HS Cheating and college admission

[Anonymous]

DC is completing junior year of Hs and we plan to make a potential college list this summer. DC cheated on a test earlier in HS and admitted this to his teacher and I assume this is listed in DC’s school record now. At the time, DC took responsibility and accepted the consequences.

I am now wondering how to factor this into DC’s potential college list. I assume/hope this doesn’t take all college possibilities off the table for DC? Should we make an appointment with his guidance counselor to discuss the potential ramifications with respect to college applications? Thank you for any advice.

[Anonymous]

You should talk to your school college guidance counselor.

[Anonymous]

It will be good essay if he learned from it.

[Anonymous]

Before writing an essay, I would definitely discuss with the college counselor how the school will address it.

[Anonymous]

It may not even be an issue. They don’t send your child’s file to the university. Was there a suspension because of it?

[Anonymous]

Let your kid figure it out on their own. See if they really learned from it or just hope itgoes away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It may not even be an issue. They don’t send your child’s file to the university. Was there a suspension because of it?

+1

OP, you're assuming this is in your kid's record. It may not be, if the individual teacher accepted your child's confession and handled it within just that one class (giving a grade of zero, or making your kid retake the test, or whatever--what was done at that time?). I would have your teen, not you, go to that teacher and ask. I'd say go to the teacher before going to the HS counselor because if the teacher considered the matter resolved and never reported it to the school, it's over and done. I am NOT saying "hooray, your kid got away with it if the counselors never heard of it!" I'm saying that if it was a single instance, NEVER repeated, and the teacher made a choice on how to handle it--there may be no need to put this on the counseling office's radar. If your kid does indeed have this on some kind of record, then kid needs to see the counseling office and ask, as others here have noted. Knowing DCUM, someone is going to come along and say I'm condoning cheating or condoning hiding cheating, but I'm not; if the teacher handled it in some fashion that created a negative consequence for your child, that may have been the end of it.

You as the parent do need to talk to your kid about college honor codes and the fact that in college, cheating has to be reported up the chain and students can be and have been expelled for it, or thrown out of specific academic programs, etc. It is taken very, very seriously by most colleges and will brand your kid if he or she cheats in college. It can close doors to other programs like grad school admissions, too.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all from OP.

I feel confident that my child knew what he did was wrong and took responsibility and accepted the punishment, and it was a one time mistake 2 years ago. The teacher did give him a zero and I assumed the incident was noted in his academic record, but you are right that I don’t know that (I am not even sure the teacher will remember him but that’s a different matter).

Thanks for the sage advice.

[Anonymous]

Common App asks the student to disclose this and gives space to explain. I think the key is to explain that a lesson was learned and not to blame others for getting caught.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Common App asks the student to disclose this and gives space to explain. I think the key is to explain that a lesson was learned and not to blame others for getting caught.

I would have him answer honestly, if required. Do not volunteer this info. (I don’t recall a q that would require an answer/explanation in this case).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Common App asks the student to disclose this and gives space to explain. I think the key is to explain that a lesson was learned and not to blame others for getting caught.

The key is to admit nothing and make them prove something they probably can’t

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Common App asks the student to disclose this and gives space to explain. I think the key is to explain that a lesson was learned and not to blame others for getting caught.

I'd check with the school to see if it's even recorded. I doubt the teacher intended to harm his or her student for life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Common App asks the student to disclose this and gives space to explain. I think the key is to explain that a lesson was learned and not to blame others for getting caught.

The key is to admit nothing and make them prove something they probably can’t

Not answering the question honestly is a current infraction as opposed to a two year old mistake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is completing junior year of Hs and we plan to make a potential college list this summer. DC cheated on a test earlier in HS and admitted this to his teacher and I assume this is listed in DC’s school record now. At the time, DC took responsibility and accepted the consequences.

I am now wondering how to factor this into DC’s potential college list. I assume/hope this doesn’t take all college possibilities off the table for DC? Should we make an appointment with his guidance counselor to discuss the potential ramifications with respect to college applications? Thank you for any advice.

It is generally not. Don't recall where I read this but I believe the school does not report to colleges on any disciplinary infractions but leaves it up to the student. Your call if you want to bring it up. If your kid is repentant enough, I wouldn't bring it up.

[Anonymous]

Do not bring it up.