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?

[quote Happy1982ish]@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”?[/quote]
Like I've already said - that the approach wasn't wrong. It's ok to base your personal statement around ideas you've read elsewhere. As is research.

And then I said that yes, normally you would be referencing and quoting.

So the op was wrong
Her “approach” was wrong

@Mara263

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

This is such a bizarre post

@Happy1982ish

Maybe not made too clear but I meant it like “at least it wasn’t a more serious document” kind of thing

Hope it works out for OP