Plagiarism

Location: On the Internet.

Description: This page shows students how plagiarism can outright ruin your application.

Objectives: Learn why plagiarism is never an option.

Now more than ever, the selective schools are finding too many applicants who want to plagiarize their personal statements. This is unfortunate, because if you review the information on this website and set up a sound strategy, you will plagiarism is both unnecessary and extremely harmful to your admission chances.

Since ethical arguments are not enough to prevent some applicants from plagiarizing, we do have two strong arguments against plagiarism that those tempted should read.

1. You will get caught. The people reading admissions essays read many essays. They also know the examples of essays in the books we've reviewed extremely well. The committee will also realize the essay personality does not match the personality of your other materials.
2. Even a great essay ghost written by someone else will not assist you like a good essay written in your own voice. Everyone applying is their own person and their personal statements should reflect that by pointing out different things. You have your own stories and someone else's stories in your essay will not help you.

Recycling vs. Plagiarism

Some applicants ask us if it is all right to "plagiarize" their personal statements from one application to another. This is not plagiarism. It is recycling your own work and is perfectly ethical. It helps you remain efficient and can be effective.

If the essay is your work feel free to use it for more than one application as long as these criteria are met:

1. Both applications are asking for the same information and analysis.

2. The schools are similar so that what you tell the first school still fits with the second school. Remember that you don't want the school to think you want to attend somewhere else, so the essay should genuinely fit the school.