I got a friend who got into med school with a 2.9 GPA (low-tier undergrad), no MCAT, and pre-reqs taken at a barely accredited program (for chiropractors) 😱 Now, it isn't in the US, but a very good medical school to say the least. He never once volunteered, did research or any EC except film... and now he is finishing his first year of medical school. No joke!
Also, I got another "friend" who literally had the DAT exam for his year and got into a top dental school with his 2 friends (who he split the test with) and just lied about every EC/volunteer he ever did. Also, he had every exam throughout undergrad and had a high gpa (which is actually quite common in my school 🙁). He is now finishing off his last year of dental school... fortunately 1 out of the 3 friends got kicked out of the school for cheating and suspicion of lying on app/DAT answers etc.
I actually know someone who gave me a number to a black market for old exams (my school does not change any questions so its pretty much the same test). They charged way too much, so I never bought any from him... but the women who gave me the number showed me the stuff she got from him. Really BS for those who don't mind paying money or cheating. Out of my whole college career I had only 3-4 classes with old exams... I don't know any other individual in my school who had this little or took a class only b/c a friend had or is taking a class with the tests.
I got another friend who is a history major and just pays a professional to write every essay he every had. He graduated with a 4.0 and now knows nothing about history. He even admits to me that he hates the major.
I got a friend who cheated throughout undergrad and then had his brother take his LSAT and got into a top law school, but declined it b/c he knew he would fail. He is now going to a lower tier school and cheating off his brother.
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The world is corrupt and evil, but that does not mean you have to be. I try to keep as far away from these ppl as possible and try to do what I feel is right. I worked my a** off and in the end, I will know that I will deserve it. I guess the only difference b/w me and them in the future will be, I won't doubt my ability to perform when the time comes. I should have really made up a fake account name, b/c at least 10 of my friends know this name and ppl will be angry... but i dun care.
Side note: The system is f ucked up! This does not mean you should exploit it, but definitely remember that it is not perfect and you shouldn't get f ucked by it. I think for the past 2 quarters I haven't showed up to class one time other than on test day. I literally just pay my tuition so I can take a test and have a diploma to say im education -- which is BS.
I think Good Will Hunting said it best when he said, "You wasted $150,000 on an education you coulda got for $1.50 in late fees at the public library."
Just my 2 cent.