Been working on Common App and some college essays this summer and I haven’t been able to come up with a real idea/experience that truly defines me in the way I’d like to be seen so I just made one up. I mean, there’s no way anyone would know that I’m lying if it’s not too bizarre? I’ve been told by my english teachers and others that lying on college essays isn’t helpful and that writing straight from actual events/beliefs will come more naturally and show “myself on paper.” Is it alright to lie on college essays?
Duh. No. If it comes out, you will lose any acceptances you may gain from it. Colleges often talk to GCs, and a GC might follow up on something that sounded off to them. Stop trying so hard. A small thing can be turned into a very strong essay. Maybe you need someone else who knows you pretty well to brainstorm ideas with you (or several people).
No, it is not OK to lie. Often times the best college essays are written about the mundane things in your life. Don’t try so hard to make yourself into someone you are not. It’s not worth it. For example, a when my older D was applying, she wrote an essay about being horrible at directions (North, south, east, west). It was very clever, yet spoke to something in her every day life.
My brother wrote one of his college essays years ago (i think it was common app) on how he likes to wear sweater vests (and how kids made fun of him for it but he didn’t care). He got accepted everywhere he applied (granted, for music) and it was an excellent essay.
Seriously, you can write your essay on pretty much anything. You just need to find the right topic for you. Don’t lie; the possible consequences are not worth the risk.
I say go for it if you think it’ll lead to a better essay. As long as you don’t write about something extremely noteworthy, there’s practically no chance anyone will find out.
The thing is: you’re NOT showing yourself. You’re showing a fictional character. Why? Aren’t you worthy of being admitted the way you are??
OF COURSE you are. You simply haven’t put in the time to find the right essay. Write about YOU-- the YOU that your mom and dad and best friends all adore.
Even if you never get caught, this will haunt you. Don’t lie. You’re above that.
@maaz97, with all due respect, you are way off base.
i totally agree with bjkmom. Even if u succeed in fooling your essay examiners, the guilt of not writing your own essay will haunt you, especially if you get selected in a school with that essay. keep brainstorming, or seek help in jotting down small ideas effectively, but DO NOTBE FAKE…
Better to write well about something mundane than try to fake it. Most hs kids simply don’t have the ability, the life or writing experience, to fake well. It comes out like some hs assignment to copy another writer’s style. And that’s no help.