How will my utterly regrettable mistakes affect my acceptance to different colleges?

<p>I am currently a junior in High School. I am taking four AP classes and I have decent grades with a good GPA. Back in my sophomore year, I did something incredibly stupid; I cheated on my Spanish test. It was towards the end of the year and I already had an A in the class. Why did I cheat? I honestly don't know the answer myself, but what I do know is that I learned from it. I learned that nothing is worth taking that risk. It is better to fail than to destroy the trust that you have created with your teacher. From that incident, I recieved a zero on the test, a Saturday school (which is like a form of detention, but it's for four consectutive hours), and a phone call home. My parents were extremely disappointed and I never want to put them through that again. I wrote an apology letter to my teacher explaining that I understood that what I did was wrong and that it will never happen again. At the end of the year, I still managed to recieve a B overall in that class.</p>

<p>This week, however, is a completely different story. It's a new year and basically a fresh start for me, so how did it go downhill so quickly? Again, this takes place in Spanish class. I have a different teacher this year and on Wednesday, it was the chapter one test. I had my phone sitting in my lap, but I was not using it in anyway. This year, we also got a new principal and many of the rules were enforced; the cellular phone poilcy being one of them. A student is not to have his or her phone out during school hours. I forgot I had it placed on my lap and the teacher confiscated it anyways.</p>

<p>Today, I went to go pick up my phone from my counselor's office. I was required to bring a parent with me so I had asked my mother to go. While we were sitting in my couselor's office, the subject of cheating was brought up once again. My teacher had written on the slip (that was sent with my phone to the office) that I had been using my phone during the test. This was a completely absurd concept to me considering the fact that I had even unlocked my phone to show my teacher that I was not doing anything with it. My Spanish teacher had known that I was not cheating, so why did she make it seem like I was? </p>

<p>As we continued to dicuss this subject, I explained to my counselor that I was not cheating in anyway. I told her that I realized it was my responsibility to put away my phone before class starts, but I had completely forgotten. I even explained to her that I had already talked to my parents about the confiscation of my phone and I agreed to turn it off during school hours and place it in my backpack. To my couselor, this was my second offense. It seemed so surreal and unfair because this was never suppose to happen. I admitted I was wrong and she told me that she was going to have to "record" this incident anyways. </p>

<p>The question that I am approaching is whether or not this will be on my transcript used for college applications. I am literally scared to the point where I am shaking (I even spelled my user name wrong because I was shaking so badly). I am afraid that the mistakes that I've made will affect my chances of getting into a good college. I wanted to go to an Ivy League school, but that seems almost impossible. Please, please, please help me. I know that what I did was wrong and I accept that fact, but right now, I am worried about my future. Thank you for taking the time to read this and I really look forward to all the replies!</p>

<p>Cheating mistakes are hard to fix. You really can only lose your reputation for integrity. You can’t get it back. You are contrite, you know what you did was wrong, but it’s hard for people to believe you. I’m sure you can understand if you try to put yourself in their shoes. People respected you and you let them down. They are not going to be so quick to forget. Before you were caught cheating, people gave you the benefit of the doubt. Now you don’t get that benefit. </p>

<p>I feel for you, but this is going to take time, and may not come out the way you want. </p>

<p>Look at the big picture. Try your best to become the person who you want to be. Do your best. Be honest. At some point, probably in college, you will be in a situation where your record is clean and nobody knows about your previous dishonesty. Savor it and maintain your integrity above all else. </p>

<p>You are correct, it’s better to fail then to cheat.</p>

<p>To my knowledge, only big things (like suspensions and if the police are involved–eg, drug arrest) are ever passed on to colleges. Having your teacher and counselor believe it was a second offense isn’t a good situation, especially since your counselor usually writes one of your letters of rec. If you are from CA, you don’t need any LORs for UCs and CSUs (and community colleges) so these mistakes won’t affect your acceptance to those schools. It might affect where you get accepted to privates unless you can cultivate some relationships with other staff members.</p>

<p>I second everything ClassicRockerDad said and am glad you are learning from your mistakes. That’s really what life is … a series of mistakes. It gets better as we get older and wiser and make fewer of them. At least that’s what is supposed to happen. I’m still making mistakes! ;-)</p>

<p>I would put this behind you and not ask this teacher for a reference!</p>

<p>Thank you for all the input! I am honestly learning from my mistakes. I ask more questions in class and I’m an active student now. Being caught really opened my eyes and it won’t happen again. I understand the consequences and I know my integrity is now questioned. I’ve grown as a person from these experiences, but I was just really worried about my future. Your words don’t give me false hope, but they do assure me of the fact that I will still have a future of redemption, in a sense. Thank you for all who replied!</p>