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<p>This article is incorrect. Rich kids stopped doing the summer in Paris by the 80’s. When I was in high school, I knew plenty of people that were going on trips to 3rd World Countries to pad their applications. It’s only within the last decade that colleges have realized that this stuff was contrived. With respect to catching this fakery, college adcoms are about as good at it as major league baseball is at catching PED users. Baseball players used steroids all through the 90’s, and now major league baseball brags about its system to detect steroids. Meanwhile, players are using HGH.</p>
<p>At best, a community service project shows organizational ability and the ability and willingness to recognize what is wanted from your future boss or customer. College adcoms want community service, so kids do community service. College and future bosses want you to wear a tie to your interview as well. It doesn’t show altruism or a propensity to engage in community service activities in the future.</p>
<p>Can colleges tell the difference between genuine altruism and resume’ padding? Do they have a good BS detector in general? I don’t think so.</p>