To think I've messed everything up? Plagiarised my post graduate personal statement...

[changeitatanytime]

I've name changed for obvious reasons. I'm in my last year of uni and in the process of applying for postgraduate courses. I've done something really stupid and I really don't know the right thing to do to rectify it.

Yeah I’ve really messed up. I copied some sentences from someone else’s personal statement on Google in relation to the course I’ve applied for. The sentences I copied were related to the field and they sounded good so I wrote my personal statement around them and meant to go back and change them into my own words (I know even that isn’t acceptable) and totally forgot until today. I submitted the application a couple weeks ago. It was only when I was reading it back that I remembered I hadn’t changed the sentences and when I copy and paste my statement into Google it comes up with the site I copied from.

I have went from feeling elated and excited about potentially getting an interview for this post grad to feeling really sick to my stomach and I’m not quite sure how I’m going to get through the next few months. Even if I do get an interview and/or place on the course I really don’t feel like I deserve it now. I’ve proper messed up and feel awful. I haven’t told anyone in real life so had to write it here. I am a 32 year old woman who should know better!

How do I handle this? My family and friends will be so disappointed in me.

Do I contact the university and tell them? Do I withdraw my application? I don’t know how I would explain that to my family. Do I sit and hope they don’t check for plagiarism? If so, and they don’t how can I morally live with myself.

I’ve totally messed everything up and feel so disappointed in myself, I’ve let everyone down.

I applied to the uni directly so I'm not sure if they put it through a plagiarism test or not. But even if not, I don't really deserve a place now.

It’s about 4/5 sentences out of a 1000 word personal statement. I am just praying they either don’t put it through a system or it’s not enough % for them to take too much notice. I’m so mad at myself, so stupid!

I'm so angry and disappointed in myself, I will never do this again.

Have I ruined my chances completely? What should I do?

I don’t know - I think I would probably just sit tight and hope no one checks. It’s a personal statement after all not an exam.

Horrible for you though!

Are you able to update your application with a new version of the statement? Sounds obvious but worth a thought! When I applied for my postgrad a couple of years I had to upload everything to an online portal and could make changes up to a certain date.

If not then I’d try not to worry if those sentences are applicable to you and you’re not claiming experience or motivation you don’t really have. If you get to interview and they do ask about those areas of your personal statement, be ready to flesh it out with your own perspective then.

I work in PG admissions. We don't use any plagiarism software for PG. Even if it did get picked up you would get a chance to explain yourself. I wouldn't worry about it.

I think you need to calm down! Its not a dissertation just a simple personal statement, they won't check that for plagiarism! Just sit tight and wait, 4 sentences out of 1000 words really isn't worth this angst.

Has the deadline passed? If not, could you contact the uni and tell them you sent then an old draft by mistake and would they accept your amended version?

It's too late to change as they have already emailed me to say they are processing my application and should hear next week.

They aren't going to run your personal statement through Google or a plagiarism checker.

It's only a personal statement! You'll be fine.

Surely you can update it?

That's a little harsh @Sparklfairy.
You could call and ask if they'll accept an updated draft, if not you'll just have to sit tight and wait.

Have you applied directly to the university? If so, it's highly unlikely it will be run through any plagiarism software.

Personal statements that submitted through UCAS often are, but you would have a chance to explain anyway.

@SpinsForGin yeah I applied directly through the university, not through UCAS

Surely it’s only a personal statement. I wouldn’t worry about it.

It’s only a personal statement. They won’t put it through Turnitin

Echoing the others above: it's a personal statement. Not sure why it would even go through a plagiarism checker. At least it's not a dissertation!

I'm just worried because undergraduate applications go through UCAS and the personal statements are checked for plagiarism then. I just thought maybe the uni used a 3rd party plagiarism checker for post grad applications. I really hope that's not the case

@changeitatanytime

I'm just worried because undergraduate applications go through UCAS and the personal statements are checked for plagiarism then. I just thought maybe the uni used a 3rd party plagiarism checker for post grad applications. I really hope that's not the case

Like I said, even if they do (which at the two places I've worked we don't), you will get a chance to explain yourself.

This is highly unlikely to be any kind of issue at all.

Might depend on the ranking of the university. If it's a 'selecting' university - in other words, if it's extremely competitive to get in, they might pay more attention. Even then it depends on the subject area (eg they're more likely to care if you're applying for creative writing or journalism than if you're applying for maths). If they're a recruiting university, meaning they have recruitment targets to meet and are having to work hard to achieve them, they won't be bothered.

All of the above aside, it's not an assessed piece of work so you've broken no rules AFAIK.

[quote changeitatanytime]@SpinsForGin yeah I applied directly through the university, not through UCAS [/quote]
Then I highly doubt they will use any sort of plagiarism software. I run a PG course and have never checked my applicants PS's for plagiarism.

If you're copying and pasting stuff for the application, are you sure you should be doing a postgraduate degree?

It's not ideal but they won't be running your application through Turnitin or anything. Maybe just learn from it for the future.

It’s post grad, they want you and your money. They won’t turn you away over this.

Get someone to double-check it before you re-submit. I don't want to hammer a point when you're feeling low, but make sure you don't write something like 'I have went from feeling elated' next time.

Best of luck!

It’s only 4-5 sentences - so less that 1/10 of the statement - that wouldn’t raise a single hair on an eyebrow. Nobody checks anyway - they have thousands of the things to get through. Personal statements are skim read, and for most subjects unis aren’t much interested in them provided you’re qualified and have the funding. Really do not worry about this!

As long as it doesn't relate to claiming some qualification or skill which you don't actually have, I can't really see how this would be a problem, they don't check post-grad personal statements in this way.

It's not liking cheating on an exam or a dissertation, is it? A mistake, maybe, but not a crime.