<p>I have low grades in my first semester and possible 2nd semester junior year. My grandpa did die when I was 6 years old. However, to make up for my low grades… can I say that my grandpa died during my junior year? It is partially a truth because my grandpa did die… any ideas? Will this be found out? ( I know this is bad, so if someone wants to persuade me out of it would be great!!!)</p>
<p>Why would you want to do that anyway? Bear in mind that a personal statement should reflect your true self. I don’t say that you cannot lie in your essay. In fact, a slight exaggeration may serve as the key to your being admitted. However, I don’t think lying about your grandpa’s death is just ‘a slight exaggeration’. Therefore, the adcoms can easily see through your lie and fail you.
If you’re so concerned about your grades, try to better them and write a flawless personal statement showing how you’ve struggled to make progress after a massive failure. That may do.</p>
<p>Can you? Probably. Should you? No.</p>
<p>You could but I wouldn’t advise it.</p>
<ol>
<li>Yes it is unethical</li>
<li>No, the death of a grandfather is not an excuse for poor grades</li>
<li>No, “death of my grandparent” is not an especially compelling essay topic</li>
<li>Yes, if you are found out you will be in major trouble.</li>
</ol>
<p>The problem with lying on such a concrete thing (like a death) is that while they might not see through it, if they do it would make you look like you’re trying to use a very sad and tragic thing to make up for not working hard enough (and I’m sorry if that seems REALLY harsh, there are probably other/mitigating circumstances with your grades that you didn’t put on here- i just mean that’s what it might look like to the essay reader).
I agree with PKMGSoledad - write about how you are overcoming these grade problems to become a better prepared and resilient (future) college student - it’ll show them that you will be able to handle what college throws at you later!</p>
<p>Your personal essay should not be about grades at all.</p>
<p>If you feel a need to explain some grades, you should use the optional supplemental statement for that purpose. </p>
<p>You must not lie.</p>
<p>Your topic sounds very cliche and would likely not impress an ADCOM. I agree with others that the essay needs to be about what you have to offer the school. I would not discuss grades in an essay, unless you can show how some life altering experience made you overcome adversity. There are so many other topics- sometimes a very simple topic can reveal more than an essay on something very complex.</p>
<p>I’m confused. Why do you want to lie?</p>
<p>I agree with PsychoDad10 and the others as well. Additionally, Keep in mind that there is a major difference between a sob story and a redemption story. A sob story might make an admissions officer feel bad for you, but it does not tell them anything about yourself that would appeal to the school. A redemption story, however, shows yourself as a person who was shaped by an experience that made you the wonderful you that you are and will continue to be. So be true to yourself and to the admissions officers about traits that you can write about that would appeal to the school.</p>
<p>If you have to lie then you’re applying to the wrong school.</p>
<p>^^^Agree with all of the above. Plus, you have to remember that a huge percentage of applicants in your age range have had a grandparent die recently. It’s just a fact of life that most of the people in your age range have elderly grandparents. It is not an unusual circumstance and certainly would not make you stand out or excuse your low grades.</p>
<p>Death is definitely not the thing to lie about. There are death records, easy as that. Come on, think this through next time…</p>
<p>You can. Most do. You shouldn’t. Be true to yourself. Don’t become a rat in the college rat race.</p>
<p>If you’re okay with being a terrible person unworthy of whatever you gain out of it, go ahead.</p>