Institutional Action?

[hi!]

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Hello. I'm a sophomore and recieved an academic dishonesty mark and an F in the course because I was accused of cheating. The "academic dishonesty mark" can be removed/expunged in the next 5 academic years. Should I forget about medicine, or should I try to apply 3 years after graduation? My projected GPA upon graduation would be around a 3.8 because I have mostly A's and B's in all other classes. Please spare me the scathing comments, I accept full responsibility for my actions and I uderstand if I have to pay the price.

 

[cactus8910]

From the AMCAS quick start guide:
You must answer Yes to this question if you were ever the recipient of any institutional action by any college or medical school for unacceptable academic performance or conduct violation, even if such action did not interrupt your enrollment or require you to withdraw. You must answer Yes even if the action does not appear on or has been deleted or expunged from your official transcripts due to institutional policy or personal petition.
(https://www.aamc.org/students/download/277594/data/quickstartguide.pdf)
So it'll be on your app whether you apply as a junior or 3 years after graduation. I'm not really sure how you can demonstrate to med schools that you're no longer academically dishonest, so good luck with that.

 

[ndafife]

You need a near perfect application to make up for an academic dishonesty mark. I'm not going to ask for details for the sake of anonymity but you need to think about how to explain what you did and show (through concrete actions) that it will not happen again.

I am talking hundreds of hours of volunteering, research publications, glowing recommendations, and an excellent MCAT. I think taking a few years between graduating and applying would help - depending on what you did, you could try to chalk it up to youthful immaturity.

 

[Jagon]

From the AMCAS quick start guide:
You must answer Yes to this question if you were ever the recipient of any institutional action by any college or medical school for unacceptable academic performance or conduct violation, even if such action did not interrupt your enrollment or require you to withdraw. You must answer Yes even if the action does not appear on or has been deleted or expunged from your official transcripts due to institutional policy or personal petition.
(https://www.aamc.org/students/download/277594/data/quickstartguide.pdf)
So it'll be on your app whether you apply as a junior or 3 years after graduation. I'm not really sure how you can demonstrate to med schools that you're no longer academically dishonest, so good luck with that.

Actually if op can get the mark removed by his or her school than they can answer no to that question. Med schools will never know about it if their undergrad school has expunged it.

 

[Glandzburg]

Actually if op can get the mark removed by his or her school than they can answer no to that question. Med schools will never know about it if their undergrad school has expunged it.

That will go a long way for Op towards proving that He/she is no longer dishonest....

Solid advice.

 

[I'mJustCurious]

Can't believe an academic dishonesty is as bad as a criminal record

 

[Pasmal]

Can't believe an academic dishonesty is as bad as a criminal record

It's worse really. OP you can try applying and see how it goes, write a hell of a statement about it and hope for the best. As stated above you have to report it regardless of length of time, and can be kicked out if they find out you lied about it on your app once you get it.

 

[Goro]

As of right now, your medical career is in deep stasis.

So yes, you need to wait until the IA disappears from your record. You might still be asked at interviews about the F.

Hello. I'm a sophomore and recieved an academic dishonesty mark and an F in the course because I was accused of cheating. The "academic dishonesty mark" can be removed/expunged in the next 5 academic years. Should I forget about medicine, or should I try to apply 3 years after graduation? My projected GPA upon graduation would be around a 3.8 because I have mostly A's and B's in all other classes. Please spare me the scathing comments, I accept full responsibility for my actions and I uderstand if I have to pay the price.

Teaching moment! There is a good evidence that dishonest doctors start out as dishonest students. My clinical colleagues take professionalism very seriously. And with thousands of applicants who don't have serious IAs, which should we take a risk on someone who does???

Can't believe an academic dishonesty is as bad as a criminal record

 

[I'mJustCurious]

It's worse really. OP you can try applying and see how it goes, write a hell of a statement about it and hope for the best. As stated above you have to report it regardless of length of time, and can be kicked out if they find out you lied about it on your app once you get it.

Worse than burglary? Does it only look bad because it might imply that the person probably cheated throughout their college experience? If so, then yes I see it now.

 

[ZedsDed]

You are going to have to prove that you are not an unethical individual; the burden of proof certainly lies with you.

 

[ZedsDed]

That will go a long way for Op towards proving that He/she is no longer dishonest....

Solid advice.

That, and the OP will always have to worry about them finding out. Your transcripts and records will be reviewed many times over in medical school and throughout your career. If any discrepancies are found, especially one this serious, there will be severe consequences, such as rescinding your medical degree.

 

[hi!]

.

 

[hi!]

As of right now, your medical career is in deep stasis.

So yes, you need to wait until the IA disappears from your record. You might still be asked at interviews about the F.




Teaching moment! There is a good evidence that dishonest doctors start out as dishonest students. My clinical colleagues take professionalism very seriously. And with thousands of applicants who don't have serious IAs, which should we take a risk on someone who does???

Can't believe an academic dishonesty is as bad as a criminal record

So essentially, I should totally drop pre med because my chances of getting into medical school are slim to none? Although I made a stupid mistake, I understand it will not be taken lightly. Going to med school was my dream, but I want to know if my chances really are completely shot before I completely give it up and start looking into other careers.

 

[ZedsDed]

.

Only you can answer that question. I wouldn't say your chances are zero, but they are definitely severely diminished. As everyone has been saying, you have a lot of work to do.

 

[NeuResurgens]

Not going to lie, it's really hard to come back from an academic dishonesty mark, even if it is removed by virtue of time (since the medical application doesn't care whether it was removed or not - if it happened, you must report it). Seriously think about plan B and do the best you can.

 

[hi!]

Not going to lie, it's really hard to come back from an academic dishonesty mark, even if it is removed by virtue of time (since the medical application doesn't care whether it was removed or not - if it happened, you must report it). Seriously think about plan B and do the best you can.

So in that case, if I'm going to have to disclose the IA anyway, there's no point in waiting 3 years after undergrad (when it would be expunged) to apply , correct? I might as well take one gap year, build character, and apply.

 

[Glandzburg]

So in that case, if I'm going to have to disclose the IA anyway, there's no point in waiting 3 years after undergrad (when it would be expunged) to apply , correct? I might as well take one gap year, build character, and apply.

Actually, it will benefit you to put more time between your IA and your application. Adcoms are less likely to believe that you have "changed" in just a couple of years.

 

[LizzyM]

So in that case, if I'm going to have to disclose the IA anyway, there's no point in waiting 3 years after undergrad (when it would be expunged) to apply , correct? I might as well take one gap year, build character, and apply.

No, you would be better off to wait 5-8 years after graduation, build character, serve your country in some way, and establish yourself as a completely different person than you were 10 years earlier. With institutional actions and academic dishonesty, the question comes down to, "would we want a person who does this sort of thing in our academic community?" We might accept someone who was written up for having a carton of milk on a dorm fire escape or a bottle of gin on their desk (institutional action) but we might not want to let in someone who has been known to cheat. If the same person is caught cheating in med school the fingers will be pointed at the admissions office with the question, "why did you let a known cheater into our halls?"

 

[DokterMom]

So in that case, if I'm going to have to disclose the IA anyway, there's no point in waiting 3 years after undergrad (when it would be expunged) to apply , correct? I might as well take one gap year, build character, and apply.

You might be able to 'build' character on one year, but you almost certainly won't be able to convincingly demonstrate that fact in one year. Give yourself five years post-cheating before applying and get your hands dirty with the character-building.

 

[NeuResurgens]

So in that case, if I'm going to have to disclose the IA anyway, there's no point in waiting 3 years after undergrad (when it would be expunged) to apply , correct? I might as well take one gap year, build character, and apply.

Exactly right. No need to wait that long - do extremely well in undergrad and then take a gap year to do some meaningful activities - preferably something that requires high moral character which will allow you to offer some solid proof that you changed and learned form the experience. Even then, there are no guarantees, but this would be the best way to try and overcome an IA for cheating.

 

[Pasmal]

Worse than burglary? Does it only look bad because it might imply that the person probably cheated throughout their college experience? If so, then yes I see it now.

It's not that it's inherently worse, it's just harder to explain. There's no "oh well that's not as bad as I thought" kind of answer for why you cheated, premeditated or not.

 

[Goro]

No and yes.

Worse than burglary? Does it only look bad because it might imply that the person probably cheated throughout their college experience? If so, then yes I see it now.