<p>I'm applying for this outside scholarship and I've already completed most of the documents required. I decided to apply for it because I noticed the essay prompt was something like "write about a person who has influenced you and how." I was pleased because I've already written an essay about a family member as my college application essay (and have even won some generous scholarships because of this essay, I assume). It wasn't until I re-read the prompt JUST NOW, that I saw the essay cannot be about a family member. So...here are my options:
1) Submit another essay I wrote earlier on the same subject - however, it's a cheesy load of crap.
2) Submit this essay but tweak it so that the individual is a person I know (or close friend) rather than a family member. <--Basically, lie
3) Write another essay (deadline is VERY soon...so I may not have time to do this)</p>
<p>If I choose option 2, will the colleges I've sent this essay to find out and like...blacklist me when they see that I lied? It's the same essay, just the person's relationship to me will be different. I looked at the scholarship website and it didn't say that they will post the essays online, but you never know. As of now, I don't see the harm in tweaking the facts since the influence on me is the same...I'm not saying that I've won 8000 awards or anything to my benefit.
Thank you very much!</p>
<p>Technically, it’s not a piece of fiction…the content is basically the same. But yeah, maybe tweaking it isn’t such a good idea =/
Option one will be VERY hard to change…it’s a generic “I was lonely and scared and she helped me overcome my fears.” Bland content.</p>
<p>yeah, sounds boring just by that description. So I’d guess a bit of “embellishment” on how this or another person helped you might be necessary.</p>
<p>Yeah >< But the problem is, it’s very hard to embellish an essay that’s already cliche. If I tweak my relative one, would it wrong and dishonest? Will colleges and other places I’ve submitted this essay to know?</p>
<p>The bottom line here is that the original essay is about a family member…and the essay isn’t supposed to have a family member as the subject. ‘Tweaking’ it to make it sound like it ISN’T a relative would, in my mind, be dishonest. </p>
<p>Will the other colleges know? I can’t answer that. But YOU will know. And you have to decide if you can live with that if you win the scholarship.</p>
<p>I’d say that 1 and 3 are your only ethical options. Whether you will be caught if you submit a dishonest essay is not a “moral” dilemma - I think you already know the morality involved here.</p>
<p>the world is very small. Keep in mind willful misrepresentation can be grounds to have your admissions rescinded. If you willfully misrepresent yourself on the scholarship applications, what is to stop the organization from bringing criminal charges of fraud on you? the least of your problems is that you will be responsible for repaying the money</p>
<p>It’s clear you already know the answer to your question or you wouldn’t have asked it in the first place. Submit an honest piece of work that you can hold your head up about.</p>
<p>You’re right…even if I win, I wouldn’t be happy. I’m going to just edit my first essay then. Even though it’s cliche, hopefully it’ll shine through! If I don’t win, at least I won’t feel guilty for the rest of my life haha. Thanks a lot you guys!</p>