<p>Hey everyone. I got caught cheating in freshmen year and got an Honor Code Violation. Didn't get suspended or on probation or anything else serious, so when colleges ask on the application if any serious disciplinary action has been taken, I'll still check no. But I asked my GC about it, and she said that the Honor Code violation will appear on my transcript. Considering this was in freshmen year, can this affect my chances at an Ivy, NYU, or an Honors Program (i.e. Sophie-Davis)?</p>
<p>Don't worry about it - in your explanation note explain that you learned your lesson. However, I would try and stay away from the, "it will never happen again" ploy. Colleges know that kids make mistakes, and are even more likely to make these mistakes when they are younger, and admitedly, less mature. Explain to colleges what happened during your freshman year, and you should be fine.</p>
<p>^It shouldn't affect your chances. But you might want to discuss with your counselor whether or not you SHOULD check that box. Because it appears on your transcript, a college might think you're trying to hide it from them.</p>
<p>When you got the violation, were your parents notified directly by either phone or e-mail- not just through a letter?</p>
<p>the question on the common app is as follows:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Have you ever been found responsible for a disciplinary violation at an educational institution you have attended from 9th grade (or the international equivalent) forward, whether related to academic misconduct or behavioral misconduct, that resulted in your probation, suspension, removal, dismissal, or expulsion from the institution?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>While you were not suspended or dismissed you state that your GC said the the honor code violation would be on your transcript.</p>
<p>It makes no sense to lie about it especially since your GC is going to be asked the same thing and will answer the question truthfully (lying will automatically move your application to the deny pile).</p>
<p>just come out clean about it. Ask your GC to clarify on it as well, stating that it was in 9th grade and maybe how you have grown from the experience.</p>
<p>Maybe answer something like, "I regretably broke the honor code in 9th grade, but my violation warranted no serious punishment."</p>
<p>top tier colleges dont have any reason to look past your infraction, however minor. there are thousands of overqualified kids who will be getting rejected, and they look actively for reasons to reject them. i'd say something like an honor code violation could very well keep you out of a top school if you don't have some other hook, like minority status, PERFECT grades and scores, legacy, etc.</p>
<p>BrownPlease is right. It can definitely hurt.</p>
<p>Also, like sybbie said, it'll be on your transcript so you definitely shouldn't check the "no" box. Write a brief explanation for it and have your GC explain it as well.</p>
<p>This will definitely hurt your chances at Sophie Davis. The program prides itself on throughly checking the records high school students... that means the slightest infraction means a rejection letter. Furthermore, the program is trying to prepare students to become doctors, they wont want someone that has cheated... in their eyes someone who cheated once could cheat again. This is the same for most major university's.</p>
<p>Venator does raise a point. Most colleges look at your high school record as the greatest predictor of future behavior is relevant past behavior.</p>
<p>Most schools that have honor codes take them very seriously. My D attends Dartmouth where your cheating and honor code violation would at minimum gotten you a 3 term suspension. </p>
<p>Even though it happened freshman year, some schools may feel that some of your other grades may be tainted by this because no one can say with any certainty that you did not cheat since (you just may have managed not to get caught again). With more and more students in the elite college admissions pool, colleges are not at a loss of potential students who will not have any honor code violations on their transcript.</p>
<p>at the end of the day all you can do is write a supplemental statement, manning up to what you did and what you learned from the experience. If you have regained the trust of the teacher whose class you cheated in and can support that you have changed, that would be great.</p>