Speaking from experience, I feel your pain. It sucks to be judged on the one stupid thing you've done and not the millions of other great things you have probably accomplished. During my first year of college some buddies and I pulled some dorm pranks and had plenty of keg parties. At the start of spring semester, we all got put on disciplinary probation and had to do service hours. Turns out that a guy on the same floor who we never met was the grandson of the guy who donated like $1O mil to the school. His grandpa put in a call and the rest was history. I worried about this for 4 years and have talked to the Dean who put me on probation, as well as several admissions deans. The dean of my undergrad institution told me to report it because every year admissions people call and verify the discipline record of the people they accept. Those who are not honest have their acceptance terminated and their name spread around from state school to school. He told me that since I was a stupid 18 year old freshman and the offense was disciplinary and not serious that it shouldn't be a problem. On the contrary, he told me that if it had been academic probation then I would be SOL because in their view, "once a cheater always a cheater." Like stated above, you can't prove that you've been reformed based on not getting in trouble since the incident. Also, you can't prove that you only cheated once. Whats to say that if you were never caught that you would still be cheating, 10 years from now your writing Rxs to your friends for recreational painkillers, or covering up a medical mistake that you cant own up to for fear of lawsuits. Thats what they think.
You have several options though: First, you may not have to say anything because it might not be on your record. I forget if AMCAS asks for just institutional action or just academic and disciplinary probation. Can you be suspended with no probation? You might want to check the exact language. Sometimes the offense is expunged after a set period of time. Computer systems are changed and info is left out from past years. Deans are constantly switching schools. It could get lost in the cracks of a large bureaucratic university. I would call and talk to the dean of your undergrad. Maybe, call and say that you work at some college and need to verify the discipline record of an individual.
Secondly, you can do the ethical thing and report it if it is on your record. This is what I did. Its a double edged sword though. I just got accepted after three years of applying. My other friends involved also applied and had lower stats than I did, but didn't report it. They got accepted their first go round and I didn't. Now I can't say that this is why, but I can say that for the most part, thousands of applicant look the same on paper. Who do you choose? The person with the same stats and experience or the guy with some baggage. The fact that it is on the first page of your AMCAS does you no justice. Once an ADCOM reads this, his mind is tarnished the rest of the way through, if he hasnt already tossed your app. This is just an easy way to eliminate you from the 5000 other applicants. It really sucks but admissions is a numbers game. Every year that I was rejected, I would go talk to all of the admissions deans. What was the first thing that they brought up? "So, can you explain what happened your freshman year." Some just couldn't get passed it and move on to the rest of my application, while others found it rather amusing; but the fact that they all brought it up worried me. Its like having a felony conviction or a grammar/typo mistake on a resume. Remember that the crime never gets anyone; its the cover-up that will get you. Look at Scooter Libby, Martha Stewart, Pete Rose, Enron, etc. Schools interview applicants based mainly on MCAT and science gpa. You are interviewed to see if youre an ethical, responsible, accountable, and competent individual who will make the right decision in life or death situations.
Third, if it is on your record than you can choose not to report it. Moreover, you will be asked to report it on most secondary apps which some ask about actions that have been expunged or dropped. What is the probability that someone will call and check up on you? Probably a 25% chance. Assuming your MCAT and gpa are competitive, you can at least get an interview; but if you report it and your app is tossed aside then you will never be interviewed nor given the chance to really shine. Although I was asked about this when I visited or spoke with adcoms, it never came up in any interview. With my luck I would have been the guy who they did a background check on.; but Im glad that I made the decision that I did. If this is the only thing holding you back then you will get accepted. It just might take longer. Running a marathon is hard enough, but you have to run on one leg. There is an adcom out their that really messed up in his/her young years and was given a second chance that will respect someone who has the courage to admit when they were wrong. Accountability!! Society has a short memory if you confess, but they never forgive the kid who urinates on their foot and tells them its raining.
Its your decision and no one can judge you but yourself; Im sure many of us have cheated or fudged an answer in our life, so lets keep an open mind. Its kinda like when you see baseball players castigating the guy who tests positive when the whole league, including themselves, is on the juice; but assuming you do the ethical thing, here are some things I would do. First, get a lawyer to write your explanation. They are trained in Clinton language and damage control. This should be the only part of your application that it is mentioned. Always stress positives and never talk about your negatives. Do not talk about how you have changed or repented in your personal statement. This seems like the place to fully elaborate on the past and what you have done to repent, but all it will do is continue reinforce the idea of cheater in their head. If you get interviewed and someone asks you about it, admit and repent. Have a short and concise statement memorized in advance that your lawyer has approved. Do not try and defend that which is not defensible, or make excuses as to why you choose to do such a stupid thing. If I would of told the dean that I only got put on probation because of that kids grandpa, he would of thrown me out.
Second, your letters of recommendation will play a huge part of your application. Get people who know you well and can evaluate you as an ethical person who they would trust their mother under your care.
Third, you let people know who you are by explaining your accomplishments in your interview and your application. Pretty much everyone claims they are a hard worker, highly motivated, compassionate, and intelligent individual, but who really cares. You need to let your skills and experiences convey that you are hard working, etc. Let your essays inadvertently show how you have reformed yourself without stating how you have matured.
Lastly, you need to have something on your application that makes you stand out from the average applicant who has a perfect reputation. The best way to do that would be with a high MCAT and gpa, because this will get you interviewed. Maybe cure cancer. As stated above, I like the idea of talking to children about cheating, but I wouldnt put it on your application. I would include it your prepared statement. Good luck!!
