I lied on college application

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
1

<p>Hello, please tell me what i should do. Thanks!</p>

<p>I am an international student from Asia. I graduated high school in June 2011, took the
local college entrance exam at the end of July and got into a pretty good local university.
I enrolled in the local university at the beginning of September, but i have always wanted
to come to US for college. I did not go to an international school, so I was unfamiliar with
the application process. Thus, i hired a counselor to help me with the applications. Her job was to inform me about the deadlines, required documents, and check my essays. </p>

<p>When i was filling out the application, i was asked to explain what i did after graduating
high school. Here, I lied. I told them i was accepted by the local university, but chose not
to attend, in fact I did. </p>

<p>The reason why I lied was that my parents really wanted me to attend the local university, but i wanted to try for US colleges, I had to enroll in the local university. If i don't, I might have no school to go to, because it's not guaranteed that I will get into the US colleges I applied. I did not think much about it, and I made a mistake.</p>

<p>I wasn't trying to cover up my grades or anything, because it was November when I submitted the application, only two months into the local university I attended, midterms didn't even start yet. </p>

<p>I got accepted in the school I wanted, and now I go there. But a few days ago, I visited my
school's website. And I discovered this "You cannot disregard your college record and apply as a freshman." i found out that I WASN'T EVEN ELIGIBLE TO APPLY</p>

<p>So, long story short, I lied on my college application that I did not attend a college, while in fact I did, but was only there for two months. The reason I lied was that I didn't want to give up my local university when I try out for US college. I DID NOT KNOW I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY. IF I KNEW I WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY ASKED MY COUNSELOR AND DECIDED NOT TO APPLY.</p>

<p>This is hard for me, because I do not deserve to be here. I love this school a lot. But I lied on application. I am thinking about confessing and explaining to my school.
What punishment do you think I will get?
Should I confess?</p>

2

<p>Take it easy. Now you are at your desired place. Why do want to confess all this when there isn’t any problem?</p>

3

<p>No.
I don’t see how they would possibly find out since you alr studying there.
The university doesn’t have the time to background check on every student.</p>

4

<p>I just felt that it is really wrong to lie on college application.
And my accomplishments that follow my college degree would all be based on a lie.
Nothing happened. But if i do get caught it could be a waste of four years in my life and
the tuition i have paid.</p>

5

<p>If you only attended the local college for 2 months, did you even receive any credit hours?</p>

6

<p>You’re in your second year at the US university, and you’re worried about this now? I would let this sleeping dog lie.</p>

7

<p>I did, but on my application i completely disregarded the credits. I don’t even want them.</p>

8

<p>I am in my first year. I don’t know it just seems wrong, although I heard a lot of people do this, too. I wonder if someone ever get caught and got kicked out?</p>

9

<p>Honestly your set. You didnt intentionally lie. If you confess you will be in a bigger mess. Just let it die out.</p>

10

<p>i see, thanks everyone!</p>

11

<p>Wow. Worst advice I’ve ever seen on CC. </p>

<p>We used to have a little thing here stateside we like to call integrity. I don’t mean to be harsh, but the fact that you’re asking this question at this time indicates that you’re really troubled, and can use some honest advice.</p>

<p>I’m sure some cultural differences are at play. You stated that you engaged a counselor to help with the application process. I can only assume that you would like to conveniently lay some blame at her feet, but that’s not the way it works. You signed your name to the application – that is your bond. It cannot be dispatched to a third party. You are completely and totally responsible for the application.</p>

<p>You are an adult, and everyone makes mistakes. My view is that you should approach the school (Dean of Academic Affairs) and clearly and honestly explain what happened. It will be a freeing event for you regardless of the outcome. I would expect that most if not all schools would take no action.</p>

<p>The schools have these policies to make the admissions process fair for everyone. You technically took a place at the institution that was intended for a true freshman. You most likely would have been accepted as a transfer student as well. It is for this reason that you should come clean and face it head-on. It will only make it easier for you to do the right thing as time goes on. The converse is also true.</p>

<p>Good luck and remember that free advice is worth about what you pay for it.</p>

12

<p>@schoolfym
There is a simple difference between integrity and stupidity. If you examine the morality of the situation, the student did not commit an act with intent to deceive, and furthermore was obviously well qualified to attend wherever she/he was accepted. The idea that the student should throw away his/her future over some misguided moral beacon of light is absurd. </p>

<p>@shuuemura
While a little guilt is natural in a situation you could potentially be found at fault for, in this case you need not worry. You did not act unethically, and your repentance is evidence inherent of your good intentions. Your risk of discovery is approximately 0. Please graduate.</p>

13

<p>@schoolfym
Everything you said is true, and i completely agree with you. When i signed i clearly stated that i told the absolute truth in the application, however I lied. I don’t want to look back on my life and wish I had done the right thing, which is to confess and accept whatever outcome. Even if i graduated, my success that comes after the degree would be based on a lie. I really wanted to confess but everyone around me(my family and some friends) suggest that i do nothing. </p>

<p>@TuftsFrosh
Thank you for the reply, I truly appreciate it. But what if they find out? I mean chances are slim but there is this possibility. I heard the punishment is immediate dismissal if they found that students lied about something that determines whether they get in. And clearly that is my case because I wasn’t even eligible to apply. What do you think of this? Do i take the risk? </p>

<p>Again thanks very much for your advice. Huge help for me. I am still very troubled.</p>

14

<p>If the first school had been in the US, chances of being found out would be higher, especially if you had applied for financial aid along the way. But, with the first being international, it seems to me that the chances of discovery are relatively remote. That leaves you with a straightforward, but difficult, moral dilemma. </p>

<p>I concur with the thought that your current school is likely to take no action at all if you disclose this to them voluntarily (unless your grades were so low that they would have affected your admissions decision). I also agree that you should disclose this because it is the right thing to do.</p>

15

<p>@niceday
Thank you for replying!
You said that this is a straightforward, but difficult moral dilemma. Very true. I have now decided to approach the school, since it is the right thing to do. I guess even if I get kicked out I will still be proud I did the right thing. I shouldn’t have lied in the first place. Thank you for understanding and your advice is a big help!</p>

16

<p>I agree with the recommendation to meet with the appropriate dean. I honestly can’t see any other way to right the wrong.</p>

17

<p>Personally, I don’t see any reason why you should confess now. There is no silver lining in getting expelled yourself. It won’t help anyone. If you feel guilty, remember, guilt fades overtime…</p>

<p>But, of course, whatever you see best and find more suitable.</p>