Do AOs Verify Activities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On my DD’s Common App she listed a specific activity that is a 501c3 she formed a few years ago. Out of no where, she is recently getting emails to this organization’s address asking questions about the entity? Do AOs check activities? Could this be the colleges she applied to checking up on her?

I think 501c3s are something that AOs check up on, and rightfully so. A minor can't start one without an adult's help (because they're too young to sign contracts). Most 501c3s started by high schoolers don't need to exist (they're duplicating work already being done in the community; a more productive use of time and resources is generally just to fundraise) so they're often seen as something students are doing only for their college applications. And face it: most are. Go look at some of the 501c3s started by students who graduated from your high school 2-5 years ago. Are any of them still in operation? Or did they shut down at the same time the founder headed off to college?

But I'm sure this is not the case with your daughter.

Exactly! How is this even seen as a plus during applications? A few years ago it seemed like students were volunteering in developing countries but it doesn’t seem like AO give kids much credit for that. Now so many kids are starting useless nonprofits. I will take the kid who has worked hours in a minimum wage job. That is easily verifiable.

Let's say my friend owns Mcdonald and gives my DS a fake job there. How are they going to know?

What do you mean by "giving DS fake job"? Has your DS worked at McDonald?

Meaning, you know the owner of a McDonald's and you ask them if your kid can claim to work there for their college application and if any AO calls, the owner will confirm they work there (even though the kid hasn't lifted a finger). Seems like a relatively unlikely scenario to me. Of course, it is never the lie but the coverup...so the AO may start asking questions as to what they do, what shifts do they work, etc. Often times the answers seem so shady because your friend is trying to make them up on the fly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On my DD’s Common App she listed a specific activity that is a 501c3 she formed a few years ago. Out of no where, she is recently getting emails to this organization’s address asking questions about the entity? Do AOs check activities? Could this be the colleges she applied to checking up on her?

I think 501c3s are something that AOs check up on, and rightfully so. A minor can't start one without an adult's help (because they're too young to sign contracts). Most 501c3s started by high schoolers don't need to exist (they're duplicating work already being done in the community; a more productive use of time and resources is generally just to fundraise) so they're often seen as something students are doing only for their college applications. And face it: most are. Go look at some of the 501c3s started by students who graduated from your high school 2-5 years ago. Are any of them still in operation? Or did they shut down at the same time the founder headed off to college?

But I'm sure this is not the case with your daughter.

Exactly! How is this even seen as a plus during applications? A few years ago it seemed like students were volunteering in developing countries but it doesn’t seem like AO give kids much credit for that. Now so many kids are starting useless nonprofits. I will take the kid who has worked hours in a minimum wage job. That is easily verifiable.

Let's say my friend owns Mcdonald and gives my DS a fake job there. How are they going to know?

What do you mean by "giving DS fake job"? Has your DS worked at McDonald?

Not Mcdonald but I once gave my neighbor's kid a "fake" IT help desk job at my company so that he could put it on his college application. The AO did actually call me to verify and I told them he has been working for me since he was a high school freshman, and that he was my best employee. He got two offers from Ivies. This is so easily rigged, LOL....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On my DD’s Common App she listed a specific activity that is a 501c3 she formed a few years ago. Out of no where, she is recently getting emails to this organization’s address asking questions about the entity? Do AOs check activities? Could this be the colleges she applied to checking up on her?

I think 501c3s are something that AOs check up on, and rightfully so. A minor can't start one without an adult's help (because they're too young to sign contracts). Most 501c3s started by high schoolers don't need to exist (they're duplicating work already being done in the community; a more productive use of time and resources is generally just to fundraise) so they're often seen as something students are doing only for their college applications. And face it: most are. Go look at some of the 501c3s started by students who graduated from your high school 2-5 years ago. Are any of them still in operation? Or did they shut down at the same time the founder headed off to college?

But I'm sure this is not the case with your daughter.

Exactly! How is this even seen as a plus during applications? A few years ago it seemed like students were volunteering in developing countries but it doesn’t seem like AO give kids much credit for that. Now so many kids are starting useless nonprofits. I will take the kid who has worked hours in a minimum wage job. That is easily verifiable.

Let's say my friend owns Mcdonald and gives my DS a fake job there. How are they going to know?

What do you mean by "giving DS fake job"? Has your DS worked at McDonald?

Not Mcdonald but I once gave my neighbor's kid a "fake" IT help desk job at my company so that he could put it on his college application. The AO did actually call me to verify and I told them he has been working for me since he was a high school freshman, and that he was my best employee. He got two offers from Ivies. This is so easily rigged, LOL....

I believe you are most likely a troll. If not, are you at a small self-owned company? You cannot fake it if the "IT help desk job" is at a large company, such as Amazon.

[Anonymous]

DD has a friend who claimed on a college app to be captain of a sports team for which captains have not actually been selected yet. I kind of wish that would get verified but I doubt it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At my DCs local private school, you must meet with your guidance counselor to review your common app before you can submit. They specifically review the activities and awards section with the student to make sure everything is accurate.

Which local private is this?

National Cathedral School.

DD graduated from NCS recently, there was no such requirement to meet with counselor to check common app. It’s all voluntary: counselors welcome you to send your common app to them for review, but not required. Additionally, counselors cannot verify the accuracy of an outside non-profit organization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On my DD’s Common App she listed a specific activity that is a 501c3 she formed a few years ago. Out of no where, she is recently getting emails to this organization’s address asking questions about the entity? Do AOs check activities? Could this be the colleges she applied to checking up on her?

I think 501c3s are something that AOs check up on, and rightfully so. A minor can't start one without an adult's help (because they're too young to sign contracts). Most 501c3s started by high schoolers don't need to exist (they're duplicating work already being done in the community; a more productive use of time and resources is generally just to fundraise) so they're often seen as something students are doing only for their college applications. And face it: most are. Go look at some of the 501c3s started by students who graduated from your high school 2-5 years ago. Are any of them still in operation? Or did they shut down at the same time the founder headed off to college?

But I'm sure this is not the case with your daughter.

So what if they only did this to put on their application? They probably learned a lot and some people were helped. What's the problem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On my DD’s Common App she listed a specific activity that is a 501c3 she formed a few years ago. Out of no where, she is recently getting emails to this organization’s address asking questions about the entity? Do AOs check activities? Could this be the colleges she applied to checking up on her?

I think 501c3s are something that AOs check up on, and rightfully so. A minor can't start one without an adult's help (because they're too young to sign contracts). Most 501c3s started by high schoolers don't need to exist (they're duplicating work already being done in the community; a more productive use of time and resources is generally just to fundraise) so they're often seen as something students are doing only for their college applications. And face it: most are. Go look at some of the 501c3s started by students who graduated from your high school 2-5 years ago. Are any of them still in operation? Or did they shut down at the same time the founder headed off to college?

But I'm sure this is not the case with your daughter.

So what if they only did this to put on their application? They probably learned a lot and some people were helped. What's the problem?

It means AOs should give them only a credit similar to a regular extracurricular activity, such as a school club, a sport (not recruited athlete), an outside class, etc. The way non-profit is packaged like it is something really significant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD has a friend who claimed on a college app to be captain of a sports team for which captains have not actually been selected yet. I kind of wish that would get verified but I doubt it.

My DS had an issue with this for his app in college. He played a spring sport and was applying ED. He confirmed with his coach how they'd select captains (basically it was going to be the top ranked senior on the team with the longest tenure, per the coach) and with her blessing, he did put it down (and did end up being captain). Could be a situation like that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On my DD’s Common App she listed a specific activity that is a 501c3 she formed a few years ago. Out of no where, she is recently getting emails to this organization’s address asking questions about the entity? Do AOs check activities? Could this be the colleges she applied to checking up on her?

I think 501c3s are something that AOs check up on, and rightfully so. A minor can't start one without an adult's help (because they're too young to sign contracts). Most 501c3s started by high schoolers don't need to exist (they're duplicating work already being done in the community; a more productive use of time and resources is generally just to fundraise) so they're often seen as something students are doing only for their college applications. And face it: most are. Go look at some of the 501c3s started by students who graduated from your high school 2-5 years ago. Are any of them still in operation? Or did they shut down at the same time the founder headed off to college?

But I'm sure this is not the case with your daughter.

Exactly! How is this even seen as a plus during applications? A few years ago it seemed like students were volunteering in developing countries but it doesn’t seem like AO give kids much credit for that. Now so many kids are starting useless nonprofits. I will take the kid who has worked hours in a minimum wage job. That is easily verifiable.

Let's say my friend owns Mcdonald and gives my DS a fake job there. How are they going to know?

Earnings statement, income taxes, FICA. Now, if he is willing to pay your kid and submit fraudulent FICA and tax info (crime), I guess they won’t. But most business owners won’t break the law to pay your kid to not do a job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On my DD’s Common App she listed a specific activity that is a 501c3 she formed a few years ago. Out of no where, she is recently getting emails to this organization’s address asking questions about the entity? Do AOs check activities? Could this be the colleges she applied to checking up on her?

I think 501c3s are something that AOs check up on, and rightfully so. A minor can't start one without an adult's help (because they're too young to sign contracts). Most 501c3s started by high schoolers don't need to exist (they're duplicating work already being done in the community; a more productive use of time and resources is generally just to fundraise) so they're often seen as something students are doing only for their college applications. And face it: most are. Go look at some of the 501c3s started by students who graduated from your high school 2-5 years ago. Are any of them still in operation? Or did they shut down at the same time the founder headed off to college?

But I'm sure this is not the case with your daughter.

Exactly! How is this even seen as a plus during applications? A few years ago it seemed like students were volunteering in developing countries but it doesn’t seem like AO give kids much credit for that. Now so many kids are starting useless nonprofits. I will take the kid who has worked hours in a minimum wage job. That is easily verifiable.

Let's say my friend owns Mcdonald and gives my DS a fake job there. How are they going to know?

What do you mean by "giving DS fake job"? Has your DS worked at McDonald?

Meaning, you know the owner of a McDonald's and you ask them if your kid can claim to work there for their college application and if any AO calls, the owner will confirm they work there (even though the kid hasn't lifted a finger). Seems like a relatively unlikely scenario to me. Of course, it is never the lie but the coverup...so the AO may start asking questions as to what they do, what shifts do they work, etc. Often times the answers seem so shady because your friend is trying to make them up on the fly.

The kid needs to declare the income from a job he does on the FAFSA, which is tied to the IRS. So he would need to be paid and have earnings statements, pay FICA and taxes.

[Anonymous]

OP, out of curiosity, what is the purpose of your daughter's 501c3?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On my DD’s Common App she listed a specific activity that is a 501c3 she formed a few years ago. Out of no where, she is recently getting emails to this organization’s address asking questions about the entity? Do AOs check activities? Could this be the colleges she applied to checking up on her?

I think 501c3s are something that AOs check up on, and rightfully so. A minor can't start one without an adult's help (because they're too young to sign contracts). Most 501c3s started by high schoolers don't need to exist (they're duplicating work already being done in the community; a more productive use of time and resources is generally just to fundraise) so they're often seen as something students are doing only for their college applications. And face it: most are. Go look at some of the 501c3s started by students who graduated from your high school 2-5 years ago. Are any of them still in operation? Or did they shut down at the same time the founder headed off to college?

But I'm sure this is not the case with your daughter.

Exactly! How is this even seen as a plus during applications? A few years ago it seemed like students were volunteering in developing countries but it doesn’t seem like AO give kids much credit for that. Now so many kids are starting useless nonprofits. I will take the kid who has worked hours in a minimum wage job. That is easily verifiable.

Let's say my friend owns Mcdonald and gives my DS a fake job there. How are they going to know?

What do you mean by "giving DS fake job"? Has your DS worked at McDonald?

Meaning, you know the owner of a McDonald's and you ask them if your kid can claim to work there for their college application and if any AO calls, the owner will confirm they work there (even though the kid hasn't lifted a finger). Seems like a relatively unlikely scenario to me. Of course, it is never the lie but the coverup...so the AO may start asking questions as to what they do, what shifts do they work, etc. Often times the answers seem so shady because your friend is trying to make them up on the fly.

The kid needs to declare the income from a job he does on the FAFSA, which is tied to the IRS. So he would need to be paid and have earnings statements, pay FICA and taxes.

LOL.....When you pay AO $15/hr, they are not going to do anything, if they do, other than calling the phone on the application to verify that information is legit.  They are not going to waste anymore time other than some basic information, not for $15/hr.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On my DD’s Common App she listed a specific activity that is a 501c3 she formed a few years ago. Out of no where, she is recently getting emails to this organization’s address asking questions about the entity? Do AOs check activities? Could this be the colleges she applied to checking up on her?

I think 501c3s are something that AOs check up on, and rightfully so. A minor can't start one without an adult's help (because they're too young to sign contracts). Most 501c3s started by high schoolers don't need to exist (they're duplicating work already being done in the community; a more productive use of time and resources is generally just to fundraise) so they're often seen as something students are doing only for their college applications. And face it: most are. Go look at some of the 501c3s started by students who graduated from your high school 2-5 years ago. Are any of them still in operation? Or did they shut down at the same time the founder headed off to college?

But I'm sure this is not the case with your daughter.

Exactly! How is this even seen as a plus during applications? A few years ago it seemed like students were volunteering in developing countries but it doesn’t seem like AO give kids much credit for that. Now so many kids are starting useless nonprofits. I will take the kid who has worked hours in a minimum wage job. That is easily verifiable.

Let's say my friend owns Mcdonald and gives my DS a fake job there. How are they going to know?

What do you mean by "giving DS fake job"? Has your DS worked at McDonald?

Meaning, you know the owner of a McDonald's and you ask them if your kid can claim to work there for their college application and if any AO calls, the owner will confirm they work there (even though the kid hasn't lifted a finger). Seems like a relatively unlikely scenario to me. Of course, it is never the lie but the coverup...so the AO may start asking questions as to what they do, what shifts do they work, etc. Often times the answers seem so shady because your friend is trying to make them up on the fly.

The kid needs to declare the income from a job he does on the FAFSA, which is tied to the IRS. So he would need to be paid and have earnings statements, pay FICA and taxes.

Good point...would look odd to claim a McDonald's job, but then say no financial aid is necessary (hence no FAFSA). Guess it could happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At my DCs local private school, you must meet with your guidance counselor to review your common app before you can submit. They specifically review the activities and awards section with the student to make sure everything is accurate.

Also true for ours in NYC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At my DCs local private school, you must meet with your guidance counselor to review your common app before you can submit. They specifically review the activities and awards section with the student to make sure everything is accurate.

Which local private is this?

National Cathedral School.

DD graduated from NCS recently, there was no such requirement to meet with counselor to check common app. It’s all voluntary: counselors welcome you to send your common app to them for review, but not required. Additionally, counselors cannot verify the accuracy of an outside non-profit organization.

2 out of the 3 college counselors are new this year. It has been re-vamped.