EC activities and awards

[Anonymous]

If you have more than 5 awards, can you put the extra ones on the extracurricular section on the same line with the related activity?

Ie. A varsity sport, mvp spring 2023 - so you list EC and award together?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have more than 5 awards, can you put the extra ones on the extracurricular section on the same line with the related activity?

Ie. A varsity sport, mvp spring 2023 - so you list EC and award together?

Yes, I would especially put sports awards with the activity as the awards section is for academic awards. But, in general, you can put any extra awards in activity descriptions. Mine put honor societies in activities under service because that was a key component of the societies (unlike in my day where it was just an accolade), and she had maxed out awards/honors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS working on finalizing top 10 EC/activities it in the (50/100/150 characters format) and then top 5 awards….

DS hearing his friends (private school) talking about a LOT of embellishment…with the EC (unique non-school) and one off awards.

How common is this? Isn’t someone checking?

Unique ECs and awards are not embellishment.They are just unique. "Embellishment" is usually a way people like to gloss over lying. Don't lie.

Exactly! Only rich people are allowed to lie..err. embellish..err.. do 'unique' activities and get 'unique' awards. Plebes shouldn't follow their example!

There are prep schools around here for AAP where kids as young as KG attend weekly classes, participate in "unique" activities and get awards. Parents include those awards in their statement that accompanies the application packet. What PP is describing are just somewhat grown up, private school versions of the same thing. Make sh*t up, just make sure the hours tally.

The best way to get rid of nonsense (e.g. ECs) is to make them meaningless by cheating. Same goes for essays. Use ChatGPT or other AI to write the essays. If all essays are done well, they stop becoming a differentiator that only rich people with access to paid professionals have access to. Tear down those walls!

It's sad how you try to justify cheating in the name of revolution for the people. That takes some kind of boldness and arrogance, frankly.

You don't have to be rich to have unique ECs. My kids do. They can even be service oriented. Brainstorm. Get creative. My kids have done some unique things and have done some things that were costly, but we got financial aid to help do it. So, middle class people, check out these opportunities, and ask about financial aid.

Sure, rich people have more options, but AOs know that. Don't equate inequity with cheating. Advocating making up ECs or Chat GPT essays is cheating. It stinks that rich kids have opportunities that my kid doesn't have, but it REALLY stinks (& hurts my kid) when you help your kid cheat and encourage others to do the same.

Lady. Chill! ECs and essays are the equivalent of a firewalled institution (that you subsidize) asking you if you rub your belly and bark like a dog twice a day. You are saying that you should train your kids to do that and answer honestly that they did or didn't or did just once a day. I'm saying reject this nonsense and claim that you did it two or three times a day while doing whatever it is you want to do (or nothing at all). If everyone does this, that requirement is bound to die. That's all.

Oh, if you really wanted to help you'd have said "My kids have done some unique things and have done some things that were costly, but we got financial aid to help do it and here's what they did". Try that next time.

That's a load if crap your peddling. It just speaks to you as entitled, lazy and unethical. Cheating is not liberating the people, it's ripping them off. Stop gaslighting people to make out that somehow what you are advocating is ok. It hurts the kids who have actually devoted time and energy to their activities, so that your slacker can capitalize. Not cool.

No one is forced to "jump through hoops." You choose to apply, so just don't apply to schools that care about level of ECs. But, don't lie and say you did something when you didn't or inflate the extent of involvement.

As far as getting financial aid for ECs, everyone has different interests, so what my kids did may not be relevant.
For those interested, one kid got financial aid for music lessons and scholarships for music and theatre camps/festivals. My other got financial aid for an educational research trip. Some activities have financial aid info on the website, some we just asked if it was available and what was the process for applying.

This is the critical point. You think ECs are crap? Great! Apply to schools that agree with you and don’t emphasize them. No different from test scores—my kid doesn’t want to submit test scores, which means MIT, Georgetown, and a bunch of state schools are off the table. The answer is to accept that and move on, not to lie.

I will gladly do that once the universities start paying taxes and I'm not subsidizing them! Until then, it's all fair game.

So, do you also steal from the offering plate to "protest" church exemptions (any offering plate of any church because they are all culpable, right?) Or, steal in-kind donations for charities you don't agree with? Or graffiti public buildings or monuments you think were overfunded? Or, cover your license plate to avoid paying tolls because you don't agree?

If you really object, run for Congress and change laws. Don't cheat. That just hurts other kids who are really making an effort.

You reek of entitlement. This is a cheap cover to justify cheating. Stop that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS working on finalizing top 10 EC/activities it in the (50/100/150 characters format) and then top 5 awards….

DS hearing his friends (private school) talking about a LOT of embellishment…with the EC (unique non-school) and one off awards.

How common is this? Isn’t someone checking?

Unique ECs and awards are not embellishment.They are just unique. "Embellishment" is usually a way people like to gloss over lying. Don't lie.

Exactly! Only rich people are allowed to lie..err. embellish..err.. do 'unique' activities and get 'unique' awards. Plebes shouldn't follow their example!

There are prep schools around here for AAP where kids as young as KG attend weekly classes, participate in "unique" activities and get awards. Parents include those awards in their statement that accompanies the application packet. What PP is describing are just somewhat grown up, private school versions of the same thing. Make sh*t up, just make sure the hours tally.

The best way to get rid of nonsense (e.g. ECs) is to make them meaningless by cheating. Same goes for essays. Use ChatGPT or other AI to write the essays. If all essays are done well, they stop becoming a differentiator that only rich people with access to paid professionals have access to. Tear down those walls!

It's sad how you try to justify cheating in the name of revolution for the people. That takes some kind of boldness and arrogance, frankly.

You don't have to be rich to have unique ECs. My kids do. They can even be service oriented. Brainstorm. Get creative. My kids have done some unique things and have done some things that were costly, but we got financial aid to help do it. So, middle class people, check out these opportunities, and ask about financial aid.

Sure, rich people have more options, but AOs know that. Don't equate inequity with cheating. Advocating making up ECs or Chat GPT essays is cheating. It stinks that rich kids have opportunities that my kid doesn't have, but it REALLY stinks (& hurts my kid) when you help your kid cheat and encourage others to do the same.

Lady. Chill! ECs and essays are the equivalent of a firewalled institution (that you subsidize) asking you if you rub your belly and bark like a dog twice a day. You are saying that you should train your kids to do that and answer honestly that they did or didn't or did just once a day. I'm saying reject this nonsense and claim that you did it two or three times a day while doing whatever it is you want to do (or nothing at all). If everyone does this, that requirement is bound to die. That's all.

Oh, if you really wanted to help you'd have said "My kids have done some unique things and have done some things that were costly, but we got financial aid to help do it and here's what they did". Try that next time.

That's a load if crap your peddling. It just speaks to you as entitled, lazy and unethical. Cheating is not liberating the people, it's ripping them off. Stop gaslighting people to make out that somehow what you are advocating is ok. It hurts the kids who have actually devoted time and energy to their activities, so that your slacker can capitalize. Not cool.

No one is forced to "jump through hoops." You choose to apply, so just don't apply to schools that care about level of ECs. But, don't lie and say you did something when you didn't or inflate the extent of involvement.

As far as getting financial aid for ECs, everyone has different interests, so what my kids did may not be relevant.
For those interested, one kid got financial aid for music lessons and scholarships for music and theatre camps/festivals. My other got financial aid for an educational research trip. Some activities have financial aid info on the website, some we just asked if it was available and what was the process for applying.

This is the critical point. You think ECs are crap? Great! Apply to schools that agree with you and don’t emphasize them. No different from test scores—my kid doesn’t want to submit test scores, which means MIT, Georgetown, and a bunch of state schools are off the table. The answer is to accept that and move on, not to lie.

I will gladly do that once the universities start paying taxes and I'm not subsidizing them! Until then, it's all fair game.

So, do you also steal from the offering plate to "protest" church exemptions (any offering plate of any church because they are all culpable, right?) Or, steal in-kind donations for charities you don't agree with? Or graffiti public buildings or monuments you think were overfunded? Or, cover your license plate to avoid paying tolls because you don't agree?

If you really object, run for Congress and change laws. Don't cheat. That just hurts other kids who are really making an effort.

You reek of entitlement. This is a cheap cover to justify cheating. Stop that.

I don't go to church or give to charities, but the actions you are describing would be the equivalent of me walking around a campus and stealing lightbulbs and trashcans for resale or deface some buildings. That's theft/vandalism. How does that equate to lying about something non-essential? Maybe you need to take course in logic.. or maybe another shot of coffee?

Let me help you here, since you seem logically challenged. In some religions they won't let you into their church/mosque if you don't belong to that religion. If I am a citizen of that country, pay taxes (and they don't), and subsidize the existence of that church or mosque but don't practice that religion, you bet your ass I will go to that mosque/church if I choose to. I will absolutely lie about my religion to get in. After all, I'm part-funding that enterprise. They'll likely throw me out if they 'catch' me, but how likely is that? Why do I want to go there? Because I feel like it and I paid for it! See how that works?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid said there was lots of embellishing among classmates last year.

Someone even invented a fake family tragedy for an essay.

My kid worked hard, was honest, and did not pay off at selective schools but is happy with attending state flagship. Enjoy, its a "great" process !

I heard about some classmates’ lies from my kids as well. Crazy family related stuff too that was heavily stretched.
Sadly appears to have worked out.

[Anonymous]

America was built on cheating. It's the American Dream, success and seeming cleanliness built on the suffering and mis-use of others.

How does lying on an application vary in any way from this great American tradition? It does not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:America was built on cheating. It's the American Dream, success and seeming cleanliness built on the suffering and mis-use of others.

How does lying on an application vary in any way from this great American tradition? It does not.

You make a great case against yourself. Is this really how you want to raise your kids? To encourage the mis-use of others? Because that is what you do when you advocate lying and cheating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS working on finalizing top 10 EC/activities it in the (50/100/150 characters format) and then top 5 awards….

DS hearing his friends (private school) talking about a LOT of embellishment…with the EC (unique non-school) and one off awards.

How common is this? Isn’t someone checking?

Unique ECs and awards are not embellishment.They are just unique. "Embellishment" is usually a way people like to gloss over lying. Don't lie.

Exactly! Only rich people are allowed to lie..err. embellish..err.. do 'unique' activities and get 'unique' awards. Plebes shouldn't follow their example!

There are prep schools around here for AAP where kids as young as KG attend weekly classes, participate in "unique" activities and get awards. Parents include those awards in their statement that accompanies the application packet. What PP is describing are just somewhat grown up, private school versions of the same thing. Make sh*t up, just make sure the hours tally.

The best way to get rid of nonsense (e.g. ECs) is to make them meaningless by cheating. Same goes for essays. Use ChatGPT or other AI to write the essays. If all essays are done well, they stop becoming a differentiator that only rich people with access to paid professionals have access to. Tear down those walls!

It's sad how you try to justify cheating in the name of revolution for the people. That takes some kind of boldness and arrogance, frankly.

You don't have to be rich to have unique ECs. My kids do. They can even be service oriented. Brainstorm. Get creative. My kids have done some unique things and have done some things that were costly, but we got financial aid to help do it. So, middle class people, check out these opportunities, and ask about financial aid.

Sure, rich people have more options, but AOs know that. Don't equate inequity with cheating. Advocating making up ECs or Chat GPT essays is cheating. It stinks that rich kids have opportunities that my kid doesn't have, but it REALLY stinks (& hurts my kid) when you help your kid cheat and encourage others to do the same.

Lady. Chill! ECs and essays are the equivalent of a firewalled institution (that you subsidize) asking you if you rub your belly and bark like a dog twice a day. You are saying that you should train your kids to do that and answer honestly that they did or didn't or did just once a day. I'm saying reject this nonsense and claim that you did it two or three times a day while doing whatever it is you want to do (or nothing at all). If everyone does this, that requirement is bound to die. That's all.

Oh, if you really wanted to help you'd have said "My kids have done some unique things and have done some things that were costly, but we got financial aid to help do it and here's what they did". Try that next time.

That's a load if crap your peddling. It just speaks to you as entitled, lazy and unethical. Cheating is not liberating the people, it's ripping them off. Stop gaslighting people to make out that somehow what you are advocating is ok. It hurts the kids who have actually devoted time and energy to their activities, so that your slacker can capitalize. Not cool.

No one is forced to "jump through hoops." You choose to apply, so just don't apply to schools that care about level of ECs. But, don't lie and say you did something when you didn't or inflate the extent of involvement.

As far as getting financial aid for ECs, everyone has different interests, so what my kids did may not be relevant.
For those interested, one kid got financial aid for music lessons and scholarships for music and theatre camps/festivals. My other got financial aid for an educational research trip. Some activities have financial aid info on the website, some we just asked if it was available and what was the process for applying.

This is the critical point. You think ECs are crap? Great! Apply to schools that agree with you and don’t emphasize them. No different from test scores—my kid doesn’t want to submit test scores, which means MIT, Georgetown, and a bunch of state schools are off the table. The answer is to accept that and move on, not to lie.

I will gladly do that once the universities start paying taxes and I'm not subsidizing them! Until then, it's all fair game.

So, do you also steal from the offering plate to "protest" church exemptions (any offering plate of any church because they are all culpable, right?) Or, steal in-kind donations for charities you don't agree with? Or graffiti public buildings or monuments you think were overfunded? Or, cover your license plate to avoid paying tolls because you don't agree?

If you really object, run for Congress and change laws. Don't cheat. That just hurts other kids who are really making an effort.

You reek of entitlement. This is a cheap cover to justify cheating. Stop that.

I don't go to church or give to charities, but the actions you are describing would be the equivalent of me walking around a campus and stealing lightbulbs and trashcans for resale or deface some buildings. That's theft/vandalism. How does that equate to lying about something non-essential? Maybe you need to take course in logic.. or maybe another shot of coffee?

Let me help you here, since you seem logically challenged. In some religions they won't let you into their church/mosque if you don't belong to that religion. If I am a citizen of that country, pay taxes (and they don't), and subsidize the existence of that church or mosque but don't practice that religion, you bet your ass I will go to that mosque/church if I choose to. I will absolutely lie about my religion to get in. After all, I'm part-funding that enterprise. They'll likely throw me out if they 'catch' me, but how likely is that? Why do I want to go there? Because I feel like it and I paid for it! See how that works?

The equivalent would be more like stealing lightbulbs from other students' dorm rooms. When you advocate lying, you hurt that students who actually put in the work, not the university. But that fall guy is convenient for you to justify crappy moral behavior.

[Anonymous]

If colleges affirmatively stated that their process includes validation checks on a certain number of applications, that would go a long way. If you can’t trust people to be honest, you can at least make them worry about getting caught.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:America was built on cheating. It's the American Dream, success and seeming cleanliness built on the suffering and mis-use of others.

How does lying on an application vary in any way from this great American tradition? It does not.

You make a great case against yourself. Is this really how you want to raise your kids? To encourage the mis-use of others? Because that is what you do when you advocate lying and cheating.

I'm British. I'm just pointing out that you're all hypocrites

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:America was built on cheating. It's the American Dream, success and seeming cleanliness built on the suffering and mis-use of others.

How does lying on an application vary in any way from this great American tradition? It does not.

You make a great case against yourself. Is this really how you want to raise your kids? To encourage the mis-use of others? Because that is what you do when you advocate lying and cheating.

I'm British. I'm just pointing out that you're all hypocrites

This was not the brilliant retort you'd hoped it to be. You're offensive to those of us from the UK too. Not an excuse (don't use the rest of us as your human shield), and frankly doesn't even make sense. There is nothing hypocritical about advocating that students apply with integrity. If you don't like the US system, fine, go somewhere else, (but not back to the UK--we don't appreciate your porky-pies either). Just don't lie. There's really no good justification for it, try as you might. The real hypocrisy is in trying to claim you are some Robin Hood against the establishment, when in fact, you are just robbing kids for your own enrichment. It just makes you look pathetic and entitled. But, sure, slap some lipstick on that pig with "I'm British." What an embarrassment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS working on finalizing top 10 EC/activities it in the (50/100/150 characters format) and then top 5 awards….

DS hearing his friends (private school) talking about a LOT of embellishment…with the EC (unique non-school) and one off awards.

How common is this? Isn’t someone checking?

Unique ECs and awards are not embellishment.They are just unique. "Embellishment" is usually a way people like to gloss over lying. Don't lie.

Exactly! Only rich people are allowed to lie..err. embellish..err.. do 'unique' activities and get 'unique' awards. Plebes shouldn't follow their example!

There are prep schools around here for AAP where kids as young as KG attend weekly classes, participate in "unique" activities and get awards. Parents include those awards in their statement that accompanies the application packet. What PP is describing are just somewhat grown up, private school versions of the same thing. Make sh*t up, just make sure the hours tally.

The best way to get rid of nonsense (e.g. ECs) is to make them meaningless by cheating. Same goes for essays. Use ChatGPT or other AI to write the essays. If all essays are done well, they stop becoming a differentiator that only rich people with access to paid professionals have access to. Tear down those walls!

It's sad how you try to justify cheating in the name of revolution for the people. That takes some kind of boldness and arrogance, frankly.

You don't have to be rich to have unique ECs. My kids do. They can even be service oriented. Brainstorm. Get creative. My kids have done some unique things and have done some things that were costly, but we got financial aid to help do it. So, middle class people, check out these opportunities, and ask about financial aid.

Sure, rich people have more options, but AOs know that. Don't equate inequity with cheating. Advocating making up ECs or Chat GPT essays is cheating. It stinks that rich kids have opportunities that my kid doesn't have, but it REALLY stinks (& hurts my kid) when you help your kid cheat and encourage others to do the same.

Lady. Chill! ECs and essays are the equivalent of a firewalled institution (that you subsidize) asking you if you rub your belly and bark like a dog twice a day. You are saying that you should train your kids to do that and answer honestly that they did or didn't or did just once a day. I'm saying reject this nonsense and claim that you did it two or three times a day while doing whatever it is you want to do (or nothing at all). If everyone does this, that requirement is bound to die. That's all.

Oh, if you really wanted to help you'd have said "My kids have done some unique things and have done some things that were costly, but we got financial aid to help do it and here's what they did". Try that next time.

That's a load if crap your peddling. It just speaks to you as entitled, lazy and unethical. Cheating is not liberating the people, it's ripping them off. Stop gaslighting people to make out that somehow what you are advocating is ok. It hurts the kids who have actually devoted time and energy to their activities, so that your slacker can capitalize. Not cool.

No one is forced to "jump through hoops." You choose to apply, so just don't apply to schools that care about level of ECs. But, don't lie and say you did something when you didn't or inflate the extent of involvement.

As far as getting financial aid for ECs, everyone has different interests, so what my kids did may not be relevant.
For those interested, one kid got financial aid for music lessons and scholarships for music and theatre camps/festivals. My other got financial aid for an educational research trip. Some activities have financial aid info on the website, some we just asked if it was available and what was the process for applying.

This is the critical point. You think ECs are crap? Great! Apply to schools that agree with you and don’t emphasize them. No different from test scores—my kid doesn’t want to submit test scores, which means MIT, Georgetown, and a bunch of state schools are off the table. The answer is to accept that and move on, not to lie.

I will gladly do that once the universities start paying taxes and I'm not subsidizing them! Until then, it's all fair game.

So, do you also steal from the offering plate to "protest" church exemptions (any offering plate of any church because they are all culpable, right?) Or, steal in-kind donations for charities you don't agree with? Or graffiti public buildings or monuments you think were overfunded? Or, cover your license plate to avoid paying tolls because you don't agree?

If you really object, run for Congress and change laws. Don't cheat. That just hurts other kids who are really making an effort.

You reek of entitlement. This is a cheap cover to justify cheating. Stop that.

I don't go to church or give to charities, but the actions you are describing would be the equivalent of me walking around a campus and stealing lightbulbs and trashcans for resale or deface some buildings. That's theft/vandalism. How does that equate to lying about something non-essential? Maybe you need to take course in logic.. or maybe another shot of coffee?

Let me help you here, since you seem logically challenged. In some religions they won't let you into their church/mosque if you don't belong to that religion. If I am a citizen of that country, pay taxes (and they don't), and subsidize the existence of that church or mosque but don't practice that religion, you bet your ass I will go to that mosque/church if I choose to. I will absolutely lie about my religion to get in. After all, I'm part-funding that enterprise. They'll likely throw me out if they 'catch' me, but how likely is that? Why do I want to go there? Because I feel like it and I paid for it! See how that works?

The equivalent would be more like stealing lightbulbs from other students' dorm rooms. When you advocate lying, you hurt that students who actually put in the work, not the university. But that fall guy is convenient for you to justify crappy moral behavior.

Hmm.. At this point, even the logic class can't save you. Oh well. I tried!

[Anonymous]

How do all of you know what other kids put on their college applications? How do your kids know what their classmates write?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS working on finalizing top 10 EC/activities it in the (50/100/150 characters format) and then top 5 awards….

DS hearing his friends (private school) talking about a LOT of embellishment…with the EC (unique non-school) and one off awards.

How common is this? Isn’t someone checking?

Unique ECs and awards are not embellishment.They are just unique. "Embellishment" is usually a way people like to gloss over lying. Don't lie.

Exactly! Only rich people are allowed to lie..err. embellish..err.. do 'unique' activities and get 'unique' awards. Plebes shouldn't follow their example!

There are prep schools around here for AAP where kids as young as KG attend weekly classes, participate in "unique" activities and get awards. Parents include those awards in their statement that accompanies the application packet. What PP is describing are just somewhat grown up, private school versions of the same thing. Make sh*t up, just make sure the hours tally.

The best way to get rid of nonsense (e.g. ECs) is to make them meaningless by cheating. Same goes for essays. Use ChatGPT or other AI to write the essays. If all essays are done well, they stop becoming a differentiator that only rich people with access to paid professionals have access to. Tear down those walls!

It's sad how you try to justify cheating in the name of revolution for the people. That takes some kind of boldness and arrogance, frankly.

You don't have to be rich to have unique ECs. My kids do. They can even be service oriented. Brainstorm. Get creative. My kids have done some unique things and have done some things that were costly, but we got financial aid to help do it. So, middle class people, check out these opportunities, and ask about financial aid.

Sure, rich people have more options, but AOs know that. Don't equate inequity with cheating. Advocating making up ECs or Chat GPT essays is cheating. It stinks that rich kids have opportunities that my kid doesn't have, but it REALLY stinks (& hurts my kid) when you help your kid cheat and encourage others to do the same.

Lady. Chill! ECs and essays are the equivalent of a firewalled institution (that you subsidize) asking you if you rub your belly and bark like a dog twice a day. You are saying that you should train your kids to do that and answer honestly that they did or didn't or did just once a day. I'm saying reject this nonsense and claim that you did it two or three times a day while doing whatever it is you want to do (or nothing at all). If everyone does this, that requirement is bound to die. That's all.

Oh, if you really wanted to help you'd have said "My kids have done some unique things and have done some things that were costly, but we got financial aid to help do it and here's what they did". Try that next time.

That's a load if crap your peddling. It just speaks to you as entitled, lazy and unethical. Cheating is not liberating the people, it's ripping them off. Stop gaslighting people to make out that somehow what you are advocating is ok. It hurts the kids who have actually devoted time and energy to their activities, so that your slacker can capitalize. Not cool.

No one is forced to "jump through hoops." You choose to apply, so just don't apply to schools that care about level of ECs. But, don't lie and say you did something when you didn't or inflate the extent of involvement.

As far as getting financial aid for ECs, everyone has different interests, so what my kids did may not be relevant.
For those interested, one kid got financial aid for music lessons and scholarships for music and theatre camps/festivals. My other got financial aid for an educational research trip. Some activities have financial aid info on the website, some we just asked if it was available and what was the process for applying.

This is the critical point. You think ECs are crap? Great! Apply to schools that agree with you and don’t emphasize them. No different from test scores—my kid doesn’t want to submit test scores, which means MIT, Georgetown, and a bunch of state schools are off the table. The answer is to accept that and move on, not to lie.

I will gladly do that once the universities start paying taxes and I'm not subsidizing them! Until then, it's all fair game.

So, do you also steal from the offering plate to "protest" church exemptions (any offering plate of any church because they are all culpable, right?) Or, steal in-kind donations for charities you don't agree with? Or graffiti public buildings or monuments you think were overfunded? Or, cover your license plate to avoid paying tolls because you don't agree?

If you really object, run for Congress and change laws. Don't cheat. That just hurts other kids who are really making an effort.

You reek of entitlement. This is a cheap cover to justify cheating. Stop that.

I don't go to church or give to charities, but the actions you are describing would be the equivalent of me walking around a campus and stealing lightbulbs and trashcans for resale or deface some buildings. That's theft/vandalism. How does that equate to lying about something non-essential? Maybe you need to take course in logic.. or maybe another shot of coffee?

Let me help you here, since you seem logically challenged. In some religions they won't let you into their church/mosque if you don't belong to that religion. If I am a citizen of that country, pay taxes (and they don't), and subsidize the existence of that church or mosque but don't practice that religion, you bet your ass I will go to that mosque/church if I choose to. I will absolutely lie about my religion to get in. After all, I'm part-funding that enterprise. They'll likely throw me out if they 'catch' me, but how likely is that? Why do I want to go there? Because I feel like it and I paid for it! See how that works?

The equivalent would be more like stealing lightbulbs from other students' dorm rooms. When you advocate lying, you hurt that students who actually put in the work, not the university. But that fall guy is convenient for you to justify crappy moral behavior.

Hmm.. At this point, even the logic class can't save you. Oh well. I tried!

More gaslighting/decoys. Just don't lie. It's not hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do all of you know what other kids put on their college applications? How do your kids know what their classmates write?

My guess is they don't. They just want to justify lying to boost their own kid. FWIW, I think it's just one or two frequent posters. I don't think tons of people are fabricating.

I will say, my kid knew of kids in her magnet program who started volunteer tutoring programs during covid that essentially did little/nothing. (Mine volunteered to be a tutor, but there nothing happened). They probably had good intentions (as well as ambitions), but too many had the same idea, and MCPS offered free tutoring, so I don't think the demand was there. I hope these kids didn't try to play that off as some major charity creation on their apps....