<p>I will graduate from college in the upcoming year with a liberal arts degree.</p>
<p>I did a terrible thing during my freshman year in college. I altered an exam that was being submitted for a regrade. After meeting with the dean, I got an F in the class and a permanent note in my student files. My school, however, does not document this on transcripts. </p>
<p>After graduating, I will take a year off to do international volunteer work. When I return to the US, I’m going to get another degree in business from a different university. I’ve changed my career plans.</p>
<p>A part of me, however, wonders if what happened during freshman year will haunt me for the rest of my life. Given that student records are confidential and there are transcript notations, could a prospective employer find out about this? If so, could I get not hired or even fired (once hired)? </p>
<p>It was the biggest mistake of my life, and if I could turn back the hands of time, I would. At that time, I was so focused on getting good grades that nothing else seemed to matter. </p>
<p>Could I someday get a good job and make a living? Can I get on with my life?</p>
<p>I’ve never heard of an employer asking for school records or looking at them or wanting them. I assume your resume will list your degree, not your grades etc. This is a complete non-issue as far as employment goes.</p>
<p>I’m sorry. I meant that there are no transcript notations. My college doesn’t note academic misconduct on transcripts, but they may disclose it via phone or snail mail with prior consent from the student.</p>
<p>There’s little chance of a potential employer finding out about it. If they do, just tell them what you told us–that you made a dumb mistake and learned from it.</p>
<p>It sounds like you’re feeling extremely guilty. Well, it’s natural to feel guilty after you’ve done something wrong. And that’s useful as an ethical rudder, so to speak, helping you make the right choices. But there comes a point where holding onto guilt is no longer useful–where you need to let it go in order to function.</p>
<p>OP, you are going to be fine. I promise that was not the moment that will define your whole life, or that will ruin your whole life.</p>
<p>Baletti, you have probably been “perfect” for your entire school career except for that F you earned. You are probably too young to have been told of the youthful indiscretions of older folks. You probably imagine that every accomplished person you know has lived without any bumps in the road. Not true!</p>
<p>I was at the meeting of a city board on which I serve and I guy - probably 40- who also serves on the board - was telling me about getting a DWI in HS and few weeks later getting a minor in possession citation and it sounded like that wasn’t the only trouble he got in. He is college graduate, has a good job, serves on a city board. There was probably some time in there where he and/or his parents thought it was the end of the world. But it wasn’t.</p>
<p>Edited to add: I’m not condoning academic dishonesty or drinking and driving. Just saying that young minds sometimes make bad choices but it’s rarely the end of the world.</p>