<p>I wrote a very good essay that I've already sent in, and I was very happy with it. However, my friend told me today that he saw a very similar idea in a book on college essays. So am I ruined? It certainly feels like it. I am clueless as to what to do. Should I write a new essay and send that one in, even though it'll probably be worse? I am very nervous right now, and any advice is appreciated.</p>
<p>Withdraw your application I guess..</p>
<p>I had to do the same thing.</p>
<p>Being that you haven't seen the other essay, it is highly unlikely that you wrote it the same way. I don't think admissions officers will think you copied an essay if you wrote it differently. Rather, they might think that you were inspired from it. So don't worry about it, I'm sure it's fine.</p>
<p>are you serious? Withdraw my application? I've been waiting to apply to this school for years! If I withdraw, can I resubmit in the RD round?</p>
<p>Keep it. If you truly didn't use the other source, then it'll show.</p>
<p>Nobody else exists with the same experiences you have, and if you talked about yourself at all, then you're set.</p>
<p>It doesn't matter if there's an extremely similar idea. The point of the essay is you -ideas are only part of it.</p>
<p>While the topic might be similar, you aren't. Besides, there are hundreds of "big race" or "sports injury" essays, as an example. They're not kicked out.</p>
<p>You shouldn't have to withdraw.</p>
<p>Thanks catsushi, that gives me some hope.</p>
<p>Thanks np99sky--I think my essay did show a lot about me, and the idea in the essay book was fairly vague, it was only a general idea. I guess I'll just wait it out then, and if I don't get in, so be it!</p>
<p>Don't withdraw it. There are only so many topics in the world and it is unlikely that every student writes on a unique topic. If you did not copy the other essay, then there is no problem. I'm sure you have your own take on the subject, your own progression of ideas, and your own turns of phrase.</p>
<p>It was good enough that my english teacher wants to enter it in a bunch of local contests, so I was understandably upset to hear that there was a similar idea in a book. It's some of my best writing to date.</p>
<p>Thanks guys. I feel loads better--when my friend first told me, I thought I was pretty much out of the running for my dream school.</p>
<p>Don't lose hope! :)</p>
<p>Hey remember this............HE WHO EXCUSES HIMSELF ACCUSES HIMSELF!</p>
<p>You have nothing to worry about, if you never saw it then by all means, don't do a thing. Yours will be an original, and you can't control if someone else at one time had a smiliar idea, IT DOES NOT MEAN that you copied! I would just let it be. Your integrity will shine through in other areas of the applciation, if they even recognized the subject as being familiar, and that is unlikely. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>Thanks sooo much everyone. Hope springs eternal!</p>