<p>I was recently caught for plagiarism. It was an isolated incident, so while I received a zero for the assignment, I was not suspended. My first term grade for the class will be a D-.
I have proven myself capable of writing well without any possibility of cheating (in-class essays, for example) and my guidance counselors and teachers all consider me a student of high integrity.
If I my application is otherwise relatively strong, but not outstanding, and I can pull my grade up for second term, do I still even stand a chance?</p>
<p>Also, this incident taught me a lot about who I can hurt by cheating, what my own capabilities are, and how important it is for me to be able to rest on my morals (after I submitted the essay, I even became physically ill, constantly vomiting, because of the guilt and emotional duress). Since it was such an important moment in my life, I am heavily considering writing about it for my common app essay. Would emphasizing the incident only hurt me, even if I was writing about how everything it taught me will prevent me from ever plagiarizing again?</p>
<p>I’ve read somewhere that top colleges are too busy to be bothered with whether the integrity of an applicant, so even one offense that would cost so much would be a very big minus.They don’t want to take the chance that a student may do something bad in college as well. However, if you can write how the incident has influenced you in your essay, sincerely (the admissions officers must know that too), then you stand a chance.</p>
<p>I agree with the above poster, colleges do not want to doubt an applicant’s academic integrity even for a second. As for the essay idea, I think the time span is too limited for you to have experienced anything deeply profound, the essay might end up sounding like a long-winded excuse.</p>
<p>Hopefully, after you completed your assigned disciplinary work/essay, the school expunged your record so that you won’t have to disclose this at all…as in not having to note it in your disciplinary history, let alone not writing an essay on the subject for an admission committee to review. I would plead with the school to expunge this and pray that your recommenders don’t allude to it.</p>
<p>I think a D- will not get you a second look on an Amherst application. Sorry to say that, but with such a competitive group a D- in any class will probably get you moved from the accepted to rejected pile pretty quickly.</p>
<p>The D- will put you out of the running, unless you explain it. Explaining it will put you out of the running. I think you need to adjust your expectations, there are thousands of students with no blots on their records who want places.</p>
<p>The D- will absolutely put you out of the running, even if you got an A for the next semester. I would not write about this in your common app main essay. Is this what defines you? I hope not. As I remember it, there is something on the common app about any disciplinary actions in hs and you can write about it there.</p>
<p>Just to clarify–will the D- appear on your transcript, or is it a grading period grade that will be averaged with another grade for your semester grade?</p>
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