Essay Exchanges?

Question

hey everyone,

I just want to bring this up again and see what some of the 2007 applicants and the current ones think. 

I know it's probably not a good idea to trade essays with GMATClubbers if you're applying to the same schools this year (even if it's different rounds). I also concluded that exchanging essays with someone who has no other essay questions that are related to yours would work with no problems.

Now the gray area is, what about someone who's applying to a completely different set of schools? Would trading the goals/leadership/accomplishment essays pose any problems? Do different schools check with each other to see if there's any hint of copying between the schools? Do schools even release their applicants' essays to each other?

Any insight or comments you may have on this would help greatly, since if GMATClubbers can help each other in private to review their essays, it would be very helpful for all of our chances. 

Thanks!

shmegs · Answer

I agree that this poses a tricky situation. But, I think that if you know a person fairly well then it may be a good idea to swap essays. In the end, it's a judgement call...

aviroop · Answer

Hmm touchy subject.

I would be comfortable trading in my essays with pple who are not applying to the same school.

Goals essay would be a no no.. all goals essay have the same underlying structure..its like the magic potion..dunno if anyone would share it

rest are more personal based.. so I think it would not be a biggie

shmegs · Answer

I agree that sharing goals essays would not be a good idea. But essays like "what unique experiences..." or "describe a failure" will vary between person to person. I'd still be a bit reticent because while examples cannot be reused, sentence structure or tenor can be borrowed. Personally, I feel better about sharing essays with people who aren't applying this year.

adcxaway · Answer

I'm good with sharing the essays with the regulars and those that aren't applying to the same school. But would somebody who isn't applying to Harvard, be encouraged to apply to Harvard after looking at somebody else's essays for Harvard?

I'm definitely up for sharing essays for next year's applicants though. I thought you had the idea about the essay submission thread?

helpslip · Answer

Hi,
My experience with reading other's essays is likely different than most here. Literature was my major and one of my work study posts was working in the college writing center. Helping people with their writing (beyond simply proofreading) is a difficult task. A truly valuable reader has both the technical knowledge to determine problems and the didactic skill to guide the writer to personal solutions. I would not worry about sharing a particular essay with others, only a fool would plagarize an essay that (s)he is likely to be questioned closely about in the interview process. I would worry about the qualitative value of the advice/criticism I was given. (only so many Rhyme's to go around...)

aviroop · Answer

Ya but how would you guarantee that the person who you trade your essays with would end up using your essay for his application to another school?? You say he/she would be a fool to do it, but would you risk sharing your essay?

adcxaway · Answer

We need a GMATclub honor system

shmegs · Answer

An honor system would be great, I would be more than happy to share my essays with people applying next year.

aviroop · Answer

General consensus is that people are happy to share essays next year.. For that.. the GMAT thread where 07 ers can post their essays of 08 ers to see has already been started.
I think the logistics are still being sorted out on who can have access.. 
my 2 cents

mNeo · Answer

A very interesting topic, kryzak! I am not sure what my opinion is in this matter. Let's continue discussing this. I want to see where this discussion goes.

ncp · Answer

I think it's necessary to clarify what kryzak is saying here. 

 

By this, I dont think kryzak means people are going to "trade" essays in the literal sense. He means that people are going to read and critique each other's essays.

Overall, helping others with essays that are inapplicable to you is probably fine such as some one not applying to Stan reviewing a "What matters to you most?" essay.

Any other way will probably be uncomfortable and will depend on the individuals involved.

Praetorian · Answer

Just a few notes about the essay sharing idea: I think the 07 applicants will play a huge role in determining the success of the essay sharing idea in the future. It has always been like this. Sorry to say this so often, but the very existence of the forum is based on this idea of sharing.

About the honor system, the buck stops with me. Let all the hate about access be directed towards me and you guys focus on your essays. I am not going to sell access and the only way you get in by giving your time and sharing your knowledge with others. No need to suck up to me or say nice things about the Club. I can smell BS over the internet too. :oops:

kryzak · Answer

Haha, Praet, have you ever been on an adcom before?

Anyway, thanks to NC for the clarification. I also want to say that I'm not as worried about someone taking my essays and submitting them to a school, but more if the tone or a way of saying a certain sentence creeps into mine or the other person's essay, that would raise some red flags. These things can be unintentional and yet if the school catches it, there'll be a "he said, she said" problem. Sounds like the consensus is that critiquing essays that do not overlap with people who are not applying to the same school as you in the same year is ok. Praet, no worries, even if you don't get any 07-ers contributing, you already have 4-5 08-ers willing to submit their essays for GMATClub vault if we all get in!

ncp · Answer

Praet, if I dont get in, I will still share mine. At least, my essays can be great examples of "How not to write" and come to think of it, they will probably be more valuable. No book on the market gives an example for a horrible essay and this can be the USP of GMAT club :-)

dahcrap · Answer

My essays would atleast serve to instruct people as to how not to write one

kryzak · Answer

that's why everyone should save their FIRST drafts and post them for comparison!

Praetorian · Answer

Nice to see the self-flagellation. This is something I saw in 07 too, so you guys are on the right track. :-)

You must kindly allow Praetorian to remain an enigma. Its nice to be a nobody. It keeps my ego safely tucked away so that we can always keep our eyes and ears open to any new ideas or concerns all of you may have.

aviroop · Answer

Praet your last sentence sounded like Big Brother is watching us.. I am just kidding.. 

but thanks for keeping an eye out on things and making life easy for us GMAT Clubbers.

mNeo · Answer

My essays will also be available to help GMATclub highlight its USP of "How not to write"

Essay Exchanges?

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards