Academic Dishonesty and applications

Started by CaptainSquishy
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CaptainSquishy

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This past week I was caught cheating on participation for a biochemistry class by which a friend had signed me in electronically using an iClicker without my actual presence. Of the 40 people present, 44 people had been clicked in electronically. I was among the 4 who were dishonestly present. In my professors syllabus, it indicates that an action such as this may result in a report for academic dishonesty, along with possible failure and ineligibility for retaking the course. Fearing an F grade that the professor may put upon me, I immediately went to talk to her in her office and she told me that because I had the initiative to speak to her she'll let me off by giving me zero participation credit instead of failing me. However this didn't change the fact that she was going to write me up for academic dishonesty. I sit here scared and hopeless when I look forward to applying next year because I know the application asks me about academic dishonesty. Should I abandon my dreams? What should I do?
 
It's fine to be scared, anyone would be. But keep hope alive! Do not abandon ye dreams! BE HONEST! HURRAH!! Sorry, got a little carried away there. Seriously though, just apply and be honest through everything, you should have learned something from your experience talking to the professor and being upfront with her, being open, honest, and having initiative pays.

Cheers
 
if there's one thing I learned throughout my undergrad, never give up. No matter what people say, what you experience, hold onto that dream of yours. if you're honest and you explain your mistake and what you learned, it'll be okay.
 
Please don't give up on your dreams. I know that you're scared, and that it sucks right now, but everything will work out in due time. If I were you, I would probably attempt to find out more about what being written up for academic dishonesty means at your school. Honestly, I don't know what it means at mine, so I can't tell you, but maybe knowing what is going to happen would help you be less nervous. You could talk to your professor about this or to your dean or the dean of judicial affairs (this person would probably be most familiar with what will happen, would be the best person to talk to). Just sit tight, and don't panic. Admittedly, you were in the wrong, especially since your professor explicitly stated this on the syllabus, so I don't think there's anything you can do about this situation right now. Just wait and see what happens, make sure you understand everything, and be prepared to make this a turning point in your life.

I think it's a good idea to start thinking about how you will SHOW that you have recovered from this incident, not just talk about it. So think of something that you can do, maybe at your school, maybe locally, that will show that you have become a changed person after this incident. Take initiative on this, and it can only give you benefits where the admissions committee is concerned.

On the application and in interviews next year, obviously be as honest as you can be. Talk about the experience, what you've learned from it, how you've grown, and what you have done about it.

A hard fall means a high bounce...if you're made of the right material.
 
LaFleur said:
Please don't give up on your dreams. I know that you're scared, and that it sucks right now, but everything will work out in due time. If I were you, I would probably attempt to find out more about what being written up for academic dishonesty means at your school. Honestly, I don't know what it means at mine, so I can't tell you, but maybe knowing what is going to happen would help you be less nervous. You could talk to your professor about this or to your dean or the dean of judicial affairs (this person would probably be most familiar with what will happen, would be the best person to talk to). Just sit tight, and don't panic. Admittedly, you were in the wrong, especially since your professor explicitly stated this on the syllabus, so I don't think there's anything you can do about this situation right now. Just wait and see what happens, make sure you understand everything, and be prepared to make this a turning point in your life.

I think it's a good idea to start thinking about how you will SHOW that you have recovered from this incident, not just talk about it. So think of something that you can do, maybe at your school, maybe locally, that will show that you have become a changed person after this incident. Take initiative on this, and it can only give you benefits where the admissions committee is concerned.

On the application and in interviews next year, obviously be as honest as you can be. Talk about the experience, what you've learned from it, how you've grown, and what you have done about it.

A hard fall means a high bounce...if you're made of the right material.
Click to expand...

seriously, I LIKE.

1+ on everything else LaFleur said.
 
it would be just if academic dishonesty reports were classified by offense. there's a big difference between cheating on an exam and not showing up for class. i hope everything works out for you.
 
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doc toothache said:
A long paragraph but nary a word of contrition.
Click to expand...


Exactly. Did you feel bad about the cheating, or just the fact that you got caught? I had 8:30 a.m. physics classes twice a week last semester too, as a result, I didn't go that many times and missed half the participation points. It was tempting to just have a friend go to sign me in, which others did do. Two people ended up getting caught and disciplined for it.

If you mess up, brave through the consequences, learn from your mistake, and don't do it again. No matter what, don't let go of your dreams!
 
Erhatstil said:
it would be just if academic dishonesty reports were classified by offense. there's a big difference between cheating on an exam and not showing up for class. i hope everything works out for you.
Click to expand...

There is also a big difference between not showing up for class and having a buddy swear that you were actually present.
 
doc toothache said:
A long paragraph but nary a word of contrition.
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong, but I was VERY contrite. My heart dropped to the floor when the professor stated she was going to write me up. I deeply expressed about how terrible I felt about my poor decision. I didn't have much of an excuse however, I told her I stayed up late the previous night to write up a workshop for a group of pre-health high school students I tutor at an afterschool program so I gave my iClicker to my friend to sign me in, knowing that I would miss class the following 8 AM that morning.

My action was definitely not worth the risk because participation is only 20 points out of 500. I've been kicking myself in the shins every morning after what happened.

It wasn't like I was caught cheating on an exam, I'm deathly afraid of doing that. I didn't think the professor would take the participation so seriously because she never performed a single roll call until 8 weeks in! It states in the syllabus:

"Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated (including “clicking” in for your friends not attending lectures and allowing someone else to “click” in for you during your absence). The policy on academic dishonesty is covered in the university catalog. You can retrieve the document from: http://www20.csueastbay.edu/faculty.../Acad DishonestyPolicy.rev08-09 incl form.pdf "

I was guilty by all means.

I too, did this in physics class, cheat the participation, however no one was ever caught. I had just tried out my luck with the wrong professor. Now I know, it's better to show up honestly than to fake a front.

Thanks for the support guys. This has been the only thing I've been thinking about all week and it is DRAINING me.
 
I'll be honest... This would probably severely hurt your chances at Temple.

We've been having issues with people signing in for others in attendance based courses. The professors, along with the administration, are really cracking down on this behavior as it is unethical. I would assume that if they crack down on current students then they will be trying to filter out students with indiscretions during the admissions process to aid in preventing further occurrences in future classes.

The best thing you can do now is to hope that she doesn't write you up. If she does and this ends up on your transcript, then you will need to be entirely honest during your application process and be prepared to explain not only your actions but what you learned from it..

Good luck
 
doc toothache said:
There is also a big difference between not showing up for class and having a buddy swear that you were actually present.
Click to expand...

agreed. its still unfortunate op is now labeled "academically dishonest" with a collection of students that get caught cheating on exams/papers/etc.
 
Simiam said:
I'll be honest... This would probably severely hurt your chances at Temple.

We've been having issues with people signing in for others in attendance based courses. The professors, along with the administration, are really cracking down on this behavior as it is unethical. I would assume that if they crack down on current students then they will be trying to filter out students with indiscretions during the admissions process to aid in preventing further occurrences in future classes.

The best thing you can do now is to hope that she doesn't write you up. If she does and this ends up on your transcript, then you will need to be entirely honest during your application process and be prepared to explain not only your actions but what you learned from it..

Good luck
Click to expand...

She's sending the report which will be signed by the department head and the dean, however, it will be a paper that is in my file for my remaining undergraduate years. It will NOT be indicated on my transcript as long as I don't do it again. The academic dishonesty file will disappear upon graduation.

I swear to myself that I'm never going to do such a thing again. I'm just wondering when I apply, should I indicate that I HAVE been marked for academic dishonesty even though it doesn't appear on my student transcript?
 
CaptainSquishy said:
She's sending the report which will be signed by the department head and the dean, however, it will be a paper that is in my file for my remaining undergraduate years. It will NOT be indicated on my transcript as long as I don't do it again. The academic dishonesty file will disappear upon graduation.

I swear to myself that I'm never going to do such a thing again. I'm just wondering when I apply, should I indicate that I HAVE been marked for academic dishonesty even though it doesn't appear on my student transcript?
Click to expand...

YES! You don't lie about these kind of things on the app and you have to tell them everything. You get a response box to explain yourself so you can just tell them the whole story. Honestly? People have probably gotten in doing bigger stuff so as long as you explain it, I think you'll be okay. The worst thing to do is to not tell them, you get accepted, and then they find out later. Then you're up the creek.....
 
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CaptainSquishy said:
Don't get me wrong, but I was VERY contrite. My heart dropped to the floor when the professor stated she was going to write me up. I deeply expressed about how terrible I felt about my poor decision. I didn't have much of an excuse however, I told her I stayed up late the previous night to write up a workshop for a group of pre-health high school students I tutor at an afterschool program so I gave my iClicker to my friend to sign me in, knowing that I would miss class the following 8 AM that morning.
It wasn't like I was caught cheating on an exam, I'm deathly afraid of doing that. I didn't think the professor would take the participation so seriously because she never performed a single roll call until 8 weeks in! It states in the syllabus:
I too, did this in physics class, cheat the participation, however no one was ever caught. I had just tried out my luck with the wrong professor. Now I know, it's better to show up honestly than to fake a front.
Click to expand...

So much for being contrite.
 
AwesomeTeeth said:
YES! You don't lie about these kind of things on the app and you have to tell them everything. You get a response box to explain yourself so you can just tell them the whole story. Honestly? People have probably gotten in doing bigger stuff so as long as you explain it, I think you'll be okay. The worst thing to do is to not tell them, you get accepted, and then they find out later. Then you're up the creek.....
Click to expand...

This is true.


Btw, I've never heard that expression before...up the creek without a paddle? :laugh:
 
CaptainSquishy said:
She's sending the report which will be signed by the department head and the dean, however, it will be a paper that is in my file for my remaining undergraduate years. It will NOT be indicated on my transcript as long as I don't do it again. The academic dishonesty file will disappear upon graduation.

I swear to myself that I'm never going to do such a thing again. I'm just wondering when I apply, should I indicate that I HAVE been marked for academic dishonesty even though it doesn't appear on my student transcript?
Click to expand...

That will be dependent on what the application indicates... If there is a doubt err in the way of disclosure. It's better that you tell the story than they find out at a later date.

doc toothache said:
So much for being contrite.
Click to expand...

Agreed. That's the sour part of this whole Thread
 
despite your slightly above average tolerance for dishonesty, i feel for you because mandatory attendance is in general so dumb.

but i mean i think you can guage this yourself. it won't kill you but it certainly isn't good. schools now have reason to question your character. don't give them any more.

nothing a strong gpa and dat can't solve though.
 
notin said:
i feel for you because mandatory attendance is in general so dumb.
Click to expand...

👍

Agreed. I always drop classes if their syllabus says "required attendance." We are adults who are 18+. If we don't show up, its our loss whether in not learning the material/understanding the material. If I can learn the material in one hour as opposed to 2 1/2 hours of you lecturing...why should I be here?

And no, I don't mean that statement in an arrogant way at all. I would definitely show up to my biochem lectures, but for elementary statistics or calc 1 or some GE ? Hmm, no thanks.
 
LaFleur said:
This is true.


Btw, I've never heard that expression before...up the creek without a paddle? :laugh:
Click to expand...

You've never heard it before, yet you knew the whole line? Impressive (or maybe I'm just dumb and wouldn't have got it if I hadn't heard it before). Technically I think it's usually: up **** creek without a paddle. It's also impressive that you've never heard the saying to begin with. 😉
 
Kahr said:
You've never heard it before, yet you knew the whole line? Impressive (or maybe I'm just dumb and wouldn't have got it if I hadn't heard it before). Technically I think it's usually: up **** creek without a paddle. It's also impressive that you've never heard the saying to begin with. 😉
Click to expand...

I've never heard it before, so I asked my good friend Google whether he had ever heard of it, which is how I got the whole line. 😉
 
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With this attitude, you will have a hard time in dental school. Most of the classes have required attendance, especially ones involving labs. Maybe that's why they don't have an online dental school or a DIY dental school. I wonder if you're going to do what you preached which is to drop classes that have required attendance.

Whether you feel that the classes are useful/interesting or not, you should make an effort in attending them as a professional student, especially dental or medical student. If you decide to skip, you should be willing to pay the consequences and not cheat.

Rainee said:
👍

Agreed. I always drop classes if their syllabus says "required attendance." We are adults who are 18+. If we don't show up, its our loss whether in not learning the material/understanding the material. If I can learn the material in one hour as opposed to 2 1/2 hours of you lecturing...why should I be here?

And no, I don't mean that statement in an arrogant way at all. I would definitely show up to my biochem lectures, but for elementary statistics or calc 1 or some GE ? Hmm, no thanks.
Click to expand...
 
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jj007 said:
With this attitude, you will have a hard time in dental school. Most of the classes have required attendance, especially ones involving labs. Maybe that's why they don't have an online dental school or a DIY dental school. I wonder if you're going to do what you preached which is to drop classes that have required attendance.

Whether you feel that the classes are useful/interesting or not, you should make an effort in attending them as a professional student, especially dental or medical student. If you decide to skip, you should be willing to pay the consequences and not cheat.
Click to expand...

Hmm, I think we are the wrong page. Dental school courses are all geared towards getting that dental degree. Biology courses are all geared towards getting that BS in science. I'm all for attending classes relevant to my major especially at the professional school level.

However, for some reason, the American education system loves to enforce GEs and other useless BS. Classes like "fundamentals of badminton" really don't need a 2 hr lecture much less required attendance.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
CaptainSquishy said:
Don't get me wrong, but I was VERY contrite. My heart dropped to the floor when the professor stated she was going to write me up. I deeply expressed about how terrible I felt about my poor decision. I didn't have much of an excuse however, I told her I stayed up late the previous night to write up a workshop for a group of pre-health high school students I tutor at an afterschool program so I gave my iClicker to my friend to sign me in, knowing that I would miss class the following 8 AM that morning.

My action was definitely not worth the risk because participation is only 20 points out of 500. I've been kicking myself in the shins every morning after what happened.

It wasn't like I was caught cheating on an exam, I'm deathly afraid of doing that. I didn't think the professor would take the participation so seriously because she never performed a single roll call until 8 weeks in! It states in the syllabus:

"Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated (including "clicking" in for your friends not attending lectures and allowing someone else to "click" in for you during your absence). The policy on academic dishonesty is covered in the university catalog. You can retrieve the document from: http://www20.csueastbay.edu/faculty/senate/files/documents/Acad%20DishonestyPolicy.rev08-09%20incl%20form.pdf "

I was guilty by all means.

I too, did this in physics class, cheat the participation, however no one was ever caught. I had just tried out my luck with the wrong professor. Now I know, it's better to show up honestly than to fake a front.

Thanks for the support guys. This has been the only thing I've been thinking about all week and it is DRAINING me.
Click to expand...


So you don't cheat on exams because you are "deathly afraid" or because you think that cheating is wrong??? Sorry but get your morals in check. It doesn't matter if your think mandatory attendance is dumb or not...you should respect the professor's rules or suffer the consequences.
 
I will have to still disagree with you about not attending classes if you think they are irrelevant to you and to your major. As a future dental student, you will be sitting in classes wondering why the materials taught would be relevant to you as a dentist. For example, why are you learning about muscles, nerves, or diseases that are not in the oral cavity? Short answer: it will make you a better health professional.

It seems to me that people have been trying to make excuses for everything (cheating and attending classes). Cheating is cheating regardless of whether you cheated on an exam, quiz, or attendance. Required attendance is required whether you think that the class is relevant to you or not.

To the OP, by reading your post or responses, it seems that you regret more about getting caught cheating than the act of cheating. I hope that you can distinguish the differences between the two. Will it hurt your chances of getting into dental schools? Probably. Can you ever become a dentist? Yes, you still can. I hope that you have learned your lesson and I wish you luck in your pursuit of dentistry.


Rainee said:
Hmm, I think we are the wrong page. Dental school courses are all geared towards getting that dental degree. Biology courses are all geared towards getting that BS in science. I'm all for attending classes relevant to my major especially at the professional school level.

However, for some reason, the American education system loves to enforce GEs and other useless BS. Classes like "fundamentals of badminton" really don't need a 2 hr lecture much less required attendance.
Click to expand...
 
You weren't found to have violated a rule, but I'd probably double check with your school to be sure and I'd bring it up in the application process anyways - you will be in more trouble if they get the records from your school and find out on their own that you had a charge (whether found responsible or not).

As for academic dishonesty as a whole - anyone who commits it in dental school should be tossed out on their ass and never allowed back.
 
I realize this is an old thread, but I have about as much sympathy for cheaters that get caught as I did for Whitney Houston.
 
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