<p>I have been referring to these forums for any and all of my college-related questions for as long as I can remember, but now I am faced with an issue I have not been able to find as already discussed.</p>
<p>I am in the second semester of my junior year at a high-ranking, private school. I have a pending academic suspension for plagiarism-- stupid, I know. </p>
<p>What I am looking for is advise on how to handle the situation regarding college applications for my senior year.</p>
<p>Will this be on my transcript or will my GC have to report it to all colleges? Does this look any worse than a suspension for drinking or drug use? Will this greatly affect my chances at a good college? </p>
<p>Do you suggest I tell them when completing applications? I understand that the majority will suggest checking Yes and that it is the right thing to do, but realistically will a college ever find out if I just check no? </p>
<p>I will probably tell them either way. Better start thinking of a great essay.</p>
<p>It not like middle school where they takes your record wherever you go… Suspension or ANY forms of punishment you get in high school will never count against you. It is basically a NON-factor in the college admittance process.</p>
<p>It’s both on the CA and on the GC forms. And, if your GC checks yes and you check no, that’s trouble. Don’t waste your essay on it. You write an Addl Info note that shows how contrite you are (this is in the CA instructions, btw.) See what your punishment is and then what your GC intends to do. Don’t game this based on anyone’s assumptions. IME, adcoms look to see how apologetic you are, what you learned from the experience, before they judge.
If the college doesn’t use the CA, see whether their forms (incl the hs report) ask about disciplinary issues.</p>
<p>Why would they care more about plargism then drugs or alcohol. Perhaps the student forgot to mentions one single single source and that why. Or perhaps he was copy off of [or copying(on purpose or accidently)] and the teacher turns a deaf ear. Where as drugs or alcohol would affect overall performance.</p>
<p>^dude, colleges are really touchy about academic fraud of any kind(e.g plagiarism). @OP i don’t think you should specify that your offence was plagiarism. It could have a deleterious effect on your application.</p>
<p>First, take a deep breath and realize that everyone makes mistakes. Second, be willing to accept full responsibility. Third, learn from the experience and take it as a life lesson.</p>
<p>From your post, it is clear you want to do the right thing and I commend you for that! Try to enlist the support of a trusted adult advocate. It is really important that you talk with your guidance counselor. The Common App was changed this year in such a way that he/she may indeed have to reference the suspension in the school report - so whatever you say must be consistent with the school’s report.</p>
<p>Own up to your mistake. Don’t focus on how to spin this as much as truly learning the lesson it can teach. You will get into a college and you will be okay.</p>
<p>In elite academic environments plagiarism tends to be considered a much worse offense than something related to drugs or alcohol. At many colleges and elite prep schools a single plagiarism offense is grounds for expulsion while drug related issues tend to have much more lenient consequences especially for first time offenders. Unless you are actually a drug dealer or something plagiarism is going to have a much worse effect on your application. I’d ask your counselor if it does show up on your transcript or if it will be on her recommendation and if so is there any way to get it expunged but if it can’t, be honest and write something heartfelt and sincere that expresses your remorse and shows them that it was a learning experience that will never happen again.</p>
<p>Clawob: What was the nature of your plagiarism? </p>
<p>At my school you just get a “0” and 2 Friday School with a phone call home (1st offense) (trust me at my school a friday is waay worse than a suspension), 2nd offense = suspension, 3rd is expulsion. For drug usage on school grounds, 1st offense- Suspension or Expulsion. So idk what wrong with your schools…
Also #14 is right, see watch your counselor say about it.</p>
<p>Descuff: “idk what wrong with your schools…” Actually I don’t know what’s wrong with your school. Everyone makes mistakes and colleges know and acknowledge that. A drug or alcohol violation is much more leniently dealt with than plaigarism speaks about your dishonest character, etc. It looks bad for prestigious colleges which intend to build a trusting relationship between the teachers and the students.</p>
<p>@nickro my school is one of the top school in the area, people want to go there. elite academic environments??? what in the world… Are you talking about college and broading school. @stanleyford: But I’m trying to say that there are different nature of plagiarism. As one may mistakenly do it. it shouldn’t be on the ground of suspension. Meanwhile, people uses drugs on purpose and they poses more overall problem especially academics.</p>
<p>@Descuff: I understand the stance where you are coming from, and the colleges sure do too. That’s why they inquire for a paragraph for explaining your suspension. If it was just a little thing like forgetting to cite a source, colleges will most likely overlook that. However, if he/she copied ideas from let’s say Sparknotes because he was lazy, colleges will judge the person more negatively than a person who got caught for doing alcohol/drugs.</p>