<p>I'll try to keep this as short as possible..</p>
<p>Me and my "friend" both live in Texas and go to an extremely competitive high school. We both want to go to UT austin, which is pretty brutal if you're out of the top 9% (which we both are out of). So we both need to make the other aspects of our application (besides rank) look amazing. On the June SAT, my friend somehow lucked out and got to sit right next to the smartest kid in our entire school, and they had the SAME test he said. Naturally, I guess he just HAD to cheat off of him.. He couldn't copy the essay, so that brought his writing score down 20 points, down to a freaking 2380. We both naturally score around a 2050, and this was his first time taking the SAT for real. I POURED my summer into ECs and studying for the SAT, and I'll still probably end up with a 2100 or something.. He literally did nothing this summer and is planning on BSing volunteer hours on his application, although he probably doesn't even need to bc that 2380 will most likely get him right in.</p>
<p>I have very mixed feelings about how I should react to this. If I were to rat him out, how would I even go about doing that? Im not sure if I even want to, becuase he would probably just think it's me.. Now I'm going to have to spend a year at the CAP program most likely while he gets straight into my dream school.. Should I just grin and bear it? I know you all will just say "oh well his character will limit him in life and you will eventually pass him", but this is just so frustrating..</p>
<p>I have a hard time believing College Board wouldn’t have picked up on the fact that two kids, sitting next to each other, with the same test, got a 2400 and 2380, especially considering the 2380 shot up from 2050.</p>
<p>If you saw him cheating, you needed to report it at that time. Otherwise, you have no proof. He might have gotten that score on his own. My son did much better than his practice tests, and many years ago, so did I.</p>
<p>Okay, okay. You seem to be in a tough situation. </p>
<p>First off: Are you SURE your friend cheated off the test? Did he tell you?
If you’re absolutely sure, tell someone, such as the counselor. </p>
<p>Second off: Are you sure he is going to “BS” his hours? If he does, that alone ought to be told to the counselor!</p>
<p>If he does ANY of these things, you ought to tell on him. No ifs or buts. Colleges want someone with integrity and honesty. If you work hard for something, then you deserve to take credit for it. If you didn’t, then don’t! (BTW, many schools have honor codes.) Additionally, if you don’t tell on him, then it isn’t just a poor reflection of his character, but of yours as well.</p>
<p>@DolorousEdd. Well it’s been a while since the test, and CB hasn’t contacted him. and as I said in my original post, this was his first REAL test</p>
<p>@cptofthehouse. Yeah I realize I don’t really have a “case” so to speak, against him anymore. But he literally TOLD me that he cheated… I just didnt get mad at him to his face.</p>
<p>@circlemidnight- I know I SHOULD say something… but I barely have a case, and I don’t want him to find out. It’s more complicated than what you’re making it out to be</p>
<p>@enfieldacademy- I didn’t take it in June, but I already am expecting to end up with around a 2100</p>
<p>okay just so everyone stops posting about him “maybe getting the scores honestly”…
He called me that saturday at 3pm… “DUDE I GOT TO SIT NEXT TO SO AND SO, I SO GOT A 2400 AND I BARELY STUDIED OMG…” and I was too angry to even respond…</p>
<p>ok so he cheated. But remember what your dream is: going to UT Austin. Stop thinking about him dude. The more you dwell on this, the more miserable you will feel —> guaranteed. Wake up and figure out a way to realize your dream and the first step is stop thinking about others.</p>
<p>yeah it just really ****es me off… Every time I am studying for the SAT and I get tired of it, I think about how easy he had it… He had thousands of dollars to spend on prep classes and books because he comes from a richer family, yet he never even took advantage of it. I have to buy my OWN prep books… Whatever though. thanks for the advice guys. I’m gonna go study and try to get that 2380 by myself</p>
<p>Dude, if he gets into a school because of that grade, odds are they’re going to challenge him according to that level. And since he actually isn’t 2300+ level, he’s going to fail and crash and burn. Your post assures me that you’re doing the right thing and worrying about yourself!</p>
<p>Even if you were to prove your friend cheated, nobody would give you a free pass to whatever school you’re interested in. Focus on yourself and worry about improving your own application.</p>
<p>@Kali22 I realize it isn’t a guaranteed pass into UTA, but you have to realize that he is just 1 more person ahead of me in the line that shouldn’t be.</p>
and try to get that 2380 by myself</p>