Hello, this post is in regards to a friend (she is like a sister to me, I knew her for 8 years). This coming year, I am surprising my friend by applying to some universities for her. I believe that she has a strong chance at getting into many universities. It is just that her more recent grades have made her seem non too competitive. In fact she has less than a 2.5. I am not applying to schools like Harvard, but I am applying to schools like University of Oregon, Loyola University Chicago, University of North Dakota (because her fiancé works out there), and also schools close to home such as schools within the Cal State system. Someone give me some advice as far as out of state cost and chances. My major is Linguistics, and I can make her sound extremely impressive as I have a way with words and communication. I am sure that I can write something that will give her less than a 2.5 a second chance. Anyway, please provide me with tips and alternative schools to apply for. Thank you.
P.S.:
I would also like to mention that she has went through some extenuating circumstances.
@LuckyName @lindyk8 would you guys know some answers?
I don’t really see how you can apply for her as a surprise. It’s one thing to help her with essays, but to apply and surprise her? Also, out of state costs are really high. And, if her fiancé is in North Dakota, is she going to want to be in some other random state where she doesn’t know anyone?
I get what you’re trying to do - get a fire in her belly - and that’s commendable, but this doesn’t seem like the best way. It has to come from her.
Maybe you can work together?
You can’t apply for her because you can’t request the transcripts from her high school(s) and any previous college(s). She is the only person who can do that. Forging her signature on the letters requesting the transcripts and completing an online or paper application for her is fraud. Writing essays for her is fraud. If somehow you were to pull this off and she would be admitted to a college or university, should it ever be discovered that she had not completed the application herself, she would be expelled. If it were discovered after she had graduated, her degree could be rescinded. Yes, colleges and universities do do that.
Talk with your friend. Tell her that you can help her choose some places to apply, that you can proofread (and only proofread - don’t rewrite or edit!!) any required essays, and that you will pay the application fees. Truly, that is all you can do. If she is ready to apply to college, just having someone to hold her hand through the process and to cover the application fees can be a huge benefit.
Why, in heavens name, would you even think about doing this??? Work on your common sense issues!
Well listen, it’s not like anyone would find out unless they actually knew the identity of her or myself. They also would have to have proof that I actually did it, not because someone reported me on CC… LOL. Second, transcripts will not be sent until they have considered her, which she will then decide for herself and decide to send them herself 
@happymomof1. Primarily what I am stating, is that I will go ahead and fill out primary information. The surprise would be that she already started the application and there is no backing out now and hey they are even interested. @“aunt bea” Why do so many people abuse and incorrectly used that phrase “common sense”? No harsh intentions, just wondering why you would think that this falls under the realm of “common” sense. @collegemom3717 I am not sure what you were trying to write or say? Something about my writing skills…Thank you lindyk8, that’s close to what I am trying to do: hold heor hand. And none of those states are BTW.
In regards to her college essays, I guess I can leave that up to her. However, I will take it upon myself to do an extensive review.
I am aware of the consequences that you have all warned me about but I will be doing my best to behave like the best friend or extremely educationally involved parent. I want her to be amazing and I want her to “get going” so to say. Thank you for your concern.
Now, back to the original questions, what are her chances? What schools should she consider? And what are some tips in regards to out of state costs?
She can choose not to finish the application.
It is nice that you want to help your friend. But forging applications for her, to pressure her down the path that YOU think is the right one for her is way over the line. She is an adult and has both the right and the responsibility to make her own choices.
n.b., “she has went through” is grammatically wrong.
I am not forging her applications @collegemom3717. I am really not. She is an adult, and I am not forcing her Haha. You’re right, it is ultimately her decision to continue, haha. BTW, I spoke to her about it and she does not want to go to either school. At this point it really does not matter. The surprise was always that I took the steps to apply. I am just really disappointed that so many people lack motivation.
Also, thank you for advising.
Correction: She has gone through.
@Franchman - Your original description of your plan of action described fraud. I you are smart enough to be in college yourself, you should also be smart enough to recognize fraud for what it is, and should also have enough common sense to steer clear of it unless you intend to enter a life of crime.
A student with a GPA less than 2.5 is not going to get merit-based money anywhere, unless that student has some huge talent that the college/university in question desperately wants. And by huge, I mean huge - Olympic class athletic ability or something like that. This means that the only aid money the student will have access to is need-based money, and out-of-state public Us aren’t generous with need based aid. If her parents have boatloads of money (or if you have boatloads of money and are willing to pay her tuition and fees), then she may have options. If her parents don’t, and all she can get is a federal student loan, then she needs to start at her own local community college, work hard, and eventually apply for transfer somewhere that she can afford.
I know extremely well what fraud is @happymomof1 haha. Also, please keep yourself from insulting me or my intelligence as I have not insulted you, thank you. I can assure you that I am “smart” enough to get into college .
Anyway…
Actually she is a soccer player that has led her community college team to two state championships. She has the most overall points scored. She has also participated in the junior Olympics. In track and field she took her 4x4 team to Masters and State. She has been offered positions in her youth to play for European youth clubs. She is very talented if you ask me. Well deserving of some scholarship.
What does her coach say about her chances of transferring to a university that will want her for her soccer skills?
Her chances: she is candidate for Team USA. If she had the grades, she could get in to Harvard. @happymomof1
Closing thread. We don’t allow solicitations for advice on fraud, cheating, etc. And since you said in your original post
*unless I am missing something the only way to do that on the vast majority of college applications is to either write great essays, in which case you are suggesting you would write them for her, or lie about certain aspects of her background that cannot be easily checked. Either of those is fraud, misrepresentation, cheating, call it what you will.
Now maybe that isn’t what you meant. Maybe you just meant, as you seem to say later, that you are just filling out some basic items to get the ball rolling. If that is the case, you hardly need any input on that. It is as simple as it gets. So while I agree that if this is what you meant it is nice that you want to give your friend a kick in the pants, so to speak, I think when it comes to something like applying for college your efforts are a bit misdirected. There are too many personal preferences and variables for you to really help her in this case, from what you say. It is kind of like with recovery programs, you cannot help someone until they acknowledge they want and need help.*