<ol>
<li><p>OK, so erato can't get his precious reccomendation from the school admin/teachers. From what I can tell, most universities don't actually require applicants to provide recs from teachers; the ones that do tend to be high end.</p></li>
<li><p>On that note, erato, it seems to me that you basically succumbed to the temptation with an aim to get into a top university. Since this is most likely no longer feasible if you act in any sort of ethical manner--and even less, if you take some of the 'easy' advice from earlier posters--there is really nothing to do for it but to prove yourself in other ways. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>3.Not starting at a prestigious dream university--or getting a bachelor's degree at one--is not the end of the world. Chances are, if you are really as strong a student as you say, there will be somewhere else that will take you as a freshman. It might not be as high-profile (it might even be a community college) as where you are thinking of, but if you work hard and get good grades in college, you can always transfer somewhere higher up the proverbial food chain.</p>
<p>You did something wrong. It was apparently not a 'mistake.' This doesn't have to be the end of your life or anything, though. All you can do is accept the consequences of what you have done, and work forward from there. If you have a god, pray to him to give you strength. I don't feel sorry for you, but good luck anyway.</p>
<p>If I were you, I would simply own up to your actions. Don't make excuses, but try to explain why you felt how you felt, did what you did, and so on. Point out that it was a misjudgment. Then, your counselors and teachers probably won't forgive you, but at the very least, they'll respect you for taking responsibility. Make certain you're never under the same circumstances again though...</p>
<p>wow, that's really stupid. why would you have the stolen test on your desk as you take the test?? if you're gonna do something, at least do it well.</p>
<p>Well, I'm a mom, so I'll weigh in, and hope you're okay with that.</p>
<p>I do have sympathy, if what you are telling is the complete and honest truth. It's painful to grow up, sometimes.</p>
<p>First, you need to tell your parents. They're busy, sure, but you're their child and you need them. Will they be mad? You bet! Disappointed? Yes! But they'll still love you and hopefully agree to give you some wise counsel.</p>
<p>Second, now is the time to be 1000% honest. You have broken trust with everyone. Only time and new track record will repair this. Try and identify the person. They've helped no one.</p>
<p>Third, about your recommendations. Talk to your teachers. They may hold off for a little while and send them in later, but they may want to see what you're really going to do here. They care, they're hurt, very disappointed. </p>
<p>Fourth, have I ever cheated? Yes. That's why I don't know how to help my son with geometry. Have my kids cheated? Yes. How many times did I find out? Once. My son was more upset at having disappointed us than anything. As far as I know, he's never done it again. Plus, it was for something stupid. A homework assignment! Not that homework's stupid, but come on! He could have turned it in a day late and received a "B." Wouldn't have killed his gpa.</p>
<p>Like setemstraight said, man up and face 'em.</p>
<p>and look at is positively Erato, although right now it may seem your world has ended it really hasnt. Your lucky that you had this incident happen now when ur sitll protected by law to be in school and where all your scores are in, gpa is over, and its just a matter of pleading to teachers that this was a one time thing and that pressure to succeed clouded ur judgement. Had this happened at a job or college, you would have been kicked out no questions asked and no refund on the years board or tuition. I feel for you, i know what the pressure is like but really, right now its about not only telling the truth but kissing some hard ass</p>
<p>As others have said, just be glad that it happened when you were in high school and not on a job. </p>
<p>A few pages back, someone said "You stole,cheated and lied. You alone are responsible." If I recall correctly, that was the motto of a two-man wrestling team. If you try to pull crap like this again, I guess you could try out at WWE.</p>
<p>Going over the original post, I find it strange that the OP doesn't mention any misgivings he might have had before he got caught (i.e. during the test). I'm just wondering whether he felt how incredibly disrespectful his actions were toward students who actually bothered to study, and even to those who didn't bother to study and chose not to cheat. It seems like he only got cold feet after his nice little world of recommendations started crashing around him.</p>
<p>ummm, some people dont understnad some things... the OP did not buy the test from someone else, that was a lie he made up to cover up his cheating</p>
<p>btw... 99.9% of people have cheated... that might not be to the same extent or as much as the OP... i mean, if you give someone your homework to look at/copy thats cheating... if there are two classes taught by the same teacher and one class takes a test first and tells the other kids what type of questions or even what ot study, that is cheating... if you've ever helped somebody with an individual assignment outside of school that was graded (like a project or sumthing) that is cheating... these things are all just to a lesser extent</p>
<p>OP- howd it go? </p>
<p>and people... seriously, this is a high school kid here, not an emotionally or otherwise developed adult, and even adults make mistakes.. this website can be seen as a sign of the competitiveness/nervousness/pressure of college</p>
<p>well,
1. Be thankful it was just that. 5 kids at my school whom I have known since elementary school have just screwed themselves worse then you have. These kids all had 4.0's at a competitive high school, 32+ for all of them on the ACT, captains of sports teams, raised in "the proper Asian home"(I say this only to demonstrate the fact that these are not kids living on the streets they are the sons of rich business execs.),and aside from some unimaginable super duper extra curricular, these kids were Harvard bound. Then one day one of their friends went to Mecca for a pilgrimage. They all got together and decided that they would break into his house (keep in mind this is their friend), and steal 19,000 dollars worth of stuff. Later they told there friends and the word got out. They were arrested and now the best education they are going to get is a community college degree. I don't feel the least bit sorry for them.
2. I do feel a little sorry for you, if what you say is true. I think most can understand buckling under pressure. Lets be honest your chances are shot, but keep in mind that what makes you a man (or a woman i guess) is your ability to right your wrongs. What is done is done. Start thinking about how you can improve yourself as a person. Ill be honest...I am a smart person. I have received a few D's which is not characteristic of my intelligence, but, I'm proud to say I don't cheat (I think there are few who can claim that). Good luck!</p>
<p>"Going over the original post, I find it strange that the OP doesn't mention any misgivings he might have had before he got caught (i.e. during the test)."</p>
<p>Yes, his misgivings all were about being caught. That was very revealing of his character. To him, cheating is acceptable (after all, he thought that being under pressure was a good excuse for cheating), but getting caught apparently is how cheating is a problem.</p>
<p>vega07, u shouldn't have done that but i can see why u did that. oneof my best friend was accused of something similar and the school officials basically wanted a scape goat so they said that they'll cut a deal, if she admit it, she'll only do 10 hours of community service. she didn't take the deal cus she didn't do it. and she ended up being suspended for 10 days. (which is the max. because anything more would need legal investigation which the school didn't want to do cus they were afraid they would be found out if federal investigators came in) </p>
<p>but i the end. happy ending, she was accpted into a ton of schools. yeah she had to explain and make tonsof extra phone calls but in the end, she can say that she did what she can live with herself. </p>
<p>but i totally understand what u did. and that took strength, to let go.</p>
<p>I think by "cheating" people mean that they may put an extra hr/week on those college apps or similiar questions. etc. Not the cheating like "oh let me look at all the answers".</p>
<p>Also simliar situations
if you give someone your homework to look at/copy thats cheating
If you do something that the teacher does not specify that could be considered cheating. </p>
<p>Cheating does not have to be explicit. It can be implied through things like if your teacher doesn't say specificly.</p>
<p>this story you posted has a lot of drama and very moving because i'm sure we've all faced this sort of dilemma. </p>
<p>Would make a good reality tv show . Not to be cruel, just a bright side to this :</p>
<p>and in response to the second post:</p>
<p>cheaters prosper, cheaters who get caught dont.</p>
<p>and responses to those people with "no sympathy"</p>
<p>Erato didn't come here to get scolded nor did he/she come to feel worse. Erato came to CC for some words of advice. He's probably feeling second to dirt, so i suggest some of CCers to lighten up, and help this kid out. He has enough to worry about.</p>
<p>I DO give you my sympathy, though I do not feel extremely sorry for you. I understand that people are just too pressured to do well these days. Believe me, I've been in your situation. I haven't cheated before, but I can somewhat understand that you may not have been able to help it. The pressure of doing well may have exceeded your limit, leading you to give in to cheating. Just because you cheated doesn't mean that you're "doomed" or that you are a truly bad person. Everyone will make mistakes in their lives. Remember that you aren't the only one who has made an incredibly stupid mistake like this. It will all turn out to be okay. I can definitely tell you that. =]</p>
<p>I'm just hoping that you learned your lesson...</p>
<p>if you really want advice? ( i definitely do not encourage you to lie)</p>
<p>look at the news headlines such as the Libby Scooter Case, he apparently had a "memory lapse" under pressure. Look at how the Pros do it. As i said, i dont encourage you to lie, but im just giving you what you asked for. You make decisions, You also must face the consequences.</p>
<p>you guys don't have to feel sorry for the OP. just don't hurt him more than he already is. again, he came on this forum for some assistance.</p>
<p>oh yeah, because I "admitted" to cheating, I endured the honor system of discipline. I got a "cheating contract" stating that if I were to cheat again, I would fail the class with an F. from then on till the end of high school (I was a junior), I was realllllly careful about cheating and not screwing myself over. I would always compare answers with friends before, but after that, I avoided it all. I didn't give anyone my answers nor ask for answers...</p>
<p>...and here I am at UCLA. got accepted to Berkeley and waitlisted at Stanford (eventually rejected). SO, the world has not ended OP. just do the right thing and move on! you've already suffered too much.</p>
<p>offer them what they can do to punish you. they become more sympathetic. admit that everything is your fault (which it is). <-that's really REALLY important. What ever happens, just try to put an end to this and move on.</p>