With academic dishonesty on my record, am I at all eligible for top colleges?

Applying to College
1

<p>During my sophomore year, I stupidly took a copy of a test that my friend took from the teacher - and was rightly suspended for it. I apologized to the teacher immediately afterward, and we have repaired our relationship greatly (he is even writing one of my recs for me). Furthermore, I've used my experiences with this incident to found an Honor Council at our school. I and the other Council members now mentor kids who get caught for cheating; we encourage them to repair relations with their teachers and set them up with tutoring (if they're not doing well in the class), so that they don't become repeat offenders.</p>

<p>It's been nearly two years since my mistake, but I'm still worried about it. I'm applying early to Wellesley (which I know places huge importance on its honor code), as well as Smith and other top schools like American, BU, GWU, NYU. I know my cheating will give me a huge disadvantage in applications, as will my over-represented race, but my GPA and scores are pretty top-tier and I've got good (dare I say, even great) EC's. </p>

<p>Thus, I'm wondering, should I totally just disregard the top colleges I've chosen and aim for in-state schools instead? I don't want to apply to the places I love and not get into any.</p>

2

<p>You shouldn’t only apply to top colleges even if you’re a flawless applicant. Very selective schools reject boatloads of highly qualified kids. Apply to the places you love, but also choose some schools where you are very likely to be accepted, and where you know you will be able to be happy. This isn’t an either-or situation.</p>

<p>Presumably the teacher writing your rec will address your situation; you also might address it in one of your essays. The Honor Council is a pretty impressive EC.</p>

3

<p>Here on CC “top colleges” usually means the ivy league and peers. You’re looking at good colleges, but not ones that are s likely to dismiss a candidate over any one thing.</p>

<p>Don’t get me wrong, academic dishonesty is bad.</p>

<p>But if you have top stats for these schools and the teacher involved addresses the situation and you do too, it probably won’t keep you out of all of these schools.</p>