student is creating unfairness in the system and should face the consequences for it.</p>
<p>Guess how that student may face repercussions? Yep, that’s right–by being caught lying on her applications, which is what should happen and is what is considerably more likely to happen if those with pertinent information provide it to the schools in question.</p>
<p>Yes, it’s all about the rewards and the costs. Those are determined not individually, but socially.</p>
<p>The other option is black mail. Money can be made, but friends will be lost.</p>
<p>^
Blackmail is illegal, and thus rather hypocritical in an issue of integrity.</p>
<p>I was being sarcastic :D</p>
<p>I hoped so ;)</p>
<p>As some random image on the internet once said, there is great need for a sarcasm font.</p>
<p>That person isn’t going to get into Harvard anyway. Seriously, chill out. If you’re not applying to any of the schools he/she is applying to, then you’re not even in direct competition with him/her anyway. The activities and awards that super selective schools really care about cannot be faked. So instead of sitting on that high horse of self-righteousness, worry about your own application. It’s not your job to administer consequences, nor is it your job to worry about who may or may not be affected by that person’s deceit. Trust me, you won’t be doing anyone any favors, and you won’t be saving anyone’s spot at Harvard. By the time you alert the school, they’ll probably already have rejected him/her anyway, without your interference.</p>
<p>@RedSeven - [Sarcastic</a> Font](<a href=“http://glennmcanally.com/sarcastic/]Sarcastic”>http://glennmcanally.com/sarcastic/)</p>
<p>I agree the OP isn’t obligated to do anything and really shouldn’t care, but contacting Harvard about it wouldn’t be doing wrong.</p>
<p>Don’t contact Harvard. If you do, she’ll probably lose all chance of getting into Ivies. Tell your GC, and have him make her change her app, and then she can fairly compete with everyone else.</p>
<p>EDIT: Also, if you do this, he might mention it in his rec, which I think is warranted. I should hope she wouldn’t get in anyway. A lot of times the kind of person who would do this rights a really pompous essay. Also, I think you are fully within your rights to tell Harvard, but telling your counselor would be better for everyone.</p>