Help with unintentional academic dishonesty

So I applied to McGill engineering (am Canadian).

My academic background is that I am from Quebec and did 1 out of 2 years of its pre-university college system (post HS), went to Purdue and bagged a 2.3 gpa with 4/15 credits dropped. After that I couldn’t stomach paying US tuition since I wasn’t gaining anything staying in the US worth the money if I was doing poorly so I went back to Quebec and am about to graduate from my pre-uni program (last semester of 2nd year rn).

Apply to McGill is easy, you just have to enter a code for them to access your pre-uni transcript and basically that’s all they use to decide admission. I was planning to apply for extenuating circumstances to explain my academic history (along with some personal stuff that went with it), but my parents had me omit all the Purdue stuff since all they look at is the pre-uni transcript anyways (why show a moment of weakness when you don’t have to is the logic).

Problem is first of all I know that this is academic dishonesty, but I was convinced to brush it under the rug by my parents and it probably wouldn’t have been noticed anyways. However, I used my Purdue Calculus 2 credit to fulfill the my program’s Calculus requirement, so on my Quebec transcript it just says the credit was gained with no other explanation. Therefore, McGill has asked me to explain what happened (where did I take Calc 2 and the grade) and send supporting documents and a transcript if needed. The engineering faculty is currently looking at my app, but what’s even worse is that McGill’s faculty of arts and they faculty of science have already both accepted me to the other programs I applied.

I know that I have to send my documents and explain, but how do I explain myself, I really just made a mistake but will they see it that way? I know that I need to explain, but I really am lost on how to communicate this.

TLDR: went to Purdue, did bad, applied McGill later, parents say no mention Purdue on app, busted

I think you hit the nail on the head:

Went to Purdue

Here is my record.

I apologize for the omission.

Done

What your parents said to do is not relevant. Don’t make excuses. You may be bounced - but that is the consequence of what you did - cheat, but made an oops and showed your hand - and then got caught.

Good luck.

Just provide the transcript and see what happens. I wish this had been unintentional just due to not knowing. It is required to provide all transcripts to any school you apply to but yes sometimes people get away with it. You didn’t. It may work out if you provide the transcript- if you have done well since.

I agree you should just send the transcript and see what happens. You can’t claim it was an unintentional omission. McGill is quite clear about requiring all transcripts.

Academic records from every post-secondary institution (including exchange or study-abroad sessions) are required as part of the supporting documents of your application.

You would have likely been caught as Canadian schools are part of the National Student Clearinghouse which has all transcripts for all students. I don’t know if McGill checks all matriculating students or not, but your omission could have very well come to light at any point during your four years there.

I do think it’s possible that McGill rescinds your acceptance because A) academic dishonesty and B) you are a transfer student, not an incoming first year.

Do you have other acceptances that you haven’t declined (that you have sent your Purdue transcripts to?)

Thx for reply, but I wonder why I should not try and explain since I was coerced to omit it

I guess I could’ve simply pretended to not send the transcript but that I didnt think of it at the time

You are the applicant.

You did what you did.

Outside factors aren’t relevant.

Always better to own up than blame others.

It wasn’t an accident. You knew up front.

You are responsible as the applicant. I actually think it makes you look worse to blame your parents. Be honest- always the best way to go. Send the transcript without excuses and see what happens. Your better grades more recently show what you can do.

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Consider withdrawing the application to the engineering school. If you do so, will you still need to tender an explanation ?