Yikes, I did a quick Google. That’s insane. Kids today are under too much pressure.
@lindyk8 I think it’s safe to assume that, if they found duplication, they wouldn’t discard both applications, as surely one person copied the other. They wouldn’t condemn the individual who was plagiarized, they would condemn the plagiarizer.
And, even if they were to condemn both: the individual who was plagiarized could easily contact them and appeal their decision.
But there’s no way that they would turn away a worthy applicant because their personal statement was stolen.
That’s a jump, @goldencub. If you’re both borderline and they’re swamped, you really don’t know what they might do. Either way, why put yourself in that position?
Also…
Only five UCs read the PS as part of the transfer application: Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, Merced and Irvine.
Here’s a hypothetical:
Applicant 1 (with the real essay) applies to Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, UCSB and UCD.
Applicant 2 (who steals idea) applies to UCD, UCSB, UCR, Irvine and Merced.
There is no overlap of campuses reading the essay, which means he will not be caught. The applicant doesn’t even have to rewrite the idea. He could just cut and paste.
@lindyk8 From Boalt: “While review by others is acceptable, your personal statement and any other accompanying document must be uniquely your own. If you plagiarize all or part of your personal statement, or intentionally misstate anything in your application, you may be disqualified for admission.”
I may be wrong, but UC’s go to great lengths not only to condemn academic dishonesty, but promote academic honesty. Consequently, I see no possibility of their condemning an individual whose work was stolen; it is not only illogical, but is contradictory to what the university (and their holistic admissions process) represents. But I may be incorrect, and human error may come into play - still, if one were to be wrongfully condemned, they have an excellent case to appeal.
But still, it is true that one should avoid placing themselves in that position.
Interesting comments from Boalt admissions officers on the law school PS (that people should consider when writing their undergrad PS): https://www.law.berkeley.edu/admissions/applying-for-jd-degree/preparing-to-apply/personal-statement-and-resume/
Another thing - cause I’m on a roll: it might not be an idea, it might be the sentences. So you both have exactly word for word the same ending paragraph. What they’ll most likely think is you both plagiarized from an online essay, or one from a book.
@lindyk8 Good points.
My friends always say I should have been a detective because I go through every angle, whether it be a murder or a college essay, haha.
Wait, UC Davis doesn’t read the personal statement?
I read the Boalt page and disagree with so many things the former essay reader said, there’s no place to start.
One example: if you start with a grabber sentence it is clear you were coached and should be instantly disqualified.
Really?
That was a statement so over the top, all I can say is it’s a good thing that someone so judgmental and blatantly misusing their position is no longer reading for them.
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@boxandwhiskers not for the application. They all do for scholarship potential, though.
OT a bit: @goldencub, as I recall, you are thinking of law school. You might find this discussion helpful: