I’m in my freshman year and was recently flagged for academic integrity for an essay because I allegedly copy and pasted 4 paragraphs. Despite running it through 15+ AI checkers, showing him my ChatGPT logs, having him search my history, check my recently edited/shared docs, and having him search up the paragraphs online, he still flagged me because he thought his one source was the most effective. Is there any way I can minimize this so my college admissions chances won’t get nuked?
What does ‘flagged’ mean? Was there a consequence, like in school detention/suspension?
You’re in high school ?
Seems easy - either you copy and pasted and they can show you or as you say you didn’t.
One doesn’t need AI to show you copy / pasted.
There has to be a source. I’m assuming there is or they wouldn’t have said you copy/pasted.
And no, your college admission chances aren’t nuked regardless.
It was like a notification that I had cheated once. No real consequence, but it said that I did it.
Yes, high school.
I was covering all the bases, whether it was AI or someone else wrote it. There was no source, just that I copy and pasted it. He didn’t hear me out either, even after I showed him my recently edited and recently shared with me.
So is the cheating notification that you didn’t cite your source, or that you used AI?
My advice would be to talk with your HS counselor…have you done that?
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It was a cheating notification that I copy and pasted from somewhere, but they don’t know what it was. That’s also the frustrating part because they accused me despite me showing them that there was no possible way I could’ve cheated/plagiarized. This English essay did not need sources bc it was an opinion/classification essay that prioritized personal voice.
It happened like a day ago, and I haven’t reached out yet. My teacher said he would refer me to the dean or something like that, so I could also talk to him first and then my counselor.
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Got flagged for the same thing my junior year. Ended up being fine; gotten into purdue rutgers and cu boulder so far and waiting for even more. Don’t stress about it, its not that deep
What if the school is more prestigious, like Brown, NYU, or Cornell? Am I actually cooked for those schools?
No bro not at all, just maintain your GPA above a 3.8-3.9, try to get research gigs and solid (FOCUSED) extracurriculars, and build your story. Everything will work out how it’s supposed to.
I’m Humanities focused (doesn’t really help my case that the academic integrity was in English lol), and my top choice is the Brown-RISD dual degree program. Would typing in the additional information section help. For reference,
Unweighted GPA: 3.96 (assuming I get As for the rest of my career)
Weighted GPA: 4.7 something
Extracurriculars:
- Art/critical theory class taught by myself
- Varsity Debate
- Deca State Finalist
- Model UN (Going to MUNUC)
- Literary Magazine Junior Editor
- Scholastic Art & Writing National Winner (from 8th and on track for 9th)
- Junior Varsity Track
- Youtube Video Essayist about Art
I would slow your roll on worrying about college.
See what the final outcome is about this situation…if you will have a consequence, and then if it will be on your transcript, or in the counselor LoR.
And it goes without saying, but in the spirit of good communication, don’t ask that teacher for an LoR for anything (don’t ask a 9th grade teacher for a college LoR anyway, but you get my point.) Seriously, I just read an LoR from a teacher who wrote a long paragraph about the kid always cutting class.
If there is a consequence, you will have to report that on your college apps to the schools that ask about disciplinary history.
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If they claim you copy and pasted from a specific source, wouldn’t they be able to produce that source? That seems like a basic piece of evidence that should presented along with such an accusation. And in order to defend yourself, you should be able to see the evidence against you. In your position, once it has been passed to the dean, I would request to see the source they claim you copied from. If they can not produce the source, then I don’t see how they can pursue this allegation. If they do produce the source, then you will have to explain any similarities, I suppose.
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When you meet with the dean, I’d recommend listening more than talking, and think about having a parent or supportive adult there with you. As a 9th grader, you’re still learning about self-advocacy and how to work with adults, and it could be helpful to have an ally in the room.
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You’re in 9th grade. You don’t have a top choice.
Be the best you.
Listen, if you flat out copied, they need to show you where.
To say you did that I’ll assume you did.
You cannot control what colleges do. You could be a 4.0 and perfect SAT and get shot down. Control what you can - you.
what mwfan says is a sentiment I’d like to echo. Just take it easy, you’re doing very very well for yourself and you definetley have a lot of potential
Please don’t use your real name