I just finished my freshman year at a top 25 undergrad. My class (lecture style, ~350 students) has an attendance system that counts as part of the final grade (about 2% of it). I had someone do it for me while I was in the bathroom because I thought I deserved points for the day. I have no idea why I did it when I SHOULD HAVE JUST HELD IT AND WAITED FOR CLASS TO BE OVER. The professor caught me and didn't believe my bathroom story and accused me of doing it the whole semester and filed for an F in the class. Even though the honor board found evidence that this in fact was a one time thing and I really was in the bathroom, all they could do was advise the professor about what they believe happened and ask to reduce my sentence, but the professor refused.
What they could do was have it not show up on my transcript, but I'm still stuck with that F. I understand that I screwed up on many levels by even bending the rules (it says in the syllabus that not even doctor's notes will excuse absences as everyone is given 'free days'). Should I give up any hope of a career in medicine? To any adcom members, does the (low) severity of an academic dishonesty IA even matter, or is the fact that I was ever dishonest what will matter?
What they could do was have it not show up on my transcript, but I'm still stuck with that F. I understand that I screwed up on many levels by even bending the rules (it says in the syllabus that not even doctor's notes will excuse absences as everyone is given 'free days'). Should I give up any hope of a career in medicine? To any adcom members, does the (low) severity of an academic dishonesty IA even matter, or is the fact that I was ever dishonest what will matter?