<p>According to my school, I have recently violated a academic honesty policy where I might be given an grade of F in a science subject.
In my chemistry lab, I was helping a few new students in pouring the chemicals & then I helped them in arranging their apparatus, which had no marks on them. I was charged of violating academic honesty policy for this.</p>
<p>I was well set for MIT, but now lol :D
Is it still possible for me to apply even ? I'm yet to have my final penalty which might be less or might even be worse, but I just hope for the best.</p>
<p>There’s nothing stopping you from applying.</p>
<p>As far as getting in is concerned, this would obviously be something you’d need to explain to the Admissions office. If you could have your school counselor or principal write a letter explaining the circumstance, that would also be helpful.</p>
<p>Though frankly, I want to know what the academic policy was or if there is more to this story.</p>
Well, generally we are not supposed to help, but rather discuss anything verbally. I helped them only in setting up and not anything for the experiment.
As far as the writing is concerned I don’t think I can really make my principal write any letter cause he’s going to be the one to decide my fate
And far as the policy is concerned, the rules says we can brainstorm each other verbally and only help in standard procedure etc, but according to my chem teacher my exp and a few others are exactly the same since the setup was same, I mean really ? I mean like this is really crazy!</p>
<p>I’m literally trembling right now, due to this cause first of all I feel my dream of MIT is gone and that now few of my friends say I may even be expelled or suspended :(</p>
<p>My chem teacher said he already reported the matter to the principal and now I have to attend a hearing and defend my case in front of principal.
And oh btw for the last two sems I was getting straight A’s in Chem.</p>
<p>The truth is the only thing that matters here. If your administrators are idiots, they’re idiots. Go around them.</p>
<p>Explain on your application exactly how you violated the policy and why, and point out that MIT “has a strong culture of student collaboration [and that] students are encouraged and expected to work with each other on homework - or psets.”</p>
<p>Remind the admissions board that “[collaboration is] how problems are solved in the real world - by small teams of smart people contributing their individual expertise and understanding.” Let them know how your “dishonesty” fits into their plan for students, as “when [students] graduate from MIT and go to work at a Fortune 500 company, or a nonprofit, or as an entrepreneur delivering an elevator pitch, [they’re] going to need to know how to work with others. So that’s what [they’ll] do… at MIT.”</p>
<p>You might also point out in your application that in REAL labs, collaboration is how science progresses. Scientists share knowledge, and by working together they solve our problems. Imagine if every geneticist had to discover PCR on his or her own, without the benefit of asking other specialists for a helping hand! There is no shame in being early to the game of collaboration, especially if it’s because of an honest misinterpretation of a truly foolish policy thought up by some real dunderheads. This isn’t like cheating on a test, or sneaking a peek at someone’s answers. You are helping your peers build a foundation for a lab that they’ll be better able to understand individually because of you.</p>
<p>Just BE HONEST. You will have the truth, and your school will have its stupid policy. It’s pretty clear who will have the upper hand in the admissions office, if you stick to your principles. Lies will end whatever chance you have, because even the best liars can’t think of everything.</p>
<p>Honestly, now I feel I’m at an advantage compared to other students due to this :D</p>
<p>Anyway, here’s what the instructor told me over the phone when I called him today.
That I have violated the school’s policy of academic honesty, where I have tried to help weak students who without my “illegal” help wouldn’t have managed to pass. And that I have violated the ethics of academic life - ROFL :D</p>
<p>But even though I might have a reason to defend my case in the MIT App but my GPA will be around 3.0, if I get a F in the chem course, which might be a potent game breaker.</p>
<p>My school did something like this to an MIT-bound student a few years ago who ended up getting his admission rescinded. Some of these administrators are incredibly stupid; I wish you the best of luck and I hope they understand the importance of collaboration in science.</p>
<p>well it sounds like your case is much less severe than this student’s case. this student was charged by police. I honestly think your school is overreacting and most schools will overlook your failing grade if you provide an explanation.</p>
<p>Well I’m not worried about the safety schools, but rather for mit & stanford. I dont really have any idea as to how can I bring up my GPA this time if I get a F grade.
Btw if I get suspended or anything can I still attend some advanced dual credit classes ?</p>
<p>Guys, I really think I’m losing it right now…arrgghh :mad:</p>
<p>This is one of the reasons what MIT asks for your transcript not your GPA. People obsess about GPA, but it really is unimportant. Its importance lies in the fact that it is a pretty good proxy for an examination of your transcript. Assuming your grades are very good apart from this F, and assuming that you can defend this F appropriately (which is not a given), then this is not necessarily a show-stopper.</p>
<p>Also, don’t immediately give up on the principal’s letter. Even if he/she throws the book at you, that may also not be a showstopper. A letter that indicates that you were found to have violated the policy, and needed to be disciplined, but that the school recognized that it was punishing you for inappropriate kindness would go a long way. A principal can discipline you strongly, to send a signal, while still being willing to acknowledge that they regretted having to do so. Everything depends on the personalities involved, and the specific circumstances. A letter from the principal that tells MIT something along the lines of “This punishment was a long time coming, and it serves the little weasel right” will most likely kill your chances of admission. So you will need to figure out how best to play this, and anyone who does not know the personalities involved cannot really advise you intelligently.</p>
<p>^ I have always been helping other students get good results & I enjoy doing it. I’m not a superstar or anything but I really feel my kindness was mistaken as dishonesty. Although now I do feel I shouldn’t have helped the other students. But anyway if given a chance again I will not do this mistake again!</p>
