they know from school profile sent by high school, gpa and stats compared to
classmates, level
of classes (rigor) taken as compared to classmates, reputation of school as jnown by regional college rep and LOR

Nope. I worked my ASS off. But I'm smart and have a lot of learning disabilities. So you talk to me and think "Oh, she's really smart, got it!" and then look at my classes and grades and think "What a shame - smart but so lazy." Meanwhile I went to exactly one party in HS, was never out past 11pm unless babysitting, stayed after school a lot for extra help, spent hours on homework, and barely passed most tests.

Often case where two kids from the same school both have straight As in most rigorous classes, but one works really hard to do that and the other doesn’t have to work much at all. Colleges won’t necessarily know who had to work hard and who didn’t. But the one who didn’t likely has more innate intelligence and that might come through in other areas. But when those two kids go to college, the one who didn’t have to work hard in high school will likely have an easier time.

They don't really care. Fake credentials still give them something to brag about. Clout is all about putting out an image, not substance. If you don't get busted, you're gold.
Take a lesson. Real life is the same way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP are you an actual parent or the college forum troll who is bored?

This is Op. I am a student, actually. Sorry if I’m not supposed to use this website.

Every college admissions reader has read hundreds of applications. They have a good sense of what’s real and what’s fake. They have probably read numerous applications from your school, so they know how hard it is and whether you took the tough courses.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP are you an actual parent or the college forum troll who is bored?

This is Op. I am a student, actually. Sorry if I’m not supposed to use this website.

No you're okay. The question was just worded in such a way as to make me doubt it was from a parent. And clearly it wasn't. Sorry.

The counselor letter/report that accompanies your college application contains lots of rich data, which is how the admissions officers get a sense of rigor, etc. It includes information about stats of student body, highest level of course in different areas, etc. So yes, if you end at Algebra but got all As, the AOs will know that you didn't take Calc, for example, and they will know how your scores stack against your peers as a general group. And, if you stick around here long enough, you will see that they even will sometimes check out those awards, yes, and even your parents' LinkedIn profiles.... Seriously.

Anonymous wrote:OP are you an actual parent or the college forum troll who is bored?

This is Op. I am a student, actually. Sorry if I’m not supposed to use this website.

At the very least, I would guess they could Google the name of any major award or competition someone claims to have won if they’ve never heard of it.

Anonymous wrote:Can colleges tell if you actually worked hard throughout high school?? For example, if you get good grades but go to a really easy school? Or if you win a bunch of phony violin competitions or whatever? Just curious…

How would one fake playing the violin?

Admissions staff familiarize themselves with the rigor level of the high schools of their applicants.

OP are you an actual parent or the college forum troll who is bored?

Anonymous wrote:Do they actually care? Perhaps all they want is your money?

Top colleges care.

Do they actually care? Perhaps all they want is your money?

Can colleges tell if you actually worked hard throughout high school?? For example, if you get good grades but go to a really easy school? Or if you win a bunch of phony violin competitions or whatever? Just curious…