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Original poster

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

129 replies

changeitatanytime · 10/12/2021 14:46

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?

OP posts:
LosingTheWill2 · 10/12/2021 22:08

@changeitatanytime
If this is a genuine mistake on your part, take each day at a time. It’s too late to make any changes now, so no point worrying about that. I would write a personal statement now and if they questions your original submission, remember that honesty is the best policy, and send them your amended ps ASAP, no delays. There is no point in worrying about things you can’t change. Get ahead of the game and have a plan for worse case scenario.

ChotaPeg · 10/12/2021 22:13

I think the fact that you're reflecting on this demonstrates a lot OP. Don't give up. Take the weekend to think on what you want to you want to do - there's some good advice on this thread.

SoSoTiredToday · 10/12/2021 22:16

Having worked in a uni, we never ran personal statements through plagiarism checkers! Essays, yes! Personal statement, no!

Don't worry about it! It'll b fine!!

EarlyModernEnglish · 10/12/2021 22:29

This thread has really brought out the twattish posters! Think this is my favourite for its patronising, chiding tone:

*Chances are you will get away with it.

It's not a good start though, is it?* Grin

Why are people getting all snotty about a personal statement ? It’s not proper work of an academic nature; no one is going to be all passionate and in the zone about writing a personal statement! They are total bullshit. Their very existence makes me uneasy.

SpinsForGin · 10/12/2021 22:31

@changeitatanytime

For all those challenging me you are completely right, maybe I am not ready to study at postgraduate level
Ignore them. People just like to kick people when they're down.

Try and put it out of your mind and just wait to hear from the university.

Valeriane · 10/12/2021 22:36

I wouldn't want this haunting me. I would recall it. It is a big deal IMO. It wasn't a mistake. Each to their own but that's how I feel.

Derbee · 10/12/2021 22:37

@changeitatanytime

For all those challenging me you are completely right, maybe I am not ready to study at postgraduate level
For goodness sake, have a bit of gumption. You’ve made a little mistake. You forgot to go and change 4 sentences out of a 1,000 word document.

Don’t allow a bunch of internet randoms to change your life path because it’s a sport on here to tear people down. Suck it up, put it behind you and keep your head up

SpinsForGin · 10/12/2021 22:48

@Valeriane

I wouldn't want this haunting me. I would recall it. It is a big deal IMO. It wasn't a mistake. Each to their own but that's how I feel.
It's 4 sentences out of 1000 words!! That would barely even register as an issue even if it did get put through turnitin. It's not a big deal .... and I say that as admissions tutor for a Postgraduate course.
user14943608381 · 10/12/2021 23:13

@changeitatanytime

For all those challenging me you are completely right, maybe I am not ready to study at postgraduate level
Oh for goodness sake @changeitatanytime, don’t let the MN haters pee on your parade. M level isn’t that heavy, if it’s a taught masters you’ll most likely find it v similar to final year UG. If you got a 2:1 in your UG and a few firsts in your final year then you can study at M level, probably phd too. Both, in truth, aren’t that heavy.

Mistakes happen, this is a personal statement. I mentioned in my PP that the head of philosophy at a redbrick uni accidentally plagarised an entire section of a publication and sent it to the publishers and everything, it was only after he asked a colleague to proof it they were like erm, I’ve read this somewhere else. This isn’t some great shame or black mark on his career, but a funny anecdote as shit happens.

Polmuggle · 10/12/2021 23:23

@Happy1982ish

Complete contradiction You say the op has “done nothing wrong” And then list precisely what she has done that is wrong (use quotations and reference)!
No, I said the approach wasn't wrong.

Try again.

DrPeppersPhD · 11/12/2021 00:27

Look, you fucked up and you know that. You're never going to forget to check again are you?
As for whether you're ready for PG study, the unanimous verdict from my mates with PG degrees is "you never are". When the results come through, take some time to mull over whether you really care about your course, whether you look at the modules and think "oh, they look interesting!". If the answer is yes, just make sure you never forget to check again.

doubleshotcappuccino · 11/12/2021 01:39

If you are planning on doing a post graduate but copy and paste straight into the main document without putting it in italics or underline that's a problem for future work as it's likely to happen again. Can you withdraw the whole application and reapply?

CheesyFootballsAreEvil · 11/12/2021 02:04

I'd just wait and see. If you do get in at least you'll never make the same mistake twice. Good luck!

thing47 · 11/12/2021 12:37

M level isn’t that heavy, if it’s a taught masters you’ll most likely find it v similar to final year UG.

I don't think you can generalise like that. DD has just completed a taught STEM Masters at a prestigious university and it was exponentially harder than her undergrad, a completely different ballgame. At least 50 hours a week, lots of lab time (conducting original research), lots of reading papers etc. She had assumed she'd be able to do some paid work alongside and very quickly realised that was a total non-starter.

I can't stress how different it was, so please don't assume PP is right, it might be much, much harder work.

WellLarDeDar · 11/12/2021 12:47

You might be okay, personal statements generally follow the same patterns so they all tend to be similar anyway. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

YourenutsmiLord · 11/12/2021 12:53

Surely Google brings up the page you copied from because you had already visited that page - - cookies and all that .
Seems unlikely that if you put your whole statement in it would find those pages.

Fidgetty · 11/12/2021 13:03

I think you need to stop berating yourself! It's really not the end of the world. Practically everyone uses the words of others in some form on these things. It does not mean you're "not ready to study at postgraduate level". If you got through a degree with good grades then you're ready. I'd do absolutely nothing about this application - I'd bet my house it won't be noticed - but to allay your fears I would apply to another course or two as a backup.

user14943608381 · 11/12/2021 13:10

@thing47

M level isn’t that heavy, if it’s a taught masters you’ll most likely find it v similar to final year UG.

I don't think you can generalise like that. DD has just completed a taught STEM Masters at a prestigious university and it was exponentially harder than her undergrad, a completely different ballgame. At least 50 hours a week, lots of lab time (conducting original research), lots of reading papers etc. She had assumed she'd be able to do some paid work alongside and very quickly realised that was a total non-starter.

I can't stress how different it was, so please don't assume PP is right, it might be much, much harder work.

I have a master and doctorate and publications from a prestigious university, sorry but I do believe if you got 1st class marks in final year, you’ll be ok at M level. The only differences I found in my taught modules were lack of consistency in module tutor (was often just guest lectures) smaller classes, more reading and you came up with your own essay titles.

My degrees were in the arts.

Now if you struggled to get a low 2:1 in your coursework then that’s a different story

JustLikea · 11/12/2021 13:12

It's just a statement not an essay.

They'll all sound similar and have probably all have read the online ones for a bit guidance

Happy1982ish · 11/12/2021 15:15

@Polmuggle

* Honestly I don't even think this is something 'wrong*

Your opening line
I interpreted “this” to mean the OP’s scenario.

What did you mean by “this”?

EmmasMum12 · 11/12/2021 15:29

Three problems for me

Your whole PS was built around someone else's words. Why? Where were your own words? Where's your own passion for your course?

Your attention to detail is poor as you didn't remember to alter the other person's words before submission. Not a good thing when doing postgraduate work

You're dishonest and lack integrity. Possibly not a huge problem depending on your PG course. But it could be a problem. You also lack confidence and need to ask on MN how likely you are to get away with your mistake. Confused

HeartGoesLast · 11/12/2021 15:49

The answer depends on your personal ethics, doesn’t it? What can you live with? Are you posting here to be reassured that it’s okay to submit work that I s not your own, or are you posting here to vent about the situation you created?

At the end of the day, you live with yourself, and you should be asking what behaviour you’re willing to accept from yourself.

thing47 · 11/12/2021 16:23

I do believe if you got 1st class marks in final year, you’ll be ok at M level.

And I don't, not necessarily. That's kind of how a Forum works, people post opinions and experiences which may differ from yours. Doesn't mean either are right or wrong, but YMMV.

DD got a distinction in her Masters from a university ranked above everywhere except Oxford for her field of study, so she did fine. But it took a lot of work.

user14943608381 · 11/12/2021 16:38

@thing47

I do believe if you got 1st class marks in final year, you’ll be ok at M level.

And I don't, not necessarily. That's kind of how a Forum works, people post opinions and experiences which may differ from yours. Doesn't mean either are right or wrong, but YMMV.

DD got a distinction in her Masters from a university ranked above everywhere except Oxford for her field of study, so she did fine. But it took a lot of work.

You’re misunderstanding what I’m saying. When I said you’ll be ok at M level if you got primarily 1st class marks doesn’t mean it doesn’t take work and a lot of it just that you can cope with it and it’s not beyond your capabilities. My degrees took work too, I’m talking all around academic ability. If you got 2:2s in coursework and had to break your back to get a 60 in an essay then yeah PG study probably not for you.

Also how patronising is your comment on the nature of an Internet forum

Mara263 · 11/12/2021 18:28

It’s just a personal statement so don’t sweat

My husband did this on a document for a professional body and it didn’t get picked up until two years later when they gave out his document for an example for other students

It was accidental but he ended up losing his professional status qualification and being sacked