Getting into Medical School with academic suspension?

[ddynolia]

Hi,

My school recently suspended me for a case of academic dishonesty. The thing is, I did not really cheat and I honestly believe that it was a mistake on the professor. I go to one of the top 10 universities, and right now, I just finished my undergrad with a low gpa (2.7). I am suspended for two years because the school believed that I cheated, even though I did not. I wasn't physically in that state, at the time when the midterm was graded, but the school did not believe that. I tried to provide as much evidence as possible, but the school believed that I was being dishonest and that I actually did tamper with the midterm. I received a 2 year suspension because the university believed that I was lying and wasn't owing up to my mistakes. I appealed their decision, and the appeal did not go through.

I am planning to go do volunteering overseas with Parters in Health, and other healthcare NGO's in Tanzania and South-East Asia for a year. I am also planning to take a few summer classes at other universities to get my pre-req for medical school out of the way, and then working with a biotech startup for another year. And then I am planning to return to school, finish my undergrad in two years, and then go for a post-bac before applying for medical school.

I believe that I was wrongly accused for this, and I have tried my best to show my university that I did not tamper with the midterm, but unfortunately, it didn't work out. I want to know, what are my likelihood of ever getting into medical school in the states. Should I simply give up on my dream of getting into medical school before of this suspension? I want to become a physician so that I can work with doctors without borders and other NGO's that requires physicians to go overseas and help others. That has always been my dream and it simply sucks that I may not be able to get it because of a series of bad luck. Any advice would help. Thank you!

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[md-2020]

2 year suspension (???!!!) IA+extremely low GPA? Not a good combination bro.

For some reason I feel like the school must be correct if they handed down such a large penalty. Medicine is probably no longer an option, unfortunately.

 

[Vespasian]

Unless you get the IA cleared up I wouldn't be in any rush to apply. If you can't get that off your record I don't think you stand a chance, but perhaps @Goro or someone else might have better insight.

A ~2.7 and academic dishonesty don't exactly scream future in medicine IMHO.

 

[Goro]

I strongly recommend another career.

 

[LizzyM]

If you cheated and still have a 2.7 GPA you aren't doing it right....
that said, you have zero chance of getting a medical school to take a chance on you.

Best to begin preparing for an alternate career, ideally one that does not require education beyond a bachelor's degree.

 

[steelersfan1243]

Why is it no one suggesting lawyering up and fighting this if he believes he did not cheat?

 

[Psai]

Why is it no one suggesting lawyering up and fighting this if he believes he did not cheat?

Because from what I've seen, it's pretty hard to get someone punished for cheating without some kind of proof. School administrators aren't out to expel students for no reason

 

[LizzyM]

Why is it no one suggesting lawyering up and fighting this if he believes he did not cheat?

An institutional action is not a legal action. The student was accused of breaking a school rule, not a law. There is a means of hearing the accusation and deciding if the rule was broken. Schools have a mechanism for students to appeal a decision unless they waive the right to an appeal in exchange for a less harsh punishment (for example, waiving an appeal in exchange for a 2 year suspension when the penalty after the appeal could be as severe as expulsion).

Getting a 2 year suspension is a pretty serious punishment which makes me suspect that this was a pretty egregious case of cheating and that the school had evidence that the student could not refute.

The only way a lawyer could help would be in the school rules were not made clear to the student or the school's own rules were not followed. Then it would be a case of suing the school for failure to follow its own rules and unjustly suspending the student.

 

[Meeehai]

If you cheated and still have a 2.7 GPA you aren't doing it right....
that said, you have zero chance of getting a medical school to take a chance on you.

Best to begin preparing for an alternate career, ideally one that does not require education beyond a bachelor's degree.

This might sound really harsh, but I agree despite my optimism when it comes to these sorts of things. Something is a little fishy with the way you presented your story - why exactly do you believe you were wrongly accused of cheating? I have a hard time believing that a professor was just out to get you and it resulted in a TWO year suspension.

I recommended completing a degree in engineering unless you really hate the idea. Any type of professional school is a long shot, especially in healthcare.

 

[Shirafune]

Alleged cheating aside, your GPA is a serious no-go anyways. You would likely fail out of medical schools.

I wasn't physically in that state, at the time when the midterm was graded, but the school did not believe that.

If I understand you correctly, you need an alibi from an impartial source. If you were out of state, then it surely has to be for some good reason. You provided documentation of your activities? And even then, the school decided to penalize you?

 

[Iridescent]

Why do you believe you were wrongly accused? It's either you did it or you didn't.

 

[MyNameWasUsed]

Why did you present your story so vaguely. That, to me, seems suspicious. I still have no clue what you did after reading that. Did you break into your professor's office to alter your midterm grade? Lol

 

[Oh_Gee]

Hi,

My school recently suspended me for a case of academic dishonesty. The thing is, I did not really cheat and I honestly believe that it was a mistake on the professor. I go to one of the top 10 universities, and right now, I just finished my undergrad with a low gpa (2.7). I am suspended for two years because the school believed that I cheated, even though I did not. I wasn't physically in that state, at the time when the midterm was graded, but the school did not believe that. I tried to provide as much evidence as possible, but the school believed that I was being dishonest and that I actually did tamper with the midterm. I received a 2 year suspension because the university believed that I was lying and wasn't owing up to my mistakes. I appealed their decision, and the appeal did not go through.

I am planning to go do volunteering overseas with Parters in Health, and other healthcare NGO's in Tanzania and South-East Asia for a year. I am also planning to take a few summer classes at other universities to get my pre-req for medical school out of the way, and then working with a biotech startup for another year. And then I am planning to return to school, finish my undergrad in two years, and then go for a post-bac before applying for medical school.

I believe that I was wrongly accused for this, and I have tried my best to show my university that I did not tamper with the midterm, but unfortunately, it didn't work out. I want to know, what are my likelihood of ever getting into medical school in the states. Should I simply give up on my dream of getting into medical school before of this suspension? I want to become a physician so that I can work with doctors without borders and other NGO's that requires physicians to go overseas and help others. That has always been my dream and it simply sucks that I may not be able to get it because of a series of bad luck. Any advice would help. Thank you!

tamper as in "change the answers on the test after you turned it in"? how is that even possible if you were out of state when it was graded

unless they suspect you hacked into your teacher's computer

 

[MyNameWasUsed]

.

 

[Supernatural17]

Hi,

My school recently suspended me for a case of academic dishonesty. The thing is, I did not really cheat and I honestly believe that it was a mistake on the professor. I go to one of the top 10 universities, and right now, I just finished my undergrad with a low gpa (2.7). I am suspended for two years because the school believed that I cheated, even though I did not. I wasn't physically in that state, at the time when the midterm was graded, but the school did not believe that. I tried to provide as much evidence as possible, but the school believed that I was being dishonest and that I actually did tamper with the midterm. I received a 2 year suspension because the university believed that I was lying and wasn't owing up to my mistakes. I appealed their decision, and the appeal did not go through.

I am planning to go do volunteering overseas with Parters in Health, and other healthcare NGO's in Tanzania and South-East Asia for a year. I am also planning to take a few summer classes at other universities to get my pre-req for medical school out of the way, and then working with a biotech startup for another year. And then I am planning to return to school, finish my undergrad in two years, and then go for a post-bac before applying for medical school.

I believe that I was wrongly accused for this, and I have tried my best to show my university that I did not tamper with the midterm, but unfortunately, it didn't work out. I want to know, what are my likelihood of ever getting into medical school in the states. Should I simply give up on my dream of getting into medical school before of this suspension? I want to become a physician so that I can work with doctors without borders and other NGO's that requires physicians to go overseas and help others. That has always been my dream and it simply sucks that I may not be able to get it because of a series of bad luck. Any advice would help. Thank you!

You didn't thoroughly explain what exactly you were accused of and what type of "tampering" and alleged cheating you were accused of so it's just hard to give a real opinion about your situation because you present it so vaguely.

 

[partypantss]

Hi,

My school recently suspended me for a case of academic dishonesty. The thing is, I did not really cheat and I honestly believe that it was a mistake on the professor. I go to one of the top 10 universities, and right now, I just finished my undergrad with a low gpa (2.7). I am suspended for two years because the school believed that I cheated, even though I did not. I wasn't physically in that state, at the time when the midterm was graded, but the school did not believe that. I tried to provide as much evidence as possible, but the school believed that I was being dishonest and that I actually did tamper with the midterm. I received a 2 year suspension because the university believed that I was lying and wasn't owing up to my mistakes. I appealed their decision, and the appeal did not go through.

I am planning to go do volunteering overseas with Parters in Health, and other healthcare NGO's in Tanzania and South-East Asia for a year. I am also planning to take a few summer classes at other universities to get my pre-req for medical school out of the way, and then working with a biotech startup for another year. And then I am planning to return to school, finish my undergrad in two years, and then go for a post-bac before applying for medical school.

I believe that I was wrongly accused for this, and I have tried my best to show my university that I did not tamper with the midterm, but unfortunately, it didn't work out. I want to know, what are my likelihood of ever getting into medical school in the states. Should I simply give up on my dream of getting into medical school before of this suspension? I want to become a physician so that I can work with doctors without borders and other NGO's that requires physicians to go overseas and help others. That has always been my dream and it simply sucks that I may not be able to get it because of a series of bad luck. Any advice would help. Thank you!

Ignoring the academic suspension, you finished with a 2.7... Not saying there aren't extreme cases of people turning it around, but medical school probably isn't the most realistic pursuit for you at this point.. Throwing in this HUGE red flag on your app and yeah, you should start thinking about a different career. Sorry dude. Also, your poor GPA isn't "bad luck."

 

[raiderette]

Get an MPH, work for an NGO and live most of your dream. You don't need to be a physician to work overseas helping people in need. If you must be in healthcare, combine the MPH with a nursing degree.

 

[LizzyM]

Get an MPH, work for an NGO and live most of your dream. You don't need to be a physician to work overseas helping people in need. If you must be in healthcare, combine the MPH with a nursing degree.

Or get a bachelors degree in logistics and supply chain management. Very much needed for disaster relief.
http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/logistician

 

[PREDOCSIMP]

Get an MPH, work for an NGO and live most of your dream. You don't need to be a physician to work overseas helping people in need. If you must be in healthcare, combine the MPH with a nursing degree.

He went to a top ten university? what ranking system is he referring to?

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

"I did not really cheat and I honestly believe that it was a mistake on the professor."

"I did not really cheat." Not: "I really did not cheat." Note the difference. Also, he "honestly believes" it was a mistake by the professor. The phrase honestly believes usually makes sense after admitting guilt but trying to reduce your liability, as in "I honestly believed that the professor wanted the students to collaborate on the test."

 

[Spector1]

you might need a post bac to try and get a clean slate of sorts.

 

[LLCoolK]

I don't think it's fair for the people on this forum to assume. We have seen time and time again that any judicial system has major flaws.

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

I don't think it's fair for the people on this forum to assume. We have seen time and time again that any judicial system has major flaws.

I just think that an examination of the language of the post is revealing.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

You are finished. It's as simple as that. You will never be a doctor trained in the United States.

 

[deleted480308]

It's over, sorry

 

[Axes]

Honest advice: just so something else, something non-academic. Grad schools and med schools care a lot for obvious reasons about grades and IAs. Certain career paths might only care about your brand name school. Put together a resume and try to use your network.

 

[Dr. Stalker]

Join the army, finish service, then try again

 

[GiveMeThatMD]

A 2-year suspension on a first time offense means they probably had enough evidence to expel you 4 times over. Lawyering up wouldn't do much... unless you can snag the man behind OJ's case. Totally beside the IA, a 2.7 GPA wouldn't land you into medical school, even from a top 10. Sorry, I think it's time to reconsider.

 

[ddynolia]

I am sorry. let me explain the situation clearly. The school believed that I cheated on two exams. The situation is this. I took the first exam in January, received my the exam back, which was around the average, and I was happy with that. The second exam, the professor never gave back to the students and I found out from the TA that I did really well on that. And the third exam I got around the average. A friend of mine, with similar grades, received an A- in the class and I received a B. I went to the professor to figure out what was wrong and he made a mistake and inputted in a different grade for the first exam. I went back with my first exam and he accused me of cheating. Following that, he also accused me of somehow getting my hands on the second exam and changing the grade on that. I was out traveling during when the second exam was graded and I argued my case for an entire semester. But the school did not believe me and thus gave me this two year. I am going to be a 3rd year in two years, and by the time I graduate from the university I can pull my grade up to a 3.3 After which, I am planning to do a post bac to increase it even more.

 

[mikil100]

If what you say is true, and you appealed and it was still found you are at fault, it doesn't look good. For some reason your school adamantly believe you cheated. It only matters if you can get your IA removed, if not there is no chance for a career in medicine or academics. Doesn't matter if you did or didn't do anything.

 

[deleted480308]

I am sorry. let me explain the situation clearly. The school believed that I cheated on two exams. The situation is this. I took the first exam in January, received my the exam back, which was around the average, and I was happy with that. The second exam, the professor never gave back to the students and I found out from the TA that I did really well on that. And the third exam I got around the average. A friend of mine, with similar grades, received an A- in the class and I received a B. I went to the professor to figure out what was wrong and he made a mistake and inputted in a different grade for the first exam. I went back with my first exam and he accused me of cheating. Following that, he also accused me of somehow getting my hands on the second exam and changing the grade on that. I was out traveling during when the second exam was graded and I argued my case for an entire semester. But the school did not believe me and thus gave me this two year. I am going to be a 3rd year in two years, and by the time I graduate from the university I can pull my grade up to a 3.3 After which, I am planning to do a post bac to increase it even more.

Based on the history of sdn posters in general, I'm not buying it

 

[xffan624]

If what you say is true, and you appealed and it was still found you are at fault, it doesn't look good. For some reason your school adamantly believe you cheated. It only matters if you can get your IA removed, if not there is no chance for a career in medicine or academics. Doesn't matter if you did or didn't do anything.

This. Whether we believe you or not is irrelevant, OP. The school didn't and gave you the IA. No ADCOM is going to take that explanation and believe suddenly that you were faultless and the school and professor were unfairly targeting you. They're in academia too, remember, and it would be difficult for them to imagine their colleagues acting in such a unscrupulous manner.

Also, if you continue to give that explanation 10 years down the road, even with a spotless record of military service (or equivalent altruism in the civilian world), ADCOM's will raise their eyebrows and toss out your application as "he didn't learn his lesson".

BTW, OP, your story still doesn't make any sense.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

I am sorry. let me explain the situation clearly. The school believed that I cheated on two exams. The situation is this. I took the first exam in January, received my the exam back, which was around the average, and I was happy with that. The second exam, the professor never gave back to the students and I found out from the TA that I did really well on that. And the third exam I got around the average. A friend of mine, with similar grades, received an A- in the class and I received a B. I went to the professor to figure out what was wrong and he made a mistake and inputted in a different grade for the first exam. I went back with my first exam and he accused me of cheating. Following that, he also accused me of somehow getting my hands on the second exam and changing the grade on that. I was out traveling during when the second exam was graded and I argued my case for an entire semester. But the school did not believe me and thus gave me this two year. I am going to be a 3rd year in two years, and by the time I graduate from the university I can pull my grade up to a 3.3 After which, I am planning to do a post bac to increase it even more.

I'm willing to believe you because I knew a guy in college that went through something similar. He e-mailed the teacher about the grade. The teacher didn't respond, so he e-mailed the dean. The teacher then had to respond but was pissed, so he went back through one of guy's essays and found one citation that was to the main page of the website rather than the specific .html and accused the guy of plagiarising. I don't know what happened to him in the end. Professors can be vindictive. However, nobody is going to believe your story when it comes to applying. You can do as many "pulling up grade" and "post-bacc" but you'll never get into medical school. You need to accept that before wasting your life. Right now is the time to think long and hard about what major you really want to graduate with.

 

[Goro]

You noticed that too, eh?

"I did not really cheat and I honestly believe that it was a mistake on the professor."
"I did not really cheat." Not: "I really did not cheat." Note the difference. Also, he "honestly believes" it was a mistake by the professor. The phrase honestly believes usually makes sense after admitting guilt but trying to reduce your liability, as in "I honestly believed that the professor wanted the students to collaborate on the test."

I just think that an examination of the language of the post is revealing.

OP, because I have two children, I know that there are two sides to every story. And my gut is telling me that you and your friend worked together, and that you were surprised to find that he received a better grade than you did. Why should you have cared that suddenly your friend did better than you? Instead of being happy with your two As and one B, you had to go to the well one time to many and when the Prof looked at the papers, his radar flipped on.

I am sorry. let me explain the situation clearly. The school believed that I cheated on two exams. The situation is this. I took the first exam in January, received my the exam back, which was around the average, and I was happy with that. The second exam, the professor never gave back to the students and I found out from the TA that I did really well on that. And the third exam I got around the average. A friend of mine, with similar grades, received an A- in the class and I received a B. I went to the professor to figure out what was wrong and he made a mistake and inputted in a different grade for the first exam. I went back with my first exam and he accused me of cheating. Following that, he also accused me of somehow getting my hands on the second exam and changing the grade on that. I was out traveling during when the second exam was graded and I argued my case for an entire semester. But the school did not believe me and thus gave me this two year. I am going to be a 3rd year in two years, and by the time I graduate from the university I can pull my grade up to a 3.3 After which, I am planning to do a post bac to increase it even more.

 

[Goro]

That, and being a parent!

Years and years of SDN experience leads people to develop a healthy sense of skepticism. These threads have a way of turning out the same...

 

[Gandyy]

Well here is the deal... I'm learning pretty quickly this cycle that medical schools reject some pretty qualified applicants. Hell there is some guy or gal in the Oakland thread with a 72+ LizzyM score that got rejected

post secondary already. Strong applicants get rejected. Its lame.

So but my point then is that since you cheated.... that hurts you a lot. If strong applicants are getting rejected from low tier MD schools, what makes you think any medical school at all will take someone who cheats?

I know this hurts to listen to, but I think you should forget about medicine entirely and go on a different career path. That way you can start making peace with whats happened already and move on with your life.

Cheating doesnt make you a bad person if you can learn from this and never cheat again.

I dont know how t put this in any nicer terms.

 

[piii]

.