Help! Need advice on academic misconduct.

[happysmiles2014]

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Thank you for everyone's help. Decided to apply to Dental school in the next round or so.

 

[Dr.Toothenstein]

I don't understand, were you guys supposed to do your own work or were you supposed to split up the sections like you did? If the latter how could it be your fault that makes no sense.

 

[RuffDay]

How did you do on the hearing?

You could present your case that you worked diligently on your part of the assignment while your other friend copied and pasted. If they do not believe you, one good evidence could be do a writing sample. They can match the tone of the writing sample to the lab report.

 

[RuffDay]

Anyways, I would also consider your academic dishonesty minor. It isn't anywhere near copying from a student, cheating on an exam, or anything that extreme. Take the DAT, and apply to the schools. Most schools have a secondary where you can explain any additional information.

 

[happysmiles2014]

I don't understand, were you guys supposed to do your own work or were you supposed to split up the sections like you did? If the latter how could it be your fault that makes no sense.

Since we completed the lab together, we were required to write the paper together. I just thought it was easier to split up the sections of the paper. I wrote the introduction and some other parts. I let my partner complete other sections, but we turned the paper in as a group effort.

 

[happysmiles2014]

How did you do on the hearing?

You could present your case that you worked diligently on your part of the assignment while your other friend copied and pasted. If they do not believe you, one good evidence could be do a writing sample. They can match the tone of the writing sample to the lab report.

The hearing was 30 minutes and only consisted of the vice president of the school, our professor, and us. We each presented our case. My professor said there was no way to prove that I did not write it unless my lab partner confessed to doing it alone. My professor believed I was in on it. He told us to rewrite the paper and we would pass his class. The paper was 10% of our grade, which dropped me down to a C. If there was not a solution reached by the end of the hearing, we would have to take it up to the institution hearing level. I admitted to being guilty because I was going to walk at graduation 5 days after the hearing. I had 7 days to change my mind on the decision. However, I was scared of it getting to the institution level hearing and my evidence not being strong enough, which would lead to being expel or a mark on my transcript. I was not ready to throw away 4 years of my life. My parents are very strict and I was afraid of telling them my situation. I wanted to walk and graduate. I also had to move to another state the following two weeks after graduation. I debated on using a lawyer, but the event happened at a very bad time. I wanted to move on from the experience.

 

[pgex2t]

There's a portion on the aadsas application that lets you explain things like this. Also, like RuffDay said, some schools also have secondaries where you can explain this as well. Other than that, I don't think this event should deter you from applying to dental school. But just some advice for the future, never act on or say anything when you're involved in a situation of this nature before consulting a lawyer-often times people will mislead you so it leads to less trouble for them. Explaining why you admitted to being guilty on your application might be difficult to paint in a positive light. Just ace the DAT and you should be alright.

 

[aznriptide859]

If it's on your transcript, you HAVE to explain what happened (on whichever relevant part of the AADSAS/TMDSAS). IMO, admitting to your mistakes and building off of them is a quality that's admirable in mature individuals; completely glossing over or ignoring what happened is going to leave adcoms wondering why you didn't explain what happened.

I say this, because I've been told by an associate dean of a dental school exactly this. The first cycle I applied I completely did not address the circumstances of my academic dismissal/probation. He said it was one of the biggest faults of my app package. Take what you will from that statement.

 

[happysmiles2014]

If it's on your transcript, you HAVE to explain what happened (on whichever relevant part of the AADSAS/TMDSAS). IMO, admitting to your mistakes and building off of them is a quality that's admirable in mature individuals; completely glossing over or ignoring what happened is going to leave adcoms wondering why you didn't explain what happened.

I say this, because I've been told by an associate dean of a dental school exactly this. The first cycle I applied I completely did not address the circumstances of my academic dismissal/probation. He said it was one of the biggest faults of my app package. Take what you will from that statement.

It is not on my transcript. & if I was to apply, I would state the truth because your dirty laundry always comes to out to haunt you. However, my school does destroy all of the documentation within 5 years from the incident. Thank you for your advice though.

 

[happysmiles2014]

There's a portion on the aadsas application that lets you explain things like this. Also, like RuffDay said, some schools also have secondaries where you can explain this as well. Other than that, I don't think this event should deter you from applying to dental school. But just some advice for the future, never act on or say anything when you're involved in a situation of this nature before consulting a lawyer-often times people will mislead you so it leads to less trouble for them. Explaining why you admitted to being guilty on your application might be difficult to paint in a positive light. Just ace the DAT and you should be alright.

Thank you for your advice. It was rough timing, so I did not use my best judgement. I will take the DAT and go from that.

 

[pgex2t]

Thank you for your advice. It was rough timing, so I did not use my best judgement. I will take the DAT and go from that.

Oh but don't wait 5 years, just ace the DAT this year and apply next cycle. If you apply broadly, you should be okay.

 

[happysmiles2014]

Oh but don't wait 5 years, just ace the DAT this year and apply next cycle. If you apply broadly, you should be okay.

Yes I realize how crazy it was for me to wait 5 years when I was going to disclose the information to the Dental Schools anyways.