A January 2023 intelligent.com study of 1,600 undergrads found that 61% of students lied on their college application, 39% misrepresented their race or ethnicity, 34% made up stories in their essays, 30% faked their letters of recommendation, and less than one-third of the applicants were caught by an admissions officer.
Because this summer’s Supreme Court ruling banning race-conscious affirmative action across the United States still allows universities to factor in race-related incidents that may have impacted students’ academic journey, I wonder whether we will see a further rise in made-up stories about race or other aspects of the applicant’s identity.
Although such statistics may not be available for a while, we can explore a related issue: Can you accurately identify which application stories are fake and which are true? This will be interesting to consider, so I encourage you to leave your answers in the comment section below!
Without further ado, let’s see if you can identify which narratives are fictional below:
Story 1
Angry Eyes. That was the nickname my friend gave me. She added, “Even when you smile, you look angry.” Though I didn’t pay those remarks much mind initially, I recently pondered how I once did 100 pushups in a night as a skinny twelve-year-old in response to being taunted by a school bully and how picturing that bully’s smug face has fueled two-hour-long workouts for me for the past two years, helping me gain no less than 40 pounds of muscle and spurring my interest in bodybuilding. Maybe I do have some rage in me!
Story 2
“I can hear them,” a teacher told me. “I can hear their whispers, the whispers of spirits you don’t want to antagonize.” He was talking about the little bridge at our high school. To this day, I don’t understand why some people genuinely believe in the existence of ghosts. My aunt is a big believer in astrology. And my dad? He claims he can sense “dark beings” in shady corners of underground parking lots and tree-lined paths. It’s easy to dismiss these beliefs as superstition, but what really intrigues me is the psychological explanation behind such beliefs as well as how the philosophy of science might distinguish between science and pseudoscience.
Story 3
The summer before my junior year, I stumbled upon an old marble chessboard tucked deep inside a closet. Initially, it was just a way to pass time, but soon, the game became an obsession. I spent evenings deciphering strategies from books and challenging my father, a seasoned player. My biggest test came during a local tournament. Though I didn’t win, that tournament ignited a confidence in me. Chess became more than a game; it was a metaphor for life, teaching me that even in defeat, there’s a lesson to be learned. This experience not only honed my analytical skills but also inspired me to join the school’s chess club, where I now help younger students develop their strategies and love for the game.
Story 4
Last spring, I found myself volunteering at the local animal shelter, at first just to fulfill my school’s community service requirement. However, what started as an obligation quickly turned into a heartfelt commitment. I remember the first day I met Max, a timid, abandoned Labrador mix. His fearful eyes and hesitant demeanor reminded me of my own struggles with shyness. Day by day, I worked with Max, helping him gain confidence through gentle care and training sessions. As I watched Max slowly transform into a playful and trusting dog, I realized the impact of patience and empathy. This experience not only deepened my love for animals but also inspired me to start a pet adoption awareness campaign in my school. I learned that making a small difference in one life can spark a larger change, and this lesson has stayed with me, shaping my aspirations to work in animal welfare.
Your Thoughts?
So, which stories do you think are fictional? Which are real? Let me know what you think in the comment section, where I will reveal the answers! Better yet, write your own (fake or real) stories and post them in the comments or on you blog, and let me see if I can distinguish make-believe from authentic!
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