EssayBay - Buy term papers and custom essays direct from writers!

EssayBay | Term Papers | Bookmark and Share

"The eBay of Term Papers"

EssayBay Press Coverage | About EssayBay | Free Papers | Term Papers

EssayBay Press Students turn to Essaybay.com to help with admissions



By Caitlin B. Cain


February 21, 2008

We all know that essay Web sites are old news. Anyone can pay $20 and get an essay at the last minute. Every day a new Web site is devoted to helping forgetful students get passing grades. There are so many, in fact, that the developers of plagiarism-tracking software are breaking a sweat to keep up.

But have you ever heard of Essaybay.com? This fairly new international Web site claims to be a cut above the rest with its plagiarism scanner that guarantees that “you really know that you’re absolutely safe from infringing ever-tightening rules on plagiarism.”

Their slogan, “Quicker, Cheaper, Better,” and a reassuring FAQ page promises students they are safe using this service.

Students create an account and place project assignments on a message board and have individual writers “bid” on their assignments.

A detailed page describes what the students’ requirements are: font size and type, length, format and bibliographies/references.

So far this is nothing too controversial or unheard of. However, recent studies have found that 45 percent of prospective college athletes polled use this Web site, not for their final high school papers, but for college admissions and scholarship essays.

Some are even encouraged to use the Web site by their peers, fellow athletes and even some coaches.

When asked about this controversy, first-year lacrosse player Sarah Barbin was surprised.

“My ex-boyfriend used something like that once, but it wasn’t to get into college,” Barbin said, “That’s wrong. I can understand using the site to balance a college sport and workload, but not to get into college you need to be yourself.”

Other students seemed surprised about it as well.

“I can understand why they would do it but it’s still cheating,” sophomore Elyse Ford said, “Sports shouldn’t come before academics.”

The controversy is not simply about the fact they are paying someone to write their essays; it is that they are being encouraged and supported when doing this.

There is always a ton of pressure on a prospective student when applying to colleges and a lot of stress is placed on the admissions essays, but until recently nobody has been “clever” or “crazy” enough to try it for this purpose.

“I guess it’s pretty clever, if the students aren’t very smart themselves, but I don’t think I would trust someone else write an important paper for me,” sophomore Tim Stepp said.

Students, instead of submitting format requirements, evidently trust these strangers with profiles and large amounts of information about themselves since college admissions and scholarship essays are very personal. This is more than a hassle, it’s not safe.

The curiosity then rises about what exactly happens in the admissions office. Do colleges use plagiarism software on personal admissions and scholarship essays? Recent mishaps like the fabricated memoir.

“A Million Little Pieces” by James Frey have brought up skepticism about personal accounts. Should colleges take more precautions and do their own research?

Despite these troubling questions, some students shrugged off the news.

“Sure, they can get in with these essays but they still have to maintain their grades when they’re actually in college,” sophomore Anna Woods said, “They end up hurting themselves in the end.”

“Pledge of Integrity.” It states, “I pledge to be honest and to uphold integrity.” This implies that students promise that their work is their own, refraining from all forms of lying, plagiarizing and cheating. Students who violate the pledge can expect a failing grade and/or possible dismissal from the college.

Back to EssayBay Press | View this article on the Web