Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 12:22     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:It’s very risky to fake extracurriculars. First of all you’re only doing it on one app, while AOs review thousands per year and they are very good at spotting inconsistencies.

Lies about club founders and presidents are probably the most common, which is why they carry very little weight.

You can lie about the federal judge internship, thinking you’ll never get caught, but AOs will know from experience that these are usually only open to seniors. Claiming you did one as a sophomore will raise a red flag.

You can claim you did construction work, because you know the company owner and he’ll lie for the kid if he were to get a call. But you forget about labor laws that prohibit underage students to use powered equipment, do hazardous occupations, requirements of work permits from high school, etc.

You can lie about coaching kids in baseball, hand waiving that it’s through the town recreational department. But AO read about thousands of kids who get involved in coaching through non-profits, private businesses, and know what an authentic experience is like.

It doesn’t take many inconsistencies to cast doubt on the applications and it’s downhill from there. That’s why all decent private admissions counselors advice to actually do the activities.


Seek help, you sound deranged.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 12:18     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
It’s very risky to fake extracurriculars. First of all you’re only doing it on one app, while AOs review thousands per year and they are very good at spotting inconsistencies.

Lies about club founders and presidents are probably the most common, which is why they carry very little weight.

You can lie about the federal judge internship, thinking you’ll never get caught, but AOs will know from experience that these are usually only open to seniors. Claiming you did one as a sophomore will raise a red flag.

You can claim you did construction work, because you know the company owner and he’ll lie for the kid if he were to get a call. But you forget about labor laws that prohibit underage students to use powered equipment, do hazardous occupations, requirements of work permits from high school, etc.

You can lie about coaching kids in baseball, hand waiving that it’s through the town recreational department. But AO read about thousands of kids who get involved in coaching through non-profits, private businesses, and know what an authentic experience is like.

It doesn’t take many inconsistencies to cast doubt on the applications and it’s downhill from there. That’s why all decent private admissions counselors advice to actually do the activities.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 12:04     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Really enjoyed this thread! To answer some Q's:

1) Construction is construction "lite," a real summer job, supervised by construction company owner;
2) Judicial internship a real thing, not just him (got into program for high school students);
3) Could play sport in college, but doesn't want to (DIII at best);
4) Coaching gig through town rec sports;
5) Not aiming/interested in HYPSM, because (obviously) not a grades perfectionist;
6) Summer Olympics volunteering common for sports kids where we live;
7) Passions are sports, teaching all types of kids how to do sports, history/legal history, and arguing (hence debate and MUN);
8) Wants to go to a good school but also have fun.

All advice good advice, even the negative stuff.


NP here. I was skeptical in the beginning because it sounded like check the box, no real depth activities. But the key will be the narrative/essays and how they tie it together as well as having an essay that does all the things a good essay should do - something about him that isn’t the same as every other sports loving future lawyer with good grades and that helps the admissions officer see how your kid would be a good addition and contribute to their college community. The recommendations should also strengthen the narrative - how does your kid compare to other kids at the school. Are they just in it for the grades or do they show genuine curiosity and talent?

I don’t know how much the pointy versus well rounded plays in the T20 but for my kids T25, they were stronger in what they wanted to study BUT they still challenged themselves and had good grades in the other subjects. So more artsy kid still had honors science classes and took AP Stats and Calc senior year and took a foreign language all four years. They also had a math teacher and humanities teacher write their recommendations. My other kid had a science and history teacher write their recommendations.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 11:55     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
What's "construction lite" mean?

When you say a kid had a part time job in construction, the implication is he is out in the yard with the day laborers laying concrete, building a deck, etc. Is that accurate?

Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 08:16     Subject: Re:Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Sounds like a nice, well-rounded kid. I'm sorry you're getting piled on.

But I think it's your initial question that raised eyebrows. His resume does kind of read like someone who has been checking a bunch of boxes.

Of all those activities, what is the ONE that brings him the most joy, or that he's had the best, most meaningful experience? I would encourage him to lean way into that one, and to consider it for an essay topic.

He could dump something that isn't meaningful to make more time for it.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 01:36     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:It's a bunch of us. This kid and his mom are phonies.


Seek help.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 01:27     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The one thing that might be missing or needs a good narrative is impact. So give that some thought.


The one thing that is missing is real extracurriculars. Give it some thought instead of looking for a “good narrative”.


My kid had these activities and is at Northwestern.

There’s one psychotic mom in this thread.


Agree.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 00:59     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The one thing that might be missing or needs a good narrative is impact. So give that some thought.


The one thing that is missing is real extracurriculars. Give it some thought instead of looking for a “good narrative”.


My kid had these activities and is at Northwestern.

There’s one psychotic mom in this thread.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 00:01     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
It's a bunch of us. This kid and his mom are phonies.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 23:50     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Really enjoyed this thread! To answer some Q's:

1) Construction is construction "lite," a real summer job, supervised by construction company owner;
2) Judicial internship a real thing, not just him (got into program for high school students);
3) Could play sport in college, but doesn't want to (DIII at best);
4) Coaching gig through town rec sports;
5) Not aiming/interested in HYPSM, because (obviously) not a grades perfectionist;
6) Summer Olympics volunteering common for sports kids where we live;
7) Passions are sports, teaching all types of kids how to do sports, history/legal history, and arguing (hence debate and MUN);
8) Wants to go to a good school but also have fun.

All advice good advice, even the negative stuff.


So you want some advice on how to turn the lies you made up for your son more believable?

What’s “lite” construction work? Spend your energy on helping him find extracurriculars he can do. Try to see what it takes to be an assistant coach in an organization like a sports camp counselor for the upcoming summer. Minors working and working with minors (coaching) come with significant liability issues and compliance with labor laws. Of course you completely overlook them when you’re just “doing” it on paper for your son’s college applications.

You miss the whole point of extracurriculars, and ultimately you’re setting him up for failure. High school extracurriculars are a great way to explore and finding his own passion, and you’re robbing him of that opportunity, while teaching him to be dishonest.


Op, ignore this poster. They are clearly just triggered because of worry about their own kid’s activities.


Just realized how triggered they are, a whole page of hate posts. wowza.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 23:49     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Really enjoyed this thread! To answer some Q's:

1) Construction is construction "lite," a real summer job, supervised by construction company owner;
2) Judicial internship a real thing, not just him (got into program for high school students);
3) Could play sport in college, but doesn't want to (DIII at best);
4) Coaching gig through town rec sports;
5) Not aiming/interested in HYPSM, because (obviously) not a grades perfectionist;
6) Summer Olympics volunteering common for sports kids where we live;
7) Passions are sports, teaching all types of kids how to do sports, history/legal history, and arguing (hence debate and MUN);
8) Wants to go to a good school but also have fun.

All advice good advice, even the negative stuff.


So you want some advice on how to turn the lies you made up for your son more believable?

What’s “lite” construction work? Spend your energy on helping him find extracurriculars he can do. Try to see what it takes to be an assistant coach in an organization like a sports camp counselor for the upcoming summer. Minors working and working with minors (coaching) come with significant liability issues and compliance with labor laws. Of course you completely overlook them when you’re just “doing” it on paper for your son’s college applications.

You miss the whole point of extracurriculars, and ultimately you’re setting him up for failure. High school extracurriculars are a great way to explore and finding his own passion, and you’re robbing him of that opportunity, while teaching him to be dishonest.


Op, ignore this poster. They are clearly just triggered because of worry about their own kid’s activities.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 23:28     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:The one thing that might be missing or needs a good narrative is impact. So give that some thought.


The one thing that is missing is real extracurriculars. Give it some thought instead of looking for a “good narrative”.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 23:25     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Boy, varsity athlete playing year-round (but doesn't want to play in college), public school 3.9 UW/4.3 W (not VA or MD), 1520 SAT, 11 APs total by graduation, humanities kid, founded & president of school debating club, Model UN, several seasons of coaching kids teams in youth sports, has worked in construction over the summer (when not doing sport), doing internship with federal judge, volunteers w/Special Olympics. History or Econ as potential major.

Not a whole lot of time to do much else, but is there any EC that's obviously missing? He is hoping for a top 20, SLAC or mid-sized. Double egacy at Ivies but obviously a long shot.


This is so obviously fake, a made up extracurricular project for mom.

Best thing you can do is to actually help your son find something he cares about and get out of the way.

Founder and president of the debate club and model UN is mostly meaningless on its own, you have to have some activity or related project he worked on as part of the club besides meeting during lunch time. Kids lie about these clubs all the time because it’s not verifiable information.

Speculation. How do you know he doesn't have related activities and projects?

In what capacity did he coach kids? Is he throwing the ball with the neighbors kids, or it’s a real coaching job? Unlikely sophomore kids get to be coaches, sports camp counselor go through extensive training. High schoolers don’t get to work with minors as “coaches” just like that. Sounds more like he plays a sport and you’re making up other activities to pad up his college applications.

Speculation.
As others have pointed out, doing an internship with a federal judge is so suspect of being made up because there’s not a lot that a high schooler can do in that setting. If it’s real, I’d be interested to know what he actually did.

These programs do exist.
I call BS on the construction summer job too. Minors can’t work in most construction jobs, because it’s considered hazardous occupation, unless they are part of an apprenticeship program.

You said most, so there are construction jobs suitable for minors?
I’d advise against making stuff up, because it’s really easy to spot the fake activities, since they lack depth and authenticity and are hard to connect with essays, recommendation letters, awards and the rest of the application.

Do they have to share all the depth and authenticity on a discussion forum? OP wasn't asking for your feedback on this.


In other words, when you’re called on your lies you say “you can’t prove it”.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 23:12     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the skepticism about the judicial internship. I imagine it’s the judge allowing kids to sit in his courtroom, see what goes on, and then maybe discuss with the judge and/or his clerks at the end of the day for 10 or 15 minutes.


That’s not an internship honey, it’s called shadowing.


You sound miserable, I think it can also called an internship.


You sound stupid, whatever you “think”.

Shadowing is observing, which is what you described.

Internship is doing actual work.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 23:09     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Really enjoyed this thread! To answer some Q's:

1) Construction is construction "lite," a real summer job, supervised by construction company owner;
2) Judicial internship a real thing, not just him (got into program for high school students);
3) Could play sport in college, but doesn't want to (DIII at best);
4) Coaching gig through town rec sports;
5) Not aiming/interested in HYPSM, because (obviously) not a grades perfectionist;
6) Summer Olympics volunteering common for sports kids where we live;
7) Passions are sports, teaching all types of kids how to do sports, history/legal history, and arguing (hence debate and MUN);
8) Wants to go to a good school but also have fun.

All advice good advice, even the negative stuff.


So you want some advice on how to turn the lies you made up for your son more believable?

What’s “lite” construction work? Spend your energy on helping him find extracurriculars he can do. Try to see what it takes to be an assistant coach in an organization like a sports camp counselor for the upcoming summer. Minors working and working with minors (coaching) come with significant liability issues and compliance with labor laws. Of course you completely overlook them when you’re just “doing” it on paper for your son’s college applications.

You miss the whole point of extracurriculars, and ultimately you’re setting him up for failure. High school extracurriculars are a great way to explore and finding his own passion, and you’re robbing him of that opportunity, while teaching him to be dishonest.