Hi guys,
I’m currently attending a community college in CA, called A. So I got caught cheating in one exam and met with the school’s disciplinarian. Good thing is I wasn’t expelled or failed the class. The case didn’t even show on my transcript, as notified by the school. The only bad thing is that this case will appear on my school’s disciplinary record for 3 years, then the file will be discarded provided I will not commit this mistake again.
I am aware that most public schools don’t ask applicants about disciplinary records, but private schools will. I plan to apply to both, but I know the cheating thing will haunt my chance definitely.
I plan to hide this incident by transferring to a new community college B. I know that the schools that use CommonApp will ask the “most recent institution” on whether I have been charged with academic misconduct. So I think they will only college B about my record. But there might be some small possibility that the schools might ask for previous schools to release disciplinary records, which is something I’m afraid of.
Here’s what I’m going to do: I will study well in college B(I still study well in my current college); I will ask for good recommendations; I will never cheat again.
Do you think if I do these things will make my the adcom less skeptical of my application? Personally, I don’t think they will not be too skeptical if they see nothing bad on my file, right?
What do you guys think? I really need advice! Thank you a lot!
Why do I feel that your scheme to try to hide your cheating is just a different form of cheating? As it obviously could backfire on you if school B learns of the academic dishonesty and reports it or if private colleges ask school A about any academic dishonesty why don’t you just stay where you are and address the situation as it stands. You made a mistake and you learned from it. Instead, you want to plot and scheme your way from owning up to a mistake which means that you really haven’t changed. Any college, even after they accept you could rescind their offer or believe it or not years later revoke your degree from them if they find that you misled them. You sign an honor code agreement when you apply to them. Good luck. I hope you do the right thing.
With your current mindset you will never receive a bachelor’s degree from any school.
You can’t hide it. Any college you attend can track your academic history through a national database. When you apply to new schools you have to tell them about every other college you’ve attended and send the transcripts. Your transcripts will likely include your disciplinary record.
Finish where you are now and do the best you can. When you’re ready to transfer, make sure you have some academic safeties on your list.
I agree with everyone. Hiding it isn’t the smart thing to do; the smart thing is to use it as a focal point of character development, and show that you’ve learned from your mistakes – although, with your current plan, it’s clear that you haven’t.
Pants on fire.
I agree with @TomSrOfBoston, your mindset will never allow you to graduate from a quality university. You don’t have a “wrong vs. right” gauge, such that your integrity will always be a problem. Employers tend not to hire people who can’t judge right and wrong.
All of the colleges use a national database that checks your previous records. You lie or “hide” things, you will get caught and expelled. Are you really that naive?