Academic dishonesty haunting...

[toyotasupra]

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[americanpierg]

It was my junior year in college. I was taking a writing class, we had a 5 point (worth 2.5% of the total points) library assignment due the next day which required going to the librarian and having her teach us how to use the library catalog; her signature was all that I would need for the assignment. However, I had two midterms the next day and figured I would just sign it myself since I already knew how to use the library catalog. I didn't think too much of it then... 🙁

Well a few weeks later, I got called in by my adviser; she told me I was going to get academic dishonesty and a zero on the assignment since I signed the library assignment instead of the librarian. 😱

3 years later, I've found my passion and I want to trying applying to dental school, but now it's coming back to haunt me.... I don't even know if I should apply anymore since I feel like they will just reject me right off the bat. 🙁

What do you guys think? Should I just give up?

Side note: It stays on my record for 5 years. It'll be gone in 2 more years.

How do you know that this is on your record? Does it show up on your transcript or something?

 

[ncdentist711]

I would not let this keep you from applying. If you are honest and straightforward with admissions committees, I think you will have just as good of a shot at getting in as anyone else.

You'll have a chance to explain yourself, and when you do, just say you know what you did was wrong, and you learned a lot from the unfortunate experience. Everybody makes mistakes... many people do things all the time in school that would technically violate their school's honor code; they just don't happen to get caught. I think adcom's know that, and again, just be honest about it. You'll be fine!

 

[solstice]

I have work experience in Corprate America, so I tell you what I know:

No matter how silly your story could be, FORGING someone's SIGNATURE is a big deal.

So I suggest you email the Dean of admission of a few shools you are interested in and explain yourself and get a feel of how they are looking at it. Be professional and write a professional email to them that shows you have matured and no longer capable of even thinking such.

Do not write it the way you did here. The way you explained it here it sounds like you did some silly mistake. You were in College (not hs) and forging signature is Fraud.

I don't want to make things worse than they look, but I want you to underestand how they look at it. So they way you are explaining yourself is very important.

 

[DMDreaming]

Keep in mind, too, that there have been some rather large cheating scandals uncovered in dental schools over recent years. It is a BIG deal to most schools that their reputation not be sullied by cheating.

With that said, no single person on SDN is an expert at reading the minds of admission's personnel. The previous poster mentioned contacting several schools to get a feel for how this is viewed. I agree with them. Make sure you do your homework first, however, and know how you are going to respond to questions regarding the incident and your personal growth since that time. IMO, a lot is going to depend on how you sell yourself.

I also think it would be a good idea to find out how this is attached to your record. Does it show on your transcript or other documentation the dental schools will receive? Is there a chance the professors writing your LORs will know about the incident and report it? I am suggesting looking into these things because you may want to address this issue head on in your application depending on what the answers to the above questions are. If you don't address it and it shows up on a transcript, it could look like you are trying to hide it.

I had issues with my college grades from a couple decades ago and even though my recent GPA was very good my AADSAS GPA looked aweful. The first year I applied I got no responses except denials. Second year, I addressed it in my personal statement AND wrote letters to the schools asking them to please look at my academic trend and not the AADSAS GPA. I got several interviews and 3 acceptances. (There weren't any other substantial changes to my application.) So, you might want to consider how best to present it to your schools of choice.

 

[Atticus]

I have work experience in Corprate America, so I tell you what I know:

No matter how silly your story could be, FORGING someone's SIGNATURE is a big deal.

So I suggest you email the Dean of admission of a few shools you are interested in and explain yourself and get a feel of how they are looking at it. Be professional and write a professional email to them that shows you have matured and no longer capable of even thinking such.

Do not write it the way you did here. The way you explained it here it sounds like you did some silly mistake. You were in College (not hs) and forging signature is Fraud.

I don't want to make things worse than they look, but I want you to underestand how they look at it. So they way you are explaining yourself is very important.

I think that he is saying that he signed his own signature on the line?

 

[americanpierg]

I think that he is saying that he signed his own signature on the line?

If he signed it himself... then it wouldn't be an academic integrity problem...

 

[toyotasupra]

na

 

[toyotasupra]

One last question, should I include it in my personal statement?

 

[printer21]

definitely not..

 

[solstice]

I actually forged the signature. 👎

I knew you did. It would not make sense to have your own sig when everyone in class has the librarian sig. and your prof would know the signature.

Any way back to topic. NOOOO you will not mention it in your personal statement. There is a place in application for it. I think it is in your background that ask if you been dicipline in school or something. You will see it, this is where your very careful explanation would go. I tell you, you have to spend the same amount of time puting this in good words as you spend polishing you P.S.

 

[THINKOFMYFUTURE]

Should you include it in your personal statement!?

Your entire personal statement should be that!

"I will not forge the signature. I will not forge the signature. I will not forge the signature. I will not forge the signature. I will not forge the signature. I will not forge the signature. I will not forge the signature. I will not..."

Just make sure to mind the word count. Mmm, k?

 

[toyotasupra]

Haha, got it.

Should you include it in your personal statement!?

Your entire personal statement should be that!

"I will not forge the signature. I will not forge the signature. I will not forge the signature. I will not forge the signature. I will not forge the signature. I will not forge the signature. I will not forge the signature. I will not..."

Just make sure to mind the word count. Mmm, k?

 

[RSND]

it is very competitive to get in a dental school! Compare yourself to thousands of honest applicant.. your best option is to talk to your dean at ur home school and try to appeal their decision, if u can remove it of ur record, otherwise just wait 2 years.