Unique academic IA from freshman year (2020)

[needsomehappinessinlife]

This is the IA description I provided. I am 3.8+/517+, with adequate research/clinical/non-clinical. Without the IA, I believe I am a qualified applicant. I am hoping that because this happened the very first semester of college, it wouldn't be an app-killer. How do I edit this essay?

During my first semester of college, I faced an academic integrity issue after uploading my chemistry lab report to CourseHero, a website that provides students with study guides and notes. The lab report, while my own work, was derived from the professor's materials, constituting a breach of academic integrity. Unaware that my lab report would be shared publicly, I uploaded my chemistry lab report to this website. When my professor discovered the report on CourseHero, I received a reprimand and a grade penalty. I deeply regret this incident and have used it as an opportunity to learn three main lessons. First, I realized the importance of maintaining open communication with professors. Second, I learned to appreciate the value of professors as a learning resource and seeking help when needed. Third, I recognized the significance of familiarizing myself with university policies, website guidelines, syllabi, and other terms of usage in every academic and professional setting, understanding that ignorance could no longer serve as an excuse.

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[TradClimber]

It’s too long, I recommend you cut it down to about this length:
During my first semester of college, I uploaded my chemistry lab report to CourseHero, unaware that it would be shared publicly. When my professor discovered the report on CourseHero, I received a reprimand and a grade penalty.

I deeply regret this incident and learned to take initiative to familiarize myself with all university policies going forward.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

It's not unique. Also get advice from your student conduct office.

 

[sapphire_fire]

I second that you should make it a lot shorter. If anything, you are drawing more attention to it.
Not only that, but you add so much that it makes it really confusing. Was the IA because you used too much of your professor’s work? Was it because you were stressed/struggling and used CourseHero? Was it because you uploaded your (or your professors??) work to CourseHero? It even starts coming across as using several excuses and hoping one sticks.
What was the precise reason for the IA?

 

[LizzyM]

What was the precise reason for the IA?

Clearly, sharing work on Course Hero can be considered assisting with academic dishonesty as one uploads common homework assignments and others take them to pass off as their own. The sharer can be considered complicit in the dishonesty.

I agree that the statement should be short. What you did, how you were punished, what you learned.

 

[needsomehappinessinlife]

It's not unique. Also get advice from your student conduct office.

thank you for the reply. If you don't mind me asking, how common is this and how do adcoms view it (if written concisely as described above)?

 

[needsomehappinessinlife]

It’s too long, I recommend you cut it down to about this length:
During my first semester of college, I uploaded my chemistry lab report to CourseHero, unaware that it would be shared publicly. When my professor discovered the report on CourseHero, I received a reprimand and a grade penalty.

I deeply regret this incident and learned to take initiative to familiarize myself with all university policies going forward.

If I write this, would it be concise enough and have enough information for Adcoms to make a decision? I want them to have the full picture.

During my first semester of college, I uploaded my chemistry lab report to CourseHero, unaware that it would be shared publicly. When my professor discovered the report on CourseHero, I received a reprimand and a grade penalty. I deeply regret this incident and learned to take the initiative to familiarize myself with all university policies going forward, understanding that ignorance could no longer serve as an excuse.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

If it's part of undergrad orientation from academic affairs, it's common. I don't think it's going to exclude you if you understand the issues.

Chegg and Course Hero have been around a while.

Course materials inappropriately shared on Course Hero and similar sites | UC Copyright

copyright.universityofcalifornia.edu

Course Hero: Study Aid or Cheating?

It’s hard to know what to think of Course Hero, a site that declares itself as a “social learning network” where you can “give and get” information.

www.colorado.edu

 

[needsomehappinessinlife]

If it's part of undergrad orientation from academic affairs, it's common. I don't think it's going to exclude you if you understand the issues.

Chegg and Course Hero have been around a while.

Course materials inappropriately shared on Course Hero and similar sites | UC Copyright

copyright.universityofcalifornia.edu

Course Hero: Study Aid or Cheating?

It’s hard to know what to think of Course Hero, a site that declares itself as a “social learning network” where you can “give and get” information.

www.colorado.edu

I think that was my biggest pitfall. I had never heard about this so when I discovered this website, I didn't give it any thought.
My plan was to describe the IA as an opportunity to be less ignorant and more cognizant.

 

[sapphire_fire]

If I write this, would it be concise enough and have enough information for Adcoms to make a decision? I want them to have the full picture.

During my first semester of college, I uploaded my chemistry lab report to CourseHero, unaware that it would be shared publicly. When my professor discovered the report on CourseHero, I received a reprimand and a grade penalty. I deeply regret this incident and learned to take the initiative to familiarize myself with all university policies going forward, understanding that ignorance could no longer serve as an excuse.

Personally I like this a lot more. No need to mention the other stuff (that it was similar to your professor’s work, that you might have also used CourseHero yourself because of stress, etc.) if you don’t have to.
If I’m nitpicking, I don’t love the last sentence because it implies you used ignorance as an excuse in the first place. I would just say you regret it, that you familiarized yourself with the policies, and learned from your mistake. (Pretty much what @TradClimber wrote, but don’t use their text exactly 😅)
That’s all my opinion of course, I’m not an ADCOM and if any of them on here or your advisor/student conduct office recommend otherwise, go with that.

 

[karaya]

I think that was my biggest pitfall. I had never heard about this so when I discovered this website, I didn't give it any thought.
My plan was to describe the IA as an opportunity to be less ignorant and more cognizant.

I don't really like this path; it seems like an evasion. Agree with @sapphire_fire that ignorance is no excuse. If I'm reading this right, you used CourseHero to get "help"--to get the answer. That reads as cheating. I think that's the only issue you have to confront. Not policies or communication or cognizance of the rules.

 

[IlDestriero]

You definitely need to rewrite your response as I can’t even determine what you actually did/were accused of doing.
You uploaded your lab to check it?
You uploaded your lab to get help from some outside expert?
You uploaded your completed lab to help others (cheat)?
You uploaded your professors work product?
See what I’m saying?

 

[needsomehappinessinlife]

I don't really like this path; it seems like an evasion. Agree with @sapphire_fire that ignorance is no excuse. If I'm reading this right, you used CourseHero to get "help"--to get the answer. That reads as cheating. I think that's the only issue you have to confront. Not policies or communication or cognizance of the rules.

Oh I didn’t copy any answers or anything. I was going through old study guides and found that if I uploaded some of my own materials I could get access to more notes so I uploaded my chem lab report. I didn’t read the terms that all these documents would be publicly shared (though I shouldn’t have uploaded anything in the first place). Maybe I am evading and I would love to show that I learned from the mistake. I should have reached out to my professors if I was struggling with material instead of looking for help from the internet
That’s what the conduct record says…. Unauthorized uploading/downloading of course materials on the internet

 

[needsomehappinessinlife]

If it's part of undergrad orientation from academic affairs, it's common. I don't think it's going to exclude you if you understand the issues.

Chegg and Course Hero have been around a while.

Course materials inappropriately shared on Course Hero and similar sites | UC Copyright

copyright.universityofcalifornia.edu

Course Hero: Study Aid or Cheating?

It’s hard to know what to think of Course Hero, a site that declares itself as a “social learning network” where you can “give and get” information.

www.colorado.edu

I was wondering if this essay works...
During my first semester of college, I faced an academic integrity issue after uploading my chemistry lab report to Coursehero, a website that provides study materials in exchange for your own. Uploading the lab report to a public website constituted a breach of academic integrity policies because it drew on materials from the course and was shared on the internet. When my professor discovered the report on CourseHero, I received a reprimand and a grade penalty. I deeply regret my actions and have taken proactive steps to learn from this experience. Moving forward, I have made a conscious effort to seek guidance from my professors when facing academic challenges instead of turning to external sources. I now understand the importance of familiarizing myself with university policies, website guidelines, syllabi, and other terms of usage in all academic and professional settings. This experience has taught me the value of academic integrity and the importance of seeking support and guidance from the appropriate sources.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I was wondering if this essay works...
During my first semester of college, I faced an academic integrity issue after uploading my chemistry lab report to Coursehero, a website that provides study materials in exchange for your own. Uploading the lab report to a public website constituted a breach of academic integrity policies because it drew on materials from the course and was shared on the internet. When my professor discovered the report on CourseHero, I received a reprimand and a grade penalty. I deeply regret my actions and have taken proactive steps to learn from this experience. Moving forward, I have made a conscious effort to seek guidance from my professors when facing academic challenges instead of turning to external sources. I now understand the importance of familiarizing myself with university policies, website guidelines, syllabi, and other terms of usage in all academic and professional settings. This experience has taught me the value of academic integrity and the importance of seeking support and guidance from the appropriate sources.

It still sounds like you didn't own the action. Also, you didn't "face an academic integrity issue"; you uploaded course materials without your professor's permission, and thus violated academic policies and copyright law. In short, you stole someone else's confidential work (which as a student you were privileged to have) and posted it online (violating the syllabus/university policy, which would constitute an academic infraction).

You already received a very good suggestion above. Don't spin your actions.

 

[LizzyM]

"During my first semester of college, I uploading my chemistry lab report to Coursehero, a website that provides study materials in exchange for your own. This constituted a breach of academic integrity policies so when my professor discovered the report on CourseHero, I received a reprimand and a grade penalty. Moving forward, I have made a conscious effort to seek guidance from my professors when facing academic challenges instead of turning to external sources. I now understand the importance of seeking support and guidance from the appropriate sources and avoiding websites that facilitate academic dishonesty."