<p>Hi,
For my college essay, I am considering using a topic I wrote a column in my school newspaper on. The essay would differ quite a lot from my column, but I might reuse a few sentences here and there. Is this unethical? Or is self-plagiarism not really an issue in this instance? For instance, what would happen if the college I'm applying to were to see my column on the same topic. Or, what if my newspaper adviser sees my college essay? Or, conversely, is this not a problem in the least?</p>
<p>Since you are the author, I don’t see how it is plagiarism. But to be on the safe side, talk to you editor to see if he/she is okay with it. Better to cover all your bases.</p>
<p>But it would be self-plagiarism. Is that unethical to do in this instance?</p>
<p>I think it’s fine to copy yourself. Isnt that what recycling essays is all about?</p>
<p>The more important question might be whether or not adcoms would pick up on the “plagiarism” through a tool like Turn It In (not knowing that you were the author of the original article too!)</p>