<p>Hi... I know from just the title you may judge me as a failure or some other sort of foul child, and I know I will not be able to convince you otherwise.
I am a Junior, All A student who takes all AP classes with a relatively high SAT score, lots of extra curricular activities, won in many competitions; however, recently, I was caught cheating in my math test.
The teacher called the principle, I will be in suspension in a few days along with a 0 on the test, and the fact that I cheated will go on my transcript.
I am fully ready to accept the consequences of my actions, but what I want to know is, how much will this affect my chance of going to college? My first goal was to go to Stanford, but that's clearly done for.
How high of a college can i hope to get in?</p>
<p>Also, since this is going on the transcript, would it be a reasonable to write about the cheating incident and what I learned from it on the college essays?</p>
<p>Please....don't be too harsh.. I know this was extremely idiotic of me but please...</p>
<p>It’s idiotic but understandable these days honestly. Just so much pressure to get that A and get into that top school that students will do most anything. Although Stanford might not be on the list (not saying it’s off) you’ll still get into a nice school with a nice scholarship, and when you’re looking back on this a year from now, you’ll see how everything turned out all right.</p>
<p>First of all, you deserved to be punished for doing something so idiotic. Secondly, I personally think it will hurt your application unless you have a justifiable reason, which it doesn’t seem that you have.</p>
What makes you say this? Honestly, I don’t imagine many schools wanting a person with a record of academic dishonesty, especially in the semester right before college applications.</p>
<p>You can try asking if you can do some extra work to get it taken off your transcript, but that’s not likely. You’ll get into some colleges, I just can’t say which or how pleased you’ll be. Cheating should not be a topic for the essay, but if it’s on your transcript, you may want to say something about it in the additional information section.</p>
<p>First of all, I don’t really know, so listen to other opinions also. I also think you can overcome this once you understand the situation. </p>
<p>I’m not trying to be harsh, but here’s the problem with cheating and with any integrity violation. Think about it, you can only lose your reputation for integrity. You really can’t get it back. That’s really the risk you take when you cheat. When someone cheats you in commerce, you rarely give them a second chance. </p>
<p>Imagine that I’m an admissions officer at a highly selective college that actually reads your application. I’m reading your application and I see a “cheating” incident on your transcript. It makes it really hard for me to believe ANYTHING on your transcript because the most likely scenario in my mind would be that you cheated earlier and often and this was just the first time you got caught. ALL of the grades are meaningless for me because they are all suspect. The most selective colleges would have to pick other qualified students over you, and they have plenty of them applying. </p>
<p>That said I don’t think it would nullify your standardized test scores because those are presumed to be professionally proctored. Therefore, I suspect that you can still get into places that will admit you primarily based on those and on recommendations. I don’t think that the most selective colleges will take you, but I think there is a level of college that has really good students, but not quite at the Stanford wannbe level of standardized testing that would likely see your scores, read your essays and recommendations and give you a second chance, especially if you are full pay. Your GC can probably help with this since I’m sure you’re not the first kid to ever get caught cheating. </p>
<p>Your high school record will be sealed once you leave HS and noone will ever need to see it again. I honestly think you can overcome this if you’ve really decided to take your integrity seriously. It’s a harsh lesson, but a good one. </p>
<p>jvanewportnews - thank you… your words takes a load off my mind.
gotmilk - my SAT score is above 2200</p>
<p>Yes I realize that it eliminated many potential colleges for me; however, I just want to know the extent to which I can apply and be accepted into. Currently, I’m hoping to get into the state university, which is quite good for my major.</p>
<p>Wouldn’t explaining and what I learned from this incident show that I actually learned from this, and am willing to fully recognize/accept the fact that this happened? I just thought it would be better than hoping that colleges will miss the part on the transcript where it says “cheated on test”</p>
<p>Here’s the problem; non-reach schools won’t overlook your cheating because your academic record is higher than their average. Indeed, the integrity and accuracy of your entire academic record is now in serious question.</p>
<p>ClassicRockerDad
I thought that high school transcript follows you throughout your life and onto your future jobs and all. Is that not true?</p>
<p>I have to say that your arguments are pretty solid.
currently, im in the process of mailing colleges that I know that I have no predilection for that are of high and middle level such as Harvard and A&M.
I’m hoping to get their input as to how I would do sending applications to them.</p>
<p>BillyMc
“non-reach schools won’t overlook your cheating because your academic record is higher than their average.” Are you saying that they would question my academic record because my average is higher than their’s?</p>
<p>I know a young man who has a remarkable record; he went to a prestigious summer program that is often regarded as an “ivy hook” and has the rest of the credentials to back it up. He was suspended for leaving study hall 30 minutes early. It was on his record and included in school reports, and he got rejected 13 places.</p>
<p>So if his experience has any relevance to you, you better move heaven and earth to remedy the situation to the extent possible. You have got to go over and above to show you are are a model citizen and that your cheating was an aberration rather than an indication.</p>
No, I’m saying that while you may have an impressive academic record, it is now in doubt, as schools don’t know how much you cheated, just that you have been caught once.</p>
<p>And what I said about the non-reach schools was to say that it isn’t only schools like Stanford that don’t want academically dishonest students; no school wants academically dishonest students.</p>
<p>I don’t ever remember someone asking for my HS transcript once I had a degree. I can’t imagine it will matter by then. </p>
<p>It’s also hard for me to believe that an admissions officer will be totally honest with you and tell you not to bother applying. I imagine that they will say that they will evaluate it carefully. Think about it, their offices are judged based on how many students they can encourage to apply in order to reject them. </p>
<p>A better question to hope for an honest answer would be: Do you ever accept students who have cheating violations on their transcripts but show true remorse? It’s really hard to wiggle out of that one, although I can see them saying that it happens, but not too often. Yeah it happens when the parents donate 20 million dollars for a new gym. </p>
<p>The irony of discussing integrity with them in light of the incentive that they have to get you to apply anyway, isn’t lost on me. :-)</p>
<p>Again, I’d ask your guidance counselor. I can’t believe that you wouldn’t have options.</p>
<p>BillyMc
Right now, I’m just hoping that they will see that all the other accomplishments that I have done will make the cheating seem negligible. For example, our competition group has been going to world level competition every year since 6th grade. So, I hope things like these could improve my chances of being accepted…</p>