[Academic Dishonesty] Will it ruin my chances at admissions?

Applying to College
1

Hello everyone.

I’m a HS senior who is in the process of completing applications. I’ve had two academic dishonesty incidents, once during my sophomore year and another during junior year and was wondering if how much if it will affect my admission chances. I will elaborate on them below.

During sophomore year, I took a final exam home. I had turned in the my answer sheet along with my scratchwork paper to the teacher as expected but was unaware that I had left the actual exam with questions on my desk. As the period was the last one of my day, I just stuffed the packet on my desk into my backpack in my rush to get out. As soon as the teacher summoned me the next day, I got home, searched through the pile of papers on my desk and found the exam, and returned it to her on the same day. The teacher went through a class-wide anonymous survey to see if anyone from her class had benefited from my actions, and no one reported that they had, which should have been the case since I did not give out questions nor was I aware that I had brought the exam packet home in the first place. I had a discussion with my GC and my punishment resulted in an in-house suspension, along with receiving half credit for the exam, receiving a semester grade a letter lower than what I would have received without the mistake (a passing grade nonetheless). She also stated that since it’s my first offense and not an actual suspension, it would not be reported to colleges. I served the IHS, and the matter was done.

I know that this story is quite hard to believe that I had not done this intentionally, but I can only say that I had absolutely no intentions to take the test home for neither personal gain or for my friends. The class-wide survey can serve as my proof of innocence, if it can be argued further.

The incident during junior year was far more simple. I was caught copying answers from someone else for a homework assignment. I got a referral and again visited my GC, but it resulted in no punishment except for receiving no credit on that said assignment. That was intentional, and I regret my poor judgement. There is nothing more I can say here except for the fact that I’ve learned my lesson.

I’ve talked to my GC not too long ago for college matters and she said that she will have to report both incidences on the Common App where they ask about disciplinary incidences since “the consequence was implemented due to a second offense,” as quoted by her. I have asked her to elaborate since I technically received the consequence (the IHS) for the first offense only and have not received a response yet.

Currently, I’m applying to multiple CSUs for safety, targets in a few schools out of state i.e. Syracuse and University of Oregon, and a few reaches of UCs and other privates northeast. Here are my stats:

3.54 UW, 4.1 W GPA through my 10-11th grade
32 composite score on the ACT (may be higher since I took it again last week)
4 AP (euro, bio, calc AB, lang) exams with all passing scores
News editor position for 3 years in our school’s journalism course (been in the course since sophomore year and on)
Former junior varsity tennis player (freshman-sophomore)
President and secretary of two school clubs
2nd place winner of the 2016 SoCal CWA for solo keyboard
Certificate of Merit level 10
100+ hours of community service from volunteering

I plan to major in media studies and similar fields, but also have an interest in psychology.

I know my stats aren’t the strongest, and I’m worried if I’ll have to readjust my list of colleges due to the academic dishonesty offenses, which will most likely be the case. Can my first offense be argued again, or is that closed since I was already given a “second chance”? How much will these two incidents impact my chances? I know my chances at my reach schools are close to none now, but I’d still like some feedback from people with more expertise in the application process.

I’m not sure if this helps, but I’m an epileptic that was diagnosed since freshman year which definitely impacted my academic performance. I was not a recipient of ED Section 504.

Thanks for reading.

2

I don’t understand the first incident. If you took an exam in class you should have had 3 papers on your desk: the exam, the answer sheet, and the scratch paper. Are you saying that when you left your seat to turn in your exam you left a paper on your desk without noticing, and when you returned to your desk you didn’t realize the desk wasn’t empty? Or did you get additional papers you weren’t required to return? If other classes still had to take the exam it seems like all test materials would have had to be turned in. It’s not surprising that none of your classmates admitted to having benefited (cheated). They would likely have been suspended too.

Even if the first incident was an accident, the second makes it look worse. You were accused of cheating and didn’t seem to learn from it. You should have avoided any situations that could be construed as cheating, so to actively cheat looks bad. I think the consequence the GC is referring to is the requirement that the incidences be reported on the common app. It sounds like one might not be, but if a student has two then they are. You should add some safeties to your list. Maybe your GC can suggest some.

Your epilepsy could explain lower grades, if mentioned by your GC, but the low grades could be seen as a motivation to cheat, so I don’t think that will help your case. Why didn’t you have a 504?

3

I don’t understand the first incident either. Like you said, every desk had 3 papers for the exam: the answer sheet, scratch work, and the exam packet. To this day, I still wonder why I did not return the exam along with my two other papers. Maybe I was tired and wasn’t thinking straight – but that goes for every other student during finals week. What’s done is done.

I already have multiple CSUs on my list as safeties, but I’m worried if I would have to aim even lower. My plan B is community colleges, but they are always an option for everyone. Just wanted to see how these incidents would mostly affect my targets.

I did not have 504 because I found medication that effectively controlled my condition. I didn’t want to be seen as handicapped in front of other students and receiving questions. Now that I think about it, it was just me being self-conscious.

I know this isn’t the end of the world, but I’m getting so anxious thinking about how much this will affect me. I guess I can say this whole ordeal taught me a big lesson. Thanks for replying.

4

Add more CSUs and ucr/ucm?

5

Have you learned anything from any of this?

6

My daughter has adhd and accidentally came home with a test once. It can happen when you’re grabbing everything to hurry to the next class. Luckily she had an understanding teacher, plus it was in middle school.

7

Also, Cal States do not use the common app and they don’t take letters of recommendation, so I don’t think it will impact your CSU apps. Not sure about the schools that use the common app.

8

Honestly, I would have come down harder on the second incident than the first. The second was obviously deliberate. Whether or not the first was accidental, the teacher should not have only one test for all classes, much less year after year. Things like this happen. I think it’s too late to fight it now, though, although I might have told you push back a little more at the time.

In either case discipline records SHOULD be sent to colleges. It is a competitive world out there, which explains why cheating has become so prevalent in the first place. There has to be deterrents in place - as well as discussions encouraging positive character traits (carrots and sticks).

Will it affect your chances? Maybe at highly selective schools where the decision is close, but probably not at less selective schools or schools (like the Cali schools) who focus more on your stats than a holistic look at the applications. I think what worries colleges more is the possibility of accepting a student whose behavior puts other students at risk. No one wants that liability. Fortunately that doesn’t apply to your case. Learn your lessons - you might not be given a third chance - and move forward.

9

Thanks for all of your replies.

Yes, I have learned from my mistake. The stress of completing applications combined with this issue weighs heavily on my mind, and I wish to never commit such thing again. No one can cheat through life, and I’m glad I learned it not too late.

I will have hopes in my CSU applications and send prayers for my targets.