Lying on Application

Like LT said, it really is all window dressing. But, be prepared to get probed on it during interviews. These adcoms have seen thousands of apps and probably have a pretty sensitive BS meter.

Outside of that, OP - I think the guy posted a response/follow up to his statement as well, which I think is somewhat valid (albeit a bit pessimistic): "However, most admits have done ECs just for the sake of admission and what you see on their apps is some highly exaggerated crap. And nobody can check what you really did in your ECs or at work, so in this process the best bs-ers usually win. It's the people who cannot present themselves well that lose. And this makes sense as this is what happens in the real business world."

Hi all , I believe this write up could be of use on how to make up for lack of ECs

Many applicants panic when they are suddenly faced with a dedicated ECs question in their dream B-School application. Having spent a lifetime chasing academic and professional triumph in extremely competitive environment, people often put their interests and leisure pursuits on backseat. If you are someone who has come to realize the dearth of Extra Curricular activities in your profile, take ideas from the following successful examples to weave a narrative that still shows you created broader perspectives and developed a well-rounded personality.

1. Begin by talking about your formative years
Beginning your narrative with some context of family situation and social environment helps the admissions committee to create a character sketch of you as a child or young adult and evaluate your involvement in school activities objectively. For example, a successful applicant once talked about making extra effort to adapt to her continuously changing schools due to her family’s relocations (shows adaptability). She went on to say that she pushed herself to participate in debates, elocutions and public speaking to overcome her intrinsic shyness and lack of self-confidence (shows persistence).

2. Small actions make big impact
Another successful applicant talked about helping her family during financial crisis by taking up odd gigs such as organizing coaching/tuition classes for neighborhood kids, starting home-made snacks business she marketed through social media connections and starting a women’s dress boutique at home where she worked with artisans on profit sharing basis. Through her undertakings in adolescence, her entrepreneurial bent of mind is evident even before she started college.

3. Show that you took a stand on social issues in your society/community
A successful applicant talked about participating in theatre and dramatics during her college days. She set the context well saying she comes from a conservative and regressive rural society where vices such as female infanticide, domestic violence and AIDs are prevalent but frowned upon when discussed openly. She decided to create awareness on such issues by writing and directing street plays which her team performed in villages to echo a strong message.

4. Are you an inclusive team leader at work?
If your time is all consumed at work and you do not have any active interests outside of office, talk about how you make your office a better place for others. Another successful applicant talked about creating an apprenticeship program for women employees to make the onboarding process more women-friendly in a highly male dominated field sales team (his LOR also substantiated this). Another successful applicant talked about organizing book club events in her US office where books from economically emerging countries were read and discussed to develop deeper perspectives and better inclusion at an extremely diverse workplace.

Profoundly thinking about your actions in hindsight is a great way to uncover aspects of your personality that created a strong impact on people around you. ECs need not necessarily be be about continuous community involvement or hobbies, rather, bringing a unique frame of reference through your occasional but strong stance on issues can also help you make a strong impression.

Regards


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