Okay I just found out about this and I"m pretty annoyed.
So my friend volunteered at YMCA for 2 years but then she said that she’s been volunteering there for 4 years…
i mean what the heck? that’s just not fair and the thing is, she probably won’t get caught since she told all of her teachers that she volunteered there for 4 years, not 2. So there’s nothing weird about her app!
And she didn’t provide any contact numbers on her resume, so colleges won’t know.
i thought you couldn’t do that… but then there’re kids who lie and get away with it.
She’s saying it’s not a big deal… so now I’m tempted.
If by tempted, you mean you’re tempted to lie yourself: I think you don’t want to do that. If your friend’s behavior concerns you, try to imagine how you might feel about yourself in 5-10 years time. The guilt could eat you alive.
You are not the volunteer police. It won’t make any difference to her getting into college or not. Someday, her exaggerations will bite her. Leave it to Karma.
Colleges have the right to randomly check anything on your application. Now, it’s highly unlikely to happen, but even if there’s the tiniest chance that your acceptance could be rescinded, would you really want to risk it? The adding two years probably didn’t make a big difference in her getting in, but the stakes are high if she’s unlucky and her college wants some sort of verification of her years there. Not worth lying. Really not worth lying.
A stupid lie and it won’t buy her anything. The difference between 2 vs. 4 years of volunteering at the Y is not worth squat in admissions. Schools want to see a high level of achievement. This is just clocking hours and nothing more - not impressive, not indicative of leadership, talent, creativity, etc…It’s just another EC. And now you - and others - think less of her as a person.
If it gives you any satisfaction, know that cheaters tend to do it more than once and eventually they get caught. When they are, the consequences are usually severe. So even if she gets away with this one, it’s just a matter of time before it catches up with her.
thank you for so many replies!! yea she’s been trying to persuade me to do a similar thing, which is why i was kind of tempted…? but i won’t. i also have one quest. when teachers write their recommendation letters, do they mention how many years i was involved in my volunteer/ EC? (like she was involved in spanish club for 2 years, volunteered for 4 years, etc) kind of worried since I didn’t mention any years when I asked my teacher for rec letter… i don’t even know how a recommendation letter looks like!!
If a cashier gave you back change for a 20 when you gave them a 5, would you sell your soul for that extra 15? It’s not worth it to stoop to that:). Good luck!
She was probably desperate. Do not cheat yourself. You are putting yourself at her level. Please tell your friend not to lie on applications again. This could explode in your friend’s face. I understand your anger. Your friend needs a good friend like you.
Maybe, maybe not. Ideally a teacher is speaking more to their experience of you in the classroom and your character etc. not repeating things that are already on your application. However, realistically they may not have as much to say and if you’ve provided information (at our school kids are required to submit a “brag sheet” ) then they might mention your volunteer work and possibly the length of time.