I don’t usually post on college confidential… but this seems like something y’all would know how to handle. I found out a few days ago (because she showed me her essays) that a girl at my school applied to a top ten school that asks an essay question about diversity. She wrote an entire essay about being a minority and facing discrimination in her daily life. Here’s the problem: she is not a minority. I don’t know what I should do about it. Also, just to dispel any concern before it comes up: I already got into my dream school and am not applying or know anyone else who is applying to this college. I just don’t want her to be taking the place of a person who has actually experienced discrimination.
You don’t really know that she did this. You didn’t “find out” unless you’ve actually read the application. MYOB.
She showed me her essays.
I mean, this really isn’t your problem. Like you said, you already got into your college. I’d just stay out of it and let the college deal with the problem. If they find out she’s lying, they won’t admit her.
I find it difficult to believe that she could actually succeed in being accepted to a top-10 as a minority just because she makes that claim in her essay. One of the things that they do in these schools is to really delve into the applications of those who are short listed. If her minority status becomes a deciding factor in admissions, I’m pretty sure that the admissions people would verify that she is a minority by contacting her school, etc. For example, if her story of daily racial discrimination is not mentioned in her letters of recommendation, I would think that would be a major red flag. If she didn’t participate in any activities related to her minority group throughout high school, that would also be a red flag. After all, extensive extracurricular activities are important if you want to be competitive for these schools, and social activity is almost a requirement. So if she, say, claims that she’s Hispanic, but she has never participated in any Hispanic club or any activity related to Hispanic issues, that would be VERY suspicious.
I’m absolutely sure that she is not the first who has attempted to lie about their minority status on their applications. If it were that easy to do that and succeed in increasing your chances, it would be extremely common. To be successful, you’d need to create an entire new persona, including social activities, and your school need to back you up on it. Harvard is NOT the Spokane NAACP.
It’s strange that she would show you her essays if they contain obvious and significant falsehoods.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Closing thread as there is nothing left to say. It’s not your concern, and any college will view an attempt by a student to “inform” them about another student’s “discrepancies” as a sabotage attempt. If she shared her essays to one of her recommenders, then they can deal with it.
Additionally, unless you were there when she hit submit, you don’t know that this is the version she submitted or if she was yanking your chain. Assume, if true, that AOs are experienced enough to see through.