Hey guys-

I was working on my applications today and was wondering how much, if at all, people exaggerate on their apps?

wtf? hope he knocked on wood because faking illness and deaths of family members is really a no no in my book. I think people exaggerate all the time - i used to not but i learned to do as well.
_________________

If you like my answers please +1 kudos!

Don't lie. Try not to even really exaggerate. Just try to look at what you did in the very best light as possible.

In an interview with the Harvard Dean, she said that her biggest pet peeve is when people have claimed more responsibility than they really had for something. I think they get pretty good with their BS detector. Remember that you're going to have recommendations coming in too.

WOW, I know everyone "paints themselves in the best light" but cancer? thats just horrible.
_________________

Find out what's new at GMAT Club - latest features and updates

I use a variation of the above advice- I pretend that my boss/spouse/fellow committee members were going to read the application and be asked for comments on my answers. That helped me identify a firm line in the sand without being too modest.

It turned out to be a good approach, as for one of my ECs I described co-chairing a silent auction at my employer for the United Way annual fundraising drive. The person I co-chaired with is my former boss, is writing my letters of rec, and requested that I share my application with her so she could include additional points she may have forgotten.

How embarassing would it have been to send her a document that described my taking all of the responsiblity for something we accomplished together?!?

Keep in mind you're telling the schools how great of a candidate you ARE, not how great you would be if you had done X, Y, and Z. And if a school can tell that's there a mismatch between what you claim and what they think actually happened (which I believe that most adcomms are quite adept at identifying), the message they're going to get is that even YOU don't think you're good enough for them. Then what are they supposed to do, but believe you & reject your application?
_________________

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ~Mark Twain

Essays would be so easy if i could just make everything up!
_________________

Find out what's new at GMAT Club - latest features and updates

Faking cancer is pretty messed up. I doubt they could get that on a background check, simply because that is private medical info, but still geeze...
_________________

Find out what's new at GMAT Club - latest features and updates

so where did he end up?
_________________

If you like my answers please +1 kudos!

What about writing about an offer you received two years ago, but chose not to work there? Can the school go back to the employer and verify the offer? I ask because I wonder if I should contact the firm and let them know that they may receive a verification call from Kroll/Bschool.

Bet they can check if you have cancer ............. if you are a survivor, I am sure it is possible to find out. But then this guy ended up at HBS .....
_________________

All things are possible to those who believe.