After the recent college admissions scandal exposed how some parents cheated to get their children into college, schools are now focusing on another issue: students cheating during college. One growing concern is the rise of websites that sell essays to students who submit them as their own work.

Today, it is easier than ever to buy an essay online. And colleges are trying new tools to catch students who do.

Why Students Are Tempted

The pressure on students is intense. Deadlines pile up. Expectations are high. For some, college-level writing feels overwhelming.

One college freshman admitted that she felt lost when assigned a difficult English paper. One night, frustrated, she tweeted asking for help. Within minutes, strangers replied offering to write the essay for her - for a price.

She chose someone who charged $10 per page. For her, it felt like relief.

She explained that assignments kept coming - long papers, math homework, more reading - and she struggled to keep up. The pressure pushed her to make a choice she wasn’t sure about.

Is It Cheating?

Some students convince themselves it’s not cheating if the essay is original and not copied from somewhere else.

But even if the writer creates the paper from scratch, submitting someone else’s work as your own is still dishonest. Many students describe it as a “gray area,” but universities clearly consider it academic misconduct.

Some students also justify it by saying “everyone is doing it,” whether through paid services or help from friends.

The Rise of Essay Mills

Educators call this practice “contract cheating.” It used to be small-scale — maybe a student paying a friend. Now it’s a global industry. Research suggests that up to 16% of students have paid someone to do their work.

Essay-writing companies advertise aggressively online. They promise quick help, good grades, and less stress. Some even use slogans like “Don’t worry, be happy” or “Save time and party.”

They market directly to students through social media, email, and even flyers on campuses.

The Industry’s Perspective

Some essay writers defend what they do. One writer said students are overwhelmed and “time poor.” She believes she is helping them manage stress.

Others argue that writing essays may not matter in a long-term career, and that students who hire writers are simply being resourceful.

However, critics say this is just a way to justify dishonest behavior.

The Risks

Buying essays carries serious risks.

• Academic penalties: Students can fail courses or be expelled.

• Blackmail: Some companies threaten to report students if they ask for refunds.

• Low quality work: Some purchased essays are poorly written or even plagiarized.

• Financial exploitation: Students may be asked for more money later.

Experts warn: buyer beware.

How Schools Are Fighting Back

Schools are using new technology to catch contract cheating. Tools like advanced plagiarism software now analyze writing style, sentence structure, punctuation habits, and even document metadata.

The software compares a submitted paper to a student’s past writing to detect differences - almost like a “writing fingerprint.”

Some universities expect that once students realize these tools exist, the number of cheating cases will drop.

A Bigger Issue: Culture and Integrity

However, many experts say technology alone won’t solve the problem. The real solution is building a culture that values honesty and learning over grades.

When students believe that “everyone cheats,” they are more likely to cheat too. Changing that perception is crucial.

Education should be about growth and understanding - not just finishing assignments at any cost.

Buying essays may feel like an easy fix for stress and deadlines. But it comes with serious academic, financial, and ethical risks.

In the end, cheating doesn’t just break school rules - it undermines the purpose of education itself.

The real solution is support, time management, and a stronger culture of integrity - not shortcuts.