Is it legal to lie on your personal statement
When it comes to personal statements and getting into your dream university, you may be tempted to embellish your personal statement so you sound like a more attractive candidate than your competition.
What you think are embellishments easily become lies and mistruths, and before you know it your personal statement isn't representing you accurately.
is it legal to lie on your personal statement
It's fraud if you lie on your personal statement,
and it has serious repercussions
If you're asking this question then it's clear you are struggling to stand out with your personal statement. Universities and UCAS check your applications, and cross check to verify what you've said is true. If you are caught in a lie, or something that's factually incorrect then you will be in trouble. You can have your university applications withdrawn, and you can be banned from applying.
Lying on your personal statement makes the interview harder. Say you state that you love Charles Dickens, and have read all his books. Your interviewers will ask about them. In detail. Its highly likely your interviewer will be an expert in Dickens and is excited to talk to someone who loves Dickens as much as they do. When they discover you've never read a Dicken's book in your life (and they'll uncover that fast), they'll start to dig deeper into other elements of your personal statement.
Now, not having read a book that you say you have may not get you banned from applying to universities, but it doesn't create a favourable impression. You're memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Personal statements for university applications can be difficult to write. In life we're taught to be modest and humble, and yet on our personal statements we need to stand out. You may be thinking your life's achievements so far are limited to walking at 10 months old, and knowing your ABCs by the time you were 3 years old. But that's not the case.
You are just starting out, no one expects you to have climbed Everest without a Sherpa. What's a big deal for you, may not be a big deal for someone else but it doesn't stop you sharing your story and why it was so important for you.
There are plenty of resources online, and the university you're applying to will have guidelines and suggestions. Make sure you find tips and suggestions that are from reputable sources, and don't be scared to ask your teachers for help - they've written a successful personal statement, and they can tell you what worked for them.
When you've got all your advice and tips, write your personal statement. Expect to write it out 4 or 5 times, and get feedback on it. Look at the areas you can improve on, and remember, you can do this without lying, cheating or pretending.
