<p>You CAN exaggerate and lie all you want. No one to stop you. But the chances fo getting caught are there, and the consequences can be severe. In general, you can exaggerate up to the point where it makes a difference. Schools really don’t care much about your ECs, unless they make a difference, but when they do, they may well look for supporting evidence. They don’t care if you played soccer for 5 years or 10, but if you are looking to be recruited, well, then you gotta come up with some concrete proof that you are good enough to get a pass on your ball kicking abilities, and still the 5 or 10 years isn’t going to matter. You have to come up with evidence that you are at the calibre where it makes a difference, and just your say so isn’t good enough.</p>
<p>Lies have short legs. I’ve seen some of the dangest coincidences where people get caught in really stupid lies. Like if you happen to interview with a admissions person with a piano in the room, and he invites you to play a tune, and he can tell how good a person is on the piano, and you are rusty, no where that nyone who has been taking piano through out, …or really bad at it. Doesn’t help your case. Just giving an example, here, I can write pages on some foolish tales that got people in trouble. </p>
<p>No one cares how many years you took piano. Whether you are willing and able to play the piano for the school orchestra and other things they have going, now that’s another story.</p>