I Cheated, Can I write about it?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>I once cheated on something but I later told on myself for it. I could have had something written on my permanent record but my guidance counselor an teacher fought against it. I just failed the thing I cheated on and got a slightly lower term grade.</p>

<p>Can I write about it for MIT's "end of the world" essay? I learned from the experience, and I'm not a frequent cheater and I could have gotten away with cheating and winning an award easily. If I write an essay about how I cheated and what I later learned from it, would MIT tell every school about me and automatically reject me? I know schools don't want cheaters.</p>

<p>It's not like I don't have a life story either, mine is probably among the top 99.99+ percentile in strangeness. Everyone who's read one of my other essays says it's unique, so I'm not trying to artificially be different. I want to be honest with MIT, but CC has taught me that getting into colleges is like a game. I don't want to be rejected from every school because I make the wrong move. Do you think MIT will understand? Would you?</p>

2

<p>No. Definitely do NOT write about that, although I can see why you'd think it's a good idea. </p>

<p>Honestly, colleges don't look much at the essays anyway... but if they skim over yours and see cheating, they'll reject you.</p>

3

<p>^that response was a bit too opinionated.</p>

<p>if it happened a while ago, and you're SURE you can write a great essay on how you learned from it, I don't see why not. however, it's a risky topic, and I think it's not worth it unless you've got it all thought out. ask your guidance counselor</p>

4

<p>"I want to be honest with MIT, but CC has taught me that getting into colleges is like a game."</p>

<p>Ugh, and therein lies the problem with this website.</p>

<p>(As for the original question: It is a risky topic, and I'm honestly unsure. No thoughtful advice from me.)</p>

5

<p>Cheat once, cheat again. Same with things like drug abuse. Do you want them to deny you because you are being honest? You learned something good from it, but that doesn't mean it would reflect well on you for the future. </p>

<p>I wouldn't bring it up, no matter how great an essay you think it will be. Find something else to write about. If you are as unique as you say you are, you will find a topic that will define you in a much more helpful way.</p>

<p>Do you want the buzzword that the adcoms are throwing around when they discuss your file to be the "cheater"? Or would you rather be the Violinist? World Traveller? Journalist? Or Chemist? Or whatever it is that makes you special. See what I mean?</p>

6

<p>In my opinion, go for it as long as you thoroughly explain the learning process and why you would never do it again.</p>

7

<p>What about stuff like "I went against guidance's advice..." It does show risk-taking</p>

<p>Would that be risky?</p>

8

<p>PM this question to MOLLIEBATMIT, she will certainly have truthful advice for it.</p>

9

<p>I would say it would depend on how serious the cheating was and what type of cheating. ie if you hooked up the internet to your glasses and looked up help during the SATs that I would leave out. but if it was that you looked at your friends test during a biology chapter test, that might not be extreme enough to be worthy of an essay written about how you felt it was the end of the world. I think though, it would be a good idea b/c they want you to be honest. THey'd be like wow this kid's honest, lets let him in! <--lol</p>

10

<p>"Honestly, colleges don't look much at the essays anyway... but if they skim over yours and see cheating, they'll reject you."</p>

<p>i disagree - the essays are a very important part of the application</p>

11

<p>Samurai, how do you have so many posts?</p>

12

<p>Keep weird uncle Fred in the closet. Only when you're "married" introduce him to the new family.</p>

13

<p>I would like to know if any of the people telling you to "go for it" are adults. I can tell you, as a middle-aged person, that this would be a bad idea for an essay. Don't do it.</p>

14

<p>The general consensus seems to be: no, I should not send this essay. Thank you everyone.</p>