I’m currently a junior in highschool and I have 2 honor code violations on my record. I was accused of plagirism, and both happened in 2nd semester of sophomore year. I admit my mistakes and I definitely learned a lot from it and doing so far so good this year. I have approximately 3.7 GPA, art portfolio, and 2080 on the SAT. I am thinking about applying to RISD, Cooper Union, Carneige Mellon art program, SAIC, etc, and the only concern I have now is the honor codes. I was told by my counselor that I should write a handwritten letter about the incidents but I am still worried. I am not who I was last year. I am even thinking about transferring to a private high school, so I can start off again without any honor codes. What should I do?
Everyone makes mistakes… the fact that this happened twice is not ideal but if you can honestly portray this as a learning experience (ie. in your essay/s) that may partially offset that…
hey so I just checked the common app form for you (mine are all filled out bc I’ve already applied since I’m a senior) and it asks if you have been guilty of any academic or other misconduct at any educational institutional you have attended since grade 9 that required disciplinary action. Okay, so, you could switch schools, but I don’t think that would help because you would still have to report the misconducts (unless your new school decides to ignore them). I don’t recommend writing a handwritten note, that seems silly when I think there is a box you can put information in to explain said misconducts in the common app itself. I would include something about them (explaining how you’ve changed, etc.) but not a handwritten note that you mail it. Also, just make sure you have a strong common app, a strong art portfolio, etc. Everything has to be at your best because if it comes between you and someone else, and you have the violations, they’re probably going to choose the other person, whether it’s fair or not.
Also, on your SAT, SAIC requires at least a 500 on verbal or critical reading, so make sure you have that. Your SAT scores are in range for RISD, and I have no clue about the other schools because I am only applying to RISD. If you have questions about RISD, I can try to answer them. I’ll find out if I get in this week or next week probably. But keep in mind that I have also applied to Ivy schools and competitive programs such as brown-risd, so my SAT and school scores had to be very high. I also went to private school, I’m from Canada and I can say that the school I went to is much harder that most public schools since I’m taking mostly APs and the courses are more challenging. I can’t speak for all private schools but this is just a warning that if you switch to private school for your final year, it might be very difficult to maintain the same marks. Nevertheless, I cannot speak for all private schools, some might be easier or the same level of difficultly. I can only speak from my own experience, that is that most kids (including myself) get a maximum of 4 hours of sleep right not (keep in mind I’m taking advanced math, sciences, as well as art so this might not apply if you take a lighter course load).
Yikes, this was long. I hope I was of some help! : )
update!! I got into RISD!!! 
Let me know if you want any stats or scores or something!
Hi, my daughter is a senior and she is going to apply this fall to RISD. Can you post your accepted portfolio?
@lsichitiu you could look online BUT be forewarned that totally freaked my D1 out (and she did get accepted and is going to RISD). Better yet have your daughter go to as many portfolio reviews she can in early Fall. My daughter obviously targeted ones she was applying to, but also if she had time went to additional tables. All gave her very valuable (& fairly consistent) feedback and she used that info to really up her game in the winter of her senior year in time to photograph and submit more current and/or better curated work.
Also while it’s good to show a range of abilities, even though my daughter is going for illustration she really loves 3D/sculpture so she added alot more of that to show her strengths and ability in different mediums.
Also you may want to post similar question under the “Visual Arts” majors http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/ where alot of parents of artsy kids hang out and have been through the portfolio process and are happy to share expertise.