<p>In my junior year I got in trouble for "cheating" (long story) on a math notebook quiz. I <em>think</em> it was recorded on my file.</p>
<p>Will colleges hate me for this?</p>
<p>If you were suspended or faced other disciplinary action for the cheating then you will have to admit to this and write about it on the common application.
This same question is posed to your school counselor who must respond on the school report.</p>
<p>Even cheating is not an insurmountable obstacle in college admissions---write thoughtfully about what happened, accept responsibility and show what you learned and how you grew through the experience.</p>
<p>I was not suspended. I got a zero on the quiz and my parents were contacted. My dean was contacted as well (standard policy) but he was sympathetic to me.</p>
<p>Ask to see your records, and ask guidance/dean if they will be mentioning this on transcript and/or their recommendations. If they're not going to disclose it then I recommend you keep this as a learning experience for yourself and don't mention it. If they are, I think a BRIEF but thoughtful "additional info" essay on why it happened, what you learned, and why it won't happen again would probably solve the problem.</p>
<p>We went to a college open house where the admissions rep was listing some of the worst college essay topics she had seen in her career. Her #1 worst: "Why it wasn't my fault when I got arrested for shoplifting."</p>