<p>So I emailed my essay to my friend (let's call him friend A) for editing. Apparently friend A sent it to his other friend (friend B) as a good example. </p>
<p>Friend B is apparently very competitive, to the point that he would be willing to sabotage others. He said he was threatened by my strong app and was going to create an additional, bogus account under his friend's name (friend C) and send in the exact same essay I wrote along with some of the same EC's I have on the fake, friend C application (I think friend A told friend B about some of the things I did). Friend B thinks that will sabotage me and eliminate some competition for him. </p>
<p>I'm afraid the colleges will think I'm plagiarizing and that my EC's are less unique. Friend C will probably not be accepted due to low SAT scores, lack of academic rigor, and low GPA. However, the fact that someone will be using the same essay that I will really scares me. I spent a lot of time coming up with something that unique and of that caliber -- I definitely don't want to have my chances ruined because the adcoms think I'm copying someone.</p>
<p>My question is whether or not there's anything I can do about it. Should I just take my loss and write another essay? Or can I send a letter of explanation to the colleges explaining the sabotage? If I do, how would I word it so as not to sound like I'm blindly accusing friend B without evidence?</p>
<p>your friend B is probably just screwing with your head. they would have to spend a lot of money to send extra standardized test scores and submit a new common application- which it would take a while to fill out, plus they would risk serious trouble for both themselves and your friend c if they were to get caught. if i were you i would tell friend c about this plan, as i bet they would object to having their name on a fraudulent application (that i dont think will even ever come into existence because no one is that vindictive).</p>
<p>But suppose it is? Friend B is by no means poor, and it’s definitely within reason for him to afford sending the app to 4 or 5 colleges. I don’t think friend C has very high hopes anyway, so he wouldn’t be hurt by this (I don’t even know him – just that he’s not very competitive in the college admissions game). </p>
<p>I sincerely hope that they’re just trying to mess with me, but in the case that it is true, is there anything I can do?</p>
<p>talk to the friend first, and help him realize the magnitude of the situation. Then if that doesn’t work, I would talk to my guidance counselor. Wouldn’t he need a letter of recommendation from the guidance counselor anyways? Besides, the guidance counselor could probably put a stop to it, if you can’t.</p>
<p>I’m just friends with friend A. The others aren’t my friends.</p>
<p>Does this kind of stuff make it into the counselor rec? I thought that rec was just used for administrative purposes. What would I tell my counselor anyway?</p>
<p>Don’t worry about it. The application will not be read until it is complete, and it will never be complete. How will he send in test scores, transcripts and recommendations for a fictitious person? Will he go take SATs and SAT IIs and spend the money and time? how will he get the GC to cooperate by sending a fake transcript,etc. it’s not going to happen. </p>
<p>BUT I sure wouldn’t discuss any college appllication plans or strategies with any of this group in the future. Apply where you want and how you want and worry about your application only. Just think…if they are spending so much time and effort on stupid plots like this, it’s less time and effort spent honing their own applications.</p>
<p>Friend C is not a fictitious person. Friend B is using him to send the application. Friend C did go through high school/take the SATs. His scores are just too low to make him a serious candidate for the schools I’m applying to. However, the adcoms will still see the same essay…</p>
<p>I view this as C doing a favor for B, who is the only one to benefit from this. B is just covering the financial cost of sending all the apps. However C will request all the test scores, transcripts, recs, etc. to submit (along with my essay) on his own.</p>
<p>Does friend C go to your school? Did friend B tell you, or friend A, of his plan?</p>
<p>If you, I’d go to your GC and say, “I know I’m probably being paranoid here, but I sent a copy of my essay to a friend for editing. Apparently, that friend sent it to someone else as an example of a good essay, and now that person is threatening to use it against me. Now, maybe he’s just messing with my head, but I’m really worried about it. Would it be possible for him to pay a friend to submit my essay as his own, thereby raising the issue of possible plagiarism? How can I protect myself?”</p>
<p>See what he/she says. Don’t mention names just yet as you have no proof of anything happening, just a threat. Do this immediately so that you’re on record first should something come of this.</p>
<p>Call up the school and if that doesn’t work just beat the **** out of friend B until he can’t even walk anymore, let’s see how well that college diploma will help him without his legs.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the advice. I talked to my counselor today, and she said she would talk to friend B and C, arranging a meeting between parents if necessary, to discuss the situation. She was reassuring, and I feel better knowing I can work with her on the matter.</p>