similar ideas in statements Forum

[Anonymous User]

Many of the statements here discussed similar ideas and use even same expressions. are people here not concerned about plagiarism in their personal essay and don't schools check? when does it become plagiarism? I just searched a few expressions from the posts here on google which threw up same expressions used in other documents. Even some personal statements use same structures and development as others.

[RZ5646]

It's probably just because most applicants have similar backgrounds. We're not special snowflakes. In fact, most of us have never done anything that is both unique and interesting. That experience you had that you think makes you stand out... a thousand other applicants did the exact same thing.

I've read interviews with med school admissions officers where they joke about getting hundreds of "I vacationed in a 3rd world country and it opened my eyes to how privileged I am and now I want to give back" essays every year.

edit: Add in the fact that people read the same guides on how to write personal statements, and not only the content but even the structure ends up being eerily similar.

[rinkrat19]

Also, mediocre writers are prone to using a lot of clichés in things like personal statments. A cliché may be tired and lazy, uninspired writing, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's plagiarism.

[KMart]

Not everyone is a special snowflake and we live mostly the same basic lives, especially considering the vast majority about it.

[Anonymous User]

It seems that the ideas can still be stolen and people who have posted PS can run the risk of lines and sentences or even the ideas like go through hardship, have humbling experiences, became a better person etc being used elsewhere. If the ideas are same then the expression in sentences be same too. Schools can checks for such things very easily, there are many softwares that let one do that and think it is plagiarism. don't they check?