Honor Code Violation Advice

[darkhorse2010]

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I am a graduate of a prestigious university applying this cycle and taking two years off before attending medical school. My gpa is a 3.55 and my MCAT is a 37P. I've been doing cancer research since I graduated last year.

My freshman year (over 4 years ago), I made a terrible mistake by turning in a biology lab quiz for a regrade after changing the answers. I owned up and as a result was given probation and a one-letter final grade reduction. Since then I have matured greatly, and of course I never did this again.

The violation is no longer on my transcript, but I will mark it on AMCAS as an institutional action. I have asked the professor who discovered the cheating to write a letter of recommendation for me, and the same professor is writing my committee composite letter. He said he can put the violation in context and will vouch for me.

The committee letter won't make it out until August, but the institutional action on AMCAS will be visible in June. Should I ask for a letter from the Dean of Student Affairs or the biology professor to be sent along with the primary application? What other measures should I take to help the situation? Do I have a chance at getting into allopathic schools in the states?

 

[brooklynblunder]

I am a graduate of a prestigious university applying this cycle and taking two years off before attending medical school. My gpa is a 3.55 and my MCAT is a 37P. I've been doing cancer research since I graduated last year.

My freshman year (over 4 years ago), I made a terrible mistake by turning in a biology lab quiz for a regrade after changing the answers. I owned up and as a result was given probation and a one-letter final grade reduction. Since then I have matured greatly, and of course I never did this again.

The violation is no longer on my transcript, but I will mark it on AMCAS as an institutional action. I have asked the professor who discovered the cheating to write a letter of recommendation for me, and the same professor is writing my committee composite letter. He said he can put the violation in context and will vouch for me.

The committee letter won't make it out until August, but the institutional action on AMCAS will be visible in June. Should I ask for a letter from the Dean of Student Affairs or the biology professor to be sent along with the primary application? What other measures should I take to help the situation? Do I have a chance at getting into allopathic schools in the states?

i think you got lucky there, but i think you also have a decent shot at getting in. just keep it professional and apply broadly.

 

[OrangeTree]

i think you got lucky there, but i think you also have a decent shot at getting in. just keep it professional and apply broadly.

Agreed. In my school, students can receive an "F" in the course.

 

[darkhorse2010]

The professor certainly could have failed me, and I could have been suspended. I don't fully understand his decision to let me off easy, but maybe he knew this was out of character and didn't want to ruin my career.

In any case, I would appreciate more advice and less observation in this thread. I thank brooklynblunder for the tips and reassurance.

 

[ILikeDrugs]

For a quiz? *snickers*

 

[randombetch]

Yeah, in my school you get a year suspension for the violation of our honor code. A year of your life, gone just like that.

 

[OrangeTree]

The professor certainly could have failed me, and I could have been suspended. I don't fully understand his decision to let me off easy, but maybe he knew this was out of character and didn't want to ruin my career.

In any case, I would appreciate more advice and less observation in this thread. I thank brooklynblunder for the tips and reassurance.

Maybe your parents donated $3,000,000 to your prestgious institution. 🙄

 

[cpants]

I don't get it. The professor just took care of it on his own? If so there wasn't institutional action. How do you know if this is not on your transcript? It sounds like maybe you got the hookup and did not have any institutional action against you. If so, do not mention this incident in your app or LOR's.

 

[DrArete]

Don't mention it.

Also, it was a decision, not a mistake.

 

[drizzt3117]

I don't get it. The professor just took care of it on his own? If so there wasn't institutional action. How do you know if this is not on your transcript? It sounds like maybe you got the hookup and did not have any institutional action against you. If so, do not mention this incident in your app or LOR's.

Probation = IA...

 

[LizzyM]

Not mentioning it and having a LOR from the professor is a recipe for disaster. As it is, the few sentences on the AMCAS may be all that is reviewed initially (not the LORs).

 

[darkhorse2010]

Not mentioning it and having a LOR from the professor is a recipe for disaster. As it is, the few sentences on the AMCAS may be all that is reviewed initially (not the LORs).

Thanks for the help, LizzyM.

Should I be sending a letter to schools before I even apply through AMCAS? Is it best just to rely on those few sentences on the AMCAS to explain?

 

[LizzyM]

I think that AMCAS is all that matters. You attest to the facts on the AMCAS in a way that you do not do in a letter (under pain of expulsion if you have lied on the application).

 

[Tin Man]

It's agreed that you were lucky. I would not rely on the generosity of the university as a reliable indicator as to how the med school will view the incident. It was a while ago, and you were relatively forgiven, which means you can plead your case if it comes up. But don't bring it up if you can avoid it.

 

[darkhorse2010]

Thank you, LizzyM and Tin Man.

I will try to plead my case in AMCAS without sounding self-serving. I guess emphasizing my poor decision would be unwise, so I should keep it short and sweet.

I'm definitely going to apply broadly--I certainly don't think medical schools will be lenient with an honor code violation. If I apply to both top and bottom tier schools, would 30 schools suffice? Should I apply to more?

 

[cpants]

Thank you, LizzyM and Tin Man.

I will try to plead my case in AMCAS without sounding self-serving. I guess emphasizing my poor decision would be unwise, so I should keep it short and sweet.

I'm definitely going to apply broadly--I certainly don't think medical schools will be lenient with an honor code violation. If I apply to both top and bottom tier schools, would 30 schools suffice? Should I apply to more?

Broader is better. I would think someone in your shoes will need well over 30 schools. You have to realize that a large percentage of the schools won't even consider you. I have no idea if there are certain schools that are more lenient with this stuff. If there are, they definitely don't advertise it.

 

[darkhorse2010]

Thanks, cpants. I guess I'll apply to as many as time and money will allow. Do medical schools see how many schools and/or which other schools you apply to?

 

[LizzyM]

Thanks, cpants. I guess I'll apply to as many as time and money will allow. Do medical schools see how many schools and/or which other schools you apply to?

No and no. (There was a technical glitch in 2001 that made it possible for us to see but that was fixed.)

If a school makes you an offer, there comes a point in ~March when they can see which other schools have made an offer and in ~May schools that have waitlisted you can see where you have accepted an offer and sometime in the following summer I think that schools can look at the status of any applicant to that school.

 

[darkhorse2010]

Thanks again for all of your wisdom, LizzyM. I think I know what I must do now. I just have to hope that someone will see that I can become a wonderful physician.