Did my cheating ruin my chances to get into a good college?

I m a freshman in high school and on my Spanish Writing exam I used a word that I necessarily didn t learn in class. I was absent the day of the exam and took it in a room by myself with no teacher present. When my teacher graded the exam she pulled me to the side and asked me how to say something in Spanish and I couldn t answer then she said “Well why did you put that word on your test?” I was honest and I told her that my friends told me about the topic and a prepared before the exam. I had no disciplinary actions besides my F. (Disciplinary actions meaning no detention/suspension/talking with principle) On Infinite Campus (the online grading site we use) I saw a 0 as my test grade and in the comments section it said cheated in red letters. I still ended the year with a high B in the class but I am worried something will show up on my transcript that I cheated. My online transcript on Infinite Campus doesn’t show anything about me cheating but I don’t know if it’s accurate. I m more worried that this will stop me from getting into any good colleges. Does it show up on my transcript? Am I doomed!? I regret it with all my heart I just want to know if this one wrong move has killed my chances at some decent schools (not Ivy League or anything just good state schools)

Go ask your guidance counselor. My guess would be that this is an internal comment that is not part of the record colleges will see on your transcript.

The impact of the F on your final grade might hurt you, but I doubt that colleges will be able to see why you got that F.

I doubt it will appear on your transcript. Be glad this happened in your freshmen year, when colleges are likelier to forgive a low grade. Not that a B is a bad grade, of course. I have seen many stories of cheating in the three years I have been in this website. Sometimes these incidents are ruinous. You got off with a slap onnthe wrist in comparison. Don’t cheat again, really.

Two things:

  1. I’m impressed that you didn’t choose to blame your actions on someone else or on circumstances. How very refreshing.
  1. As a teacher, I've got to say: who on earth gives the SAME exam on two different days??? Sorry, but the makeup should have been different from the original exam. And you took it alone in a room? Are you kidding????

OK, so lesson learned. The odds are good that all that will appear is the B.

" I’m impressed that you didn’t choose to blame your actions on someone else or on circumstances. How very refreshing."

Agreed.