Does an F on a Transcript Make Admissions Committees Suspicious of Dishonesty?

[Zoopeda]

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Dilemma...

I'm applying to medical school having flunked one course in undergrad, ten years ago. I missed the deadline for the final paper and received an F as a result. This is my only failing grade, and I'm concerned adcoms are going to assume the F is the result of an academic dishonesty hearing (as though I'd been caught cheating and therefore failed). I imagine my alma mater keeps records of cheating, and I could have them draft a letter stating that I have no such record. Would this help my application by alleviating doubt, or does the letter just draw more attention to a bad grade? As an older applicant, my Personal Statement is going to involve a theme of maturing after college, leading to high performance in grad school, years later. Should I explain the grade somewhere in the PS or elsewhere in the application? I imagine it might come up in the interview, and I wonder if it would be worth explaining it in advance.


Thanks for your help...

 

[THH]

Dilemma...

I'm applying to medical school having flunked one course in undergrad, ten years ago. I missed the deadline for the final paper and received an F as a result. This is my only failing grade, and I'm concerned adcoms are going to assume the F is the result of an academic dishonesty hearing (as though I'd been caught cheating and therefore failed). I imagine my alma mater keeps records of cheating, and I could have them draft a letter stating that I have no such record. Would this help my application by alleviating doubt, or does the letter just draw more attention to a bad grade? As an older applicant, my Personal Statement is going to involve a theme of maturing after college, leading to high performance in grad school, years later. Should I explain the grade somewhere in the PS or elsewhere in the application? I imagine it might come up in the interview, and I wonder if it would be worth explaining it in advance.


Thanks for your help...

I have never been a fan of explaining "bad" grades in the personal statement. The PS should be about your strengths and why you would make a good physician, and any explanation of poor grades inevitably calls attention to that aspect of your application rather than the strengths. With that said, you need to have a good explanation ready since it will obviously be fair game at interviews.

 

[sector9]

Dilemma...

I'm applying to medical school having flunked one course in undergrad, ten years ago. I missed the deadline for the final paper and received an F as a result. This is my only failing grade, and I'm concerned adcoms are going to assume the F is the result of an academic dishonesty hearing (as though I'd been caught cheating and therefore failed). I imagine my alma mater keeps records of cheating, and I could have them draft a letter stating that I have no such record. Would this help my application by alleviating doubt, or does the letter just draw more attention to a bad grade? As an older applicant, my Personal Statement is going to involve a theme of maturing after college, leading to high performance in grad school, years later. Should I explain the grade somewhere in the PS or elsewhere in the application? I imagine it might come up in the interview, and I wonder if it would be worth explaining it in advance.


Thanks for your help...

They're not going to assume that your F was the result of academic dishonesty. However, be prepared to explain the F at an interview. I wouldn't spend time on a single bad grade in your PS.

 

[FattySlug]

Don't ask don't tell policy ftw. Who in the right mind would assume that?

 

[Zoopeda]

Don't ask don't tell policy ftw. Who in the right mind would assume that?

From one perspective, I'm being careful. From another, probably paranoid. I just figure it looks odd to see A, B+, B, A-, F, A-, B on a transcript. I just don't want anyone jumping to conclusions. It sounds like I'll probably just be asked about it and can always have the school registrar write a letter on my behalf if requested.

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

Dude an F 10 YEARS AGO? I doubt most adcoms are even gonna give a crap much less assume it was for some kind of cheating. I know if I were interviewing you I wouldn't even look at it. I mean, I'm sure it dragged down your overall GPA but if you've got that cleaned up don't worry about it.

You forgot to turn in a paper when you were 10 years younger sounds like a fine explanation to me.

 

[flodhi1]

Dude an F 10 YEARS AGO? I doubt most adcoms are even gonna give a crap much less assume it was for some kind of cheating. I know if I were interviewing you I wouldn't even look at it. I mean, I'm sure it dragged down your overall GPA but if you've got that cleaned up don't worry about it.

You forgot to turn in a paper when you were 10 years younger sounds like a fine explanation to me.

+1 I had a couple F's from less than 10 years and I was not asked about it during any interview. Don't even worry about it especially if you have an upward trend.