The Q: I am a student at a top university with solid GPA and MCAT scores. I am very involved in extracurriculars and have won numerous awards for my research. However, I cheated on an exam and was caught. My transcript says that I have violated academic integrity. I have continued to deny that I cheated. This is my only violation of any kind. If I admit, the violation stays and I gain nothing. What should I do?

The A: Oy. What were you thinking? What could possibly be so important that it was worth risking your future on? I'll give you whatever advice I can, but first, I have to say that I have little patience for cheaters.

I'm afraid you're going to have to eat the penalty, unless you really didn't cheat. There's no point in staging an appeal just for the record. As far as your file goes, you should work really hard on a penitent letter that is sincere in its apology for your bad judgement.

As for med schools, I really can't predict. I suspect you made a life choice the day you cheated on that exam. As an admissions file reader, I probably would not vote to accept a student who had cheated.

However, if you write a really eloquent declaration that you violated every principle you hold dear, and an explanation of what anxieties possessed you in that moment and how much you have learned from your mistake, and how much better a doctor you will be for your misstep into human frailty, perhaps someone will believe you. But you'd better be sure that *you* believe what you're saying, or no one else will.

And whatever you do, don't compound your cheating with lying about it. If there's a way out, it's only through honestly owning up to what you've done.

—Anahid Kassabian, Chief Advisor

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