How to discuss being expelled from a previous institution

Graduate School
1

<p>One of the graduate schools I've applied to asked me to provide some additional information. </p>

<p>To make a long story short, several years ago, I was accused of academic dishonesty in the lab portion of a course, found guilty, and subsequently expelled. I appealed this decision, as I believed it was too harsh, but my appeal failed.</p>

<p>I then took a year off from college. Since then, I've graduated from a nationally accredited engineering school, am in the process of publishing a few papers (one of them has been accepted at an international conference), and have studied abroad at one of the top universities in Asia (which is also ranked in the top 100 worldwide). I've also been offered admission at the said university, but would prefer to return to the US.</p>

<p>How should I write to them or phrase my letter in such a way that makes it more likely to be admitted? How detailed to I have to be about that particular incident?</p>

2

<p>Any suggestions at all?</p>

3

<p>Be honest and forthcoming about your misdeeds. If they have asked you specifically to “provide some additional information” about that event, they’re going to want to read a full accounting of what you did and a strong declaration that you won’t repeat the conduct.</p>

4

<p>If they asked specifically about the dishonesty, agreed, you need to be direct about it.</p>

<p>You could probably get some additional commentary/opinions of a college advisor or administrative staff, over academic dishonesty you did in the past. They have seen it often and can give some strong points that you could use to write back.</p>