<p>I continue to be saddened by the idea that reporting something like this is “wrong.” What is “wrong” about telling somebody else that they are being lied to? How bad does the behavior have to be before it’s not “wrong” to report it? In my opinion, if somebody is lying on college applications and gets found out, she has nobody to blame but herself, no matter who turned her in or what their motivation was.</p>
<p>There’s nothing wrong about reporting a fellow student’s dishonesty. But rumors aren’t nearly enough to go on – if you’re going to make an accusation this damning, you need to be 100% sure.</p>
<p>“The truth is… the person who gets in by lying will ultimately feel the burn when the realize that they had to cheat to get in. Snitching is not a good thing to do because two wrongs never did, and never will make a right.”</p>
<p>The problem with that is that I have never seen that actually be true. I know plenty of people who chronically cheat on tests and essays who never get caught, and probably never will. And I can see someone getting burned if they found a way to lie about their grades or SAT’s because that is somewhat of an indicator if they will be successful at the college, but just because they lie about an ec I don’t understand how they’ll ever be burned.</p>
<p>"I know plenty of people who chronically cheat on tests and essays who never get caught, and probably never will. "</p>
<p>That’s because no one has the guts to turn them in. However, I’ve seen cheaters get punished because someone (who did remain anonymous) turned them in.</p>
<p>As for what the OP has described, I don’t see any evidence that the OP or anyone else knows the student lied on her apps. It could be a baseless rumor. Sometimes students think it’s funny to lie about what they did on their apps. I truly doubt that any who is saying she lied actually saw the application.</p>
<p>When I was in h.s., there was a rumor that a smart, but B- average student had gotten 5 800s on SAT I and SAT II tests. This was back in the days when getting even one 800 was very rare. </p>
<p>Years later, it dawned on me that it’s highly unlikely that that student had gotten 5 800s or even one 800 (something even our Ivy-bound valedictorian didn’t get). If he had, that would have been a front page story in our small town newspaper and probably would have made the state news, too.</p>
<p>I bet, though, that he and his friends who spread the rumor had a lot of fun watching all of the students who fell for it.</p>
<p>Making a false/baseless accusation is by FAR a greater sin/more immoral/more unethical/more unjust. </p>
<p>Self-righteousness, 9 times out of 10, is just a cover for something (jealousy/envy) or an excuse for something (vindictiveness).</p>
<p>who said that snitching has to be bad? if someone’s lies puts him/her at an arguably unfair advantage over my own chances of being accepted to the same college(s), you better believe that i’m reporting it! i don’t see anything wrong about that.</p>
<p>can we get back to the point? im not going to turn her in but im wondering if ivy league schools or small liberal arts schools might catch her and what will happen if they do? cause im not going to snitch</p>
<p>like others have said, being a snitch is not bad, but the OP cannot simply do it off of rumors. THat would be very unfair to the accused.</p>
<p>To your question, I also think it will be unlikely the person will be caught. Just think, adcoms read sooo many apps everyday, and there is definitely not enough time to check up on everything. Of course, if something is blatantly fishy, then it might raise an eyebrow. If a person is indeed caught, then I am sure the app will immediately be thrown out, unless the applicant is able to give a legitimate reasoning if the case is a misunderstanding. The school may also inform the HS that the applicant has lied, which can lead to many more problems. But like I said, I doubt the person will be caught.</p>
<p>If I have “beyond a reasonable doubt” evidence that someone cheats, then I will turn the individual in. This is is not about morality, jealousy, envy, or “I’m better than you,” nonsense. It’s about me. I don’t want to work harder than necessary to compensate for cheaters. Every time someone cheats, he is making it harder for me to compete at the same level. I would have either have to cheat, turn him in, or suck it up and work harder. If I cheat, I would have to take a risk hoping I won’t get caught; and if caught, all the benefits gained might be for not. If I suck it up and work harder, the cheating will affect me negatively because I have to spend extra energy while the cheater has gone on to something else leaving me behind. But if I turn the individual in, I’m taking no risk, I don’t have to spend extra energy, I can leave the individual behind to take punishment while I spend more time getting ahead. It’s a win-win from an economic point of view. Adam Smith would be proud. I have turned in cheaters for my own benefits, even it has no perceivable direct effect on me–just like the invisible hand, you don’t know how it might affect you in the long run, so why take the risk.</p>
<p>Is this moral? Ha, no. Neither is cheating. If you want to cheat, be prepare to meet SOBs like me who will have no qualm about turning you for their own advancement–who, frankly, do no care if you’ve made a career of cheating, or that this is the first moment of weakness in a virtuous life. Of course, slander is not being advocated here. Slander is too inefficient, might make too many unnecessary enemies, and it’s not a sustainable tool.</p>
<p>I think the only reason I’d “snitch” is if the person lied and put that he/she had one of MY positions. lol</p>
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<p>My friend admitted that she lied in her essay (she wrote about an experience that never happened), and that one of her teachers lied in their recommendation. She got into her ED school. It happens. :(</p>
<p>HAHA IF U SNITCH… that would suck big time</p>
<p>" Self-righteousness, 9 times out of 10, is just a cover for something (jealousy/envy) or an excuse for something (vindictiveness). "</p>
<p>HELL YES! And it’s <em>SO</em> prevalent on this forum.</p>
<p>Here’s something to think about. Perhaps the person is lying about their lying. They want to seem edgy/above-the-rules.</p>
<p>She said she was president of an actual club? What if the real president applies to the same school??? What kind of genius plan is that?? It’s one thing to enhance your activites and to flat out lie. I’d be way too worried to do it.</p>
<p>I think that at a certain point, adcoms can discern between fakes and authentic stuff. I mean, they’re not stupid. They’re THE PROffesionals at college apps. If the overall feel of the application follows the ECs, etc, then chances of getting caught would be pretty low. But for example, if you said that you were president of the Math club, and you math grade was like a B, red flags go up</p>
<p>PS: It really is a dilemma. I’m in my junior year, but next year, if somebody did something like that, especially to a club I’m leading, I’d be mad as hell. Even worse, imagine if that person is your best friend, and that he/she got in, but you didn’t.</p>
<p>My school gave out an additional transcript for EC, and our clubs award certificates for every achievement tht stands out, like u took part in tht charity event, etc. And the school makes sure all of tht is sent out to college. It will be a thick envelope for each student. I am no president or even vc but I did some community service tht I am happy about and I have certificates in honor for tht.</p>
<p>" Self-righteousness, 9 times out of 10, is just a cover for something (jealousy/envy) or an excuse for something (vindictiveness). "</p>
<p>Jealousy of what? That he/she is a lesser person because they don’t have a decent moral code? </p>
<p>Things like this are just disappointing to hear about. Personally, I’d hope that humanity had a better sense of what’s right and wrong than this.</p>
<p>I think the honor code that exists at the military academies should hold for all of life. It works. It helps everyone. Honesty is severly underrated in society.</p>
<p>I agree with the poster that said it is in ALL our interests to report cheaters, including the reporter. Pick off cheaters just like wolves pick off old, weak and sick elk… makes the entire herd stronger.</p>
<p>ummmmmm dont cheat</p>