<p>You have got to be kidding me. You are facing no moral dilemma so stop pretending that you are. Honestly, you have nothing to do with this case so stop acting like the policeman. That is not your job.</p>
<p>I have to disagree with Gazette: you certainly do have a moral dilemma. "The only thing necessary for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing." However, as noted, the problem in your situation is that you have no proof. </p>
<p>If you do want to do something, report this to your high school's guidance department. They can do some sort of investigation, and if proof results, they can notify the appropriate colleges.</p>
<p>Your reporting to the colleges will do nothing, because colleges do not have the resources to investigate.</p>
<p>In my mind, yes, cheating happens...minor, major...we all know it goes on, and that's bad enough. What might be worse is an atmosphere in which cheaters feel that their behavior is so acceptable that they can brag about it without even worrying that anyone will act.</p>
<p>No, I'm not saying that the OP needs to start patrolling the school...not even that he has to act on this particular issue. I just can't stand the overall laissez-faire attitude--the one that would lead someone to respond to the OP's confusion with "Get a life," the one that led the OP's friends not to see a problem with writing an essay for someone else, or the one that fuels so many "Get over it...everybody cheats" posts. "Everybody" does not cheat.</p>
<p>I don't know whether or not the OP has the right or the responsibility to act in this situation, but he certainly has fair reason to feel confused.</p>
<p>"...he'll pay for it someday."
"Karma will catch up with him one day."</p>
<p>Uh...why not today? What's the difference? I'm always boggled whenever I read this argument. For people who say that he'll eventually get caught due to his own incompetence, what makes this situation different than any potential scenario?</p>
<p>Getting caught is beneficial to the cheater in some twisted way because it shows them there are consequences. Unfortunately for whatever reason they haven't been caught earlier (where punishment would have been relatively minor compared to now) but the longer you let them go, the more serious it will be when they are caught for it. </p>
<p>Zero on an assignment versus failing grade, failing grade versus rejection from one college, rejection from one college versus getting expelled from college for academic dishonesty, expulsion versus career & legal issues. People who say it's so horrible to report him, and to wait for some other force to do it, actually seems more sadistic.</p>
<p>The problem is that the OP doesn't really have proof that his friend's essay wasn't written by his friend.</p>
<p>The nonexistent leadership positions, however, could be something that the OP could let the colleges know about. However for the colleges to take this seriously, the OP should report this using the OP's name. Presumably that may cause the colleges to verify the info with the GC.</p>
<p>"However, what has been more serious is how much he cheats. He rarely does homework and almost always copies it from someone else. But that's not what I'm whining about as that is quite prevalent in most schools anyway." </p>
<p>" I thought he would have had the moral aptitude to truthfully complete college apps, but he even failed to do that. This is what I'm disappointed about. He lied about some portions on his activities log, claiming leadership positions he's never had. But here's the real shocker: He didn't even write his own essay. "</p>
<p>It's funny that these things are persistent everywhere. I would just ignore it and let karma come back to haunt him in the future. I hope that the college you will be going will be smart enough to eliminate as many people like him and with the above description so that they can create a smart and "morally-ethical" student body for their own sakes. Things like this happen all the time+teachers will ignore it once they feel that a large percentage of the class is involved because it hurts their reputation as well as the students+all you can do is send in an e-mail to college telling them that xyz student may have faked his ECs and hope that they will verify. I wouldn't worry too much about it. There will always be scumbags like that in college. Just less at some and more at others.</p>
<p>"However, what has been more serious is how much he cheats. He rarely does homework and almost always copies it from someone else. But that's not what I'm whining about as that is quite prevalent in most schools anyway." </p>
<p>Anyone who helped him cheat or who knew about his cheating and didn't turn him in helped him get into whatever colleges that will accept him.</p>
<p>What students don't seem to realize is that if they close their eyes to cheating, cheaters win. By ignoring cheating, students also give cheaters the message that it's fine to cheat. In general, teachers can't catch cheaters unless other students speak up.</p>
<p>And, by being friends with a cheater, you are also telling the cheater that your values are the same as theirs.</p>
<p>What seems to be lacking is more information regarding why his friend helped him? Maybe this student realized he had been a major screw up and wants a chance to change his ways.Maybe he went to his friend to ask for a second chance. Does he have personal issues at home?</p>
<p>What difference does it make why the friend helped him? It still was cheating. THere are ways of helping someone with an essay without writing it for them. If a person has such problems that they can't do their college application, they need to address those problems because they certainly won't be able to do their college assignments unless those problems are addressed.</p>
<p>yes it is cheating but the OPs word is only hearsay and the applicant can easily deny it... there is no proof, except some cheaters talking about it, but they can just say, oh we were kidding, or oh, that guy who reported on us is just a liar.</p>
<p>And what is ironic is that this kid cheated all this time and NOW it suddenly matters as some moral dilemma...why now?</p>
<p>who cares. you're not his friend if you're willing to ruin his life</p>
<p>
[quote]
He lied about some portions on his activities log, claiming leadership positions he's never had.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>For those saying that the essay portion can't be proved (which they're probably right), this portion can most certainly be proved.</p>
<p>Honestly, like Student615, I don't like the laissez-faire attitude either. If someone is dishonest on their college app, it can come back to haunt them 20 years later when the college finds out and that person has their degree revoked and their employment terminated, thus ruining their life completely, and as FemmeFatale said, the consequences get worse as time goes on, so it's best for that person to find out now that cheating is just flat out wrong.</p>
<p>I'd tell them about the activities part, and just reporting that part will enable you to report on the essay part if you so choose, because the college will be more inclined to believe you.</p>
<p>Don't get me wrong I don't condone cheating either. However, that being said I had a friend in high school that did something similar. It turned out that the "jerk" came from a broken home life and nobody knew it. Some one helped him on his application . HE is now a respected pediatrician thanks to a friend who helped him out. That's right I was the helper not the helpee!!</p>
<p>Helping someone on their application would be fine. "Helping" could be suggesting essay topics, reading an essay over to see if it seemed to meet the application requirements, etc. Lots of students get this kind of help from parents, teachers, peers, and even folks on CC. </p>
<p>All of this differs than writing an essay for someone, which is totally unacceptable.</p>
<p>It is better to let it go. You would have to prove (as in a trial like situation) all this stuff and you may find the proof evaporates when it comes to show and tell time. You have to hope life will catch up with him. You are more likely to ruin your life than his, and most likely nothing much would happen to him anyway other than a slap on the wrist. It is an unfortunate but realistic situation in this society. Sleazy people get away with stuff.</p>
<p>Ok, if you're going to tell, which I have no problem with, my question for you is, do you have evidence to prove that he cheated?</p>
<p>
[quote]
you're not his friend if you're willing to ruin his life...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
[quote]
You are more likely to ruin your life than his
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The consequences of telling the GC, telling the school, speaking anonymously, attaching one's own name, not telling anyone, etc. should all be thought through. Absolutely. And the repercussions could be major. I'm definitely not saying that this should be treated lightly, no matter what happens. But we don't have enough info here to assume that anyone's life is at risk of being ruined.</p>
<p>I know it's an all-consuming process, but once in awhile, try to step back and remember college applications for what they are: paperwork. That doesn't mean they should be cheated on, and it doesn't mean they're not important, but do try to keep the drama in perspective.</p>
<p>How does the OP know that the individual cheated? I'm assuming he is among the very, very few that knows that this individual cheated. It could easily be traced back to the source if he tells the colleges even if he used an anonymous name. What do you expect him to do then? He will be holding the burden when he's harassed by the entire school for "tattling". You can't think things in just black and white. If you tell, you have nothing to gain. Leave that job to the GC...and even then... there is no guarantee that you will not face certain penalties that may stick with you for a very long time. Still, I'm suspicious about the OP's so-called moral dilemma. There are so many bad things going on out there and the last thing someone needs is this.</p>
<p>once a cheater, always a cheater.</p>
<p>i hope you have the courage to do what is right. and quite frankly i'm in shock to see the juvenile attitude many of these posters have. "quit snitchin''? wow, that's just a pathetic attitude to have.</p>