Discipline and academic integrity

sbanerjee23
Fri, 29 Jun 2007 01:55:20 +0000

I am a junior, who is frantically searching for new colleges and is trying to become acquainted with the college admission process. One thing that has really been bothering me is this question of previous disciplinary action.

In 10th grade, I was taking a make up for a test which the teacher had already handed back to the class. After I handed in the test, I opened my folder and began looking at someone else’s test to check if I had given the right answer or not. I was also naive (stupid enough) to directly ask a teacher about the test after handing it in, with another students test in my hand. Undoubtedly the teacher became very upset and confiscated the test. I was told that it was necessary for me to maintain my integrity as a student and not look at the test even if the teacher had handed it back. Looking back, I know for sure that what I did was dishonest but I think I just didn’t see it as seriously as I should have considering I rarely take make-up exams. I went to the assistant principle and told him this right away (even before my teacher told him about it). I think my principal took pity on me, as I sat there quivering in fear of a ruined future. He gave me what is called in my school as “In School Support.” I talked to my guidance counselor in 10th grade and he told me this was not a suspension but it was more serious than detention. I had to spend a portion of the day in a designated room (similar to detention) while my teachers brought any work I had into the room. Trust me when I tell you guys that I am not a bad kid, I just get in trouble for the stupidest of things.

On the college application to UNC, Wake Forest, and the common app., it asks about previous disciplinary action. I asked other people and they said this was to inform the college if you have been suspended or not in high-school. Even though ,my guidance counselor said this was not a suspension, i need to know if “In School Support” should be treated in such a way. My counselors keep telling me not to worry about it and in fact my 10th grade counselor was replaced by a new counselor who seemingly has nothing but good to say about me. Nonetheless, I don’t want to let this thing slip by only to be reprimanded in the future. As you can probably tell from this protracted rant which I have been dragging on at 1:47A.M., I am literally losing sleep over this dumb thing (AND ITS SUMMER TOO).

Please, anyone that can offer advice onto whether I should consider this a suspension or that I should not worry about it, please let me know. Thanks a lot.