Is it risky to buy a college essay online?
I've seen a bunch of sites advertising college essays for sale and I'm wondering if anyone has experience with this or knows how risky it is. I'm super stressed about writing my personal statement and honestly struggling to get started.
On one hand, buying an essay seems like it could save time and might help to see how it's done, but I'm worried about colleges finding out or the essay not sounding like me. Are admissions officers good at spotting these? Also, what could happen if a student did buy one? I'm definitely tempted but don't want to mess up my chances. Any thoughts or real-life stories would help.
On one hand, buying an essay seems like it could save time and might help to see how it's done, but I'm worried about colleges finding out or the essay not sounding like me. Are admissions officers good at spotting these? Also, what could happen if a student did buy one? I'm definitely tempted but don't want to mess up my chances. Any thoughts or real-life stories would help.
7 months ago
•
45 views
Lydia Schooler
• 7 months ago
Advisor
Buying a college essay online does come with serious risks, which are important to consider before making any decisions.
First, colleges take academic honesty very seriously. Submitting an essay that isn’t your own is considered plagiarism and can lead to your application being rejected immediately. Many admissions officers are experts at recognizing when an essay doesn’t match the rest of your application. If your writing style in your application doesn’t match the essay, or if it sounds overly sophisticated or generic, that can be a red flag. Some colleges even use software that compares essays against large databases, including purchased or previously published content, to check for plagiarism.
There are also ethical and personal risks. It’s very unlikely that a purchased essay will truly capture your voice, personality, or unique experiences. Admissions committees look for authenticity and want to get to know who you are, not just what you can purchase. If an essay seems off or doesn’t match your story, they might ask follow-up questions or simply pass on your application. There have been real cases where students were offered admission, only to have it rescinded when the school discovered the essay wasn’t original.
If you’re struggling with your essay, a better (and much safer) strategy is to look at example essays for inspiration, ask a teacher or counselor to review your drafts, or use feedback platforms that help you create your own standout essay. For instance, reading a few authentic student essays can help you see the variety of topics and styles that are successful. You might notice how one student wrote about volunteering at a food bank, but focused on a single moment helping someone, rather than just describing the day-to-day work. That kind of specific, authentic detail is really hard to fake with a purchased essay.
While it’s normal to feel stressed about the personal statement, keep in mind that your unique perspective is what admissions officers want to read. Taking the time to write your own essay won’t just keep your application honest—it will also help you reflect on your own story, which can be valuable no matter where you end up applying.
First, colleges take academic honesty very seriously. Submitting an essay that isn’t your own is considered plagiarism and can lead to your application being rejected immediately. Many admissions officers are experts at recognizing when an essay doesn’t match the rest of your application. If your writing style in your application doesn’t match the essay, or if it sounds overly sophisticated or generic, that can be a red flag. Some colleges even use software that compares essays against large databases, including purchased or previously published content, to check for plagiarism.
There are also ethical and personal risks. It’s very unlikely that a purchased essay will truly capture your voice, personality, or unique experiences. Admissions committees look for authenticity and want to get to know who you are, not just what you can purchase. If an essay seems off or doesn’t match your story, they might ask follow-up questions or simply pass on your application. There have been real cases where students were offered admission, only to have it rescinded when the school discovered the essay wasn’t original.
If you’re struggling with your essay, a better (and much safer) strategy is to look at example essays for inspiration, ask a teacher or counselor to review your drafts, or use feedback platforms that help you create your own standout essay. For instance, reading a few authentic student essays can help you see the variety of topics and styles that are successful. You might notice how one student wrote about volunteering at a food bank, but focused on a single moment helping someone, rather than just describing the day-to-day work. That kind of specific, authentic detail is really hard to fake with a purchased essay.
While it’s normal to feel stressed about the personal statement, keep in mind that your unique perspective is what admissions officers want to read. Taking the time to write your own essay won’t just keep your application honest—it will also help you reflect on your own story, which can be valuable no matter where you end up applying.
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