In a few weeks, everyone’s favorite time of the semester will approach — finals week. Your work will inevitably start to pile up. There is one paper or assignment giving you trouble in particular though. You have two weeks before it’s due. Plenty of time, right?
Like a typical college student, you put it off for a while and now you don’t think you have enough time to do it. So, what’s your next step?
Maybe you buy your term paper or assignment. While often joked about among college students, this is a real solution that many choose. One website, Ultius, advertises as a “custom writing and editing service.” In their “about us” page, the company proudly proclaims they are an American-based company that services people worldwide.
“Ultius is the trusted provider of content-based solutions for college students around the world. Since 2010, we have been doing business with the promise of providing top-quality, original academic work,” according to the company’s website. “When you buy American, you get the best quality. We only hire American writers who graduated from top colleges and universities.”
It’s all on the up and up for a company helping commit dishonesty. While the company claims that it provides only custom original work, one can’t help but be wary of this because of the fact that their whole business is based off of doing work for others looking for an easy way out. How reasonable are the prices to get a custom term paper from this company? Well, seven pages with a seven-day waiting period will run you $154. If you’re someone that plans ahead, a 60-day wait costs $140. And a more immediate paper with a 12-hour deadline with seven pages will cost you $315.
For those prices, is it worth getting out of one assignment?
Similar to Ultius is 123helpme.com, where the student can view a sample of the paper before choosing to drop money on it. The papers are pre-written on specific topics but give me mixed feelings. On one hand, students who struggle can read other papers for an idea on what to write for their own and cite it. On the other hand, however, someone can choose to buy a paper from here, turn it in and claim it as original work. If the paper’s content were Googled by a professor, it’d easily be found. In turn, if the student needs a sample paper, they should first ask the professor before seeking alternative means.
While college is a time to make your own decisions, I can’t dissuade you from going this route if you choose. The important thing to remember, though, is if you go this route, you’re cheating not only on the assignment, but on your education. Why invest time or money in a class if the ideas you’re going to present are someone else’s?
Sure, we all hate papers or staying up late for them, but that is reality. Though it doesn’t always work, try planning your assignment ahead of time, working on it an hour or two in the weeks leading up to it if you can, and it’ll be done before you know it. Think back to when you were a child who was afraid of getting a shot. What did your parents say?
“It’ll be over before you know it.”
They were right. If you’re struggling or don’t think you have time for an assignment, make arrangements to meet with your professor or visit the Student Learning Center for help. You’ll find a solution, and it’ll be worth it, both morally and for your education.
Email Luis Reyes at luis.reyes@cardinalpointsonline.com
