mgm125

Hello, So I posted here before about receiving a written warning in my freshman year due to plagiarism (using my notes on an open note test, but my notes weren't in my own words, I was writing from the textbook-- BAD learning strategy). It was an unintentional honest mistake that I take full responsibility for, and I only received a warning. It is not on my transcripts and I finished the class with a B. I just noticed that on NursingCAS, they removed the section and prompt that asks for academic infractions. Now at first this made me ecstatic, although I'm certain that schools might just ask about this later in the process. I would be fine reporting regardless because I know I have a good explanation, it was an honest, human being mistake, and I am going for accelerated nursing programs (or ADN programs) so it will be 3-4 calendar years at MINIMUM from the time this happened to an application. But would anyone know why this question was taken off the application in the first place? On the NursingCAS website I saw that it had something to do with schools going by disciplinary actions on transcripts. (If that's the case then heck, I'd feel much better because like I mentioned, it's not on my transcripts.)

Okay, that definitely makes sense. It wouldn’t be a huge problem either, since it might only take a semester or two and I have gen ED requirements already. Hopefully, like I mentioned, it will add some distance between the incident and by a time that I apply. Thank you so much. EDIT: it would take a semester or two IF I had to retake some of the exact requirements

Okay, definitely sounds like a good idea. In your experience, did you find that applicants that had similar prerequisites but not the exact same would have those counted? For example, my local university (in which I’m currently enrolled) ABSN program requires “survey of Chemistry and lab” as a prereq, but I will have two semesters of general Chemistry +lab. Also intermediate human physiology instead of intro to physiology, general microbio instead of intro to microbio, etc. I suppose that it wouldn’t be an issue to take those courses if I had to, it would just be less ideal due to the added time. Regardless, going by this trajectory I would be 23-24 by the time I applied to ABSN/ADN and this academic integrity violation happened when I was 19. Let’s hope enough years will have passed so that it’d be less of a concern than a more recent violation.

Thank you so much for clarifying. Luckily I won’t have any felonies/misdemeanors/etc. to worry about, just this one academic infraction. Since I have heard this happen before, is it a good idea to apply for both a traditional BSN and an accelerated BSN at the same time? Apparently accelerated programs are highly competitive, so I guess this would be a “just in case” scenario. Also yes, I know that it’s smart to apply to more than one school (provided the requirements are the same), especially considering this incident.

I’m really glad you think so, and considering your experience and previous position, your reply was very encouraging. I just have two questions. 1) So outside of the GPA, TEAS score, and prerequisites, what would you say is most important for applicants to have? By that I mean extracurriculars. For example, I was considering getting a CNA certification next Summer and working for a little while, hopefully part-time so I can at the same time as school. If there are any other high quality ECs, I’d really appreciate your thoughts. 2) So apparently as of this cycle, NursingCAS has removed the questions about academic infractions, along with felonies/misdemeanors/etc. I was wondering how relevant this was, and I had assumed schools would ask these questions in a later part of the process. Would I be correct in this assumption, if you happen to know? Thank you so much for your time.

Alright so I’m currently a junior pursuing my Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry. I am a premed but also strongly considering accelerated BSN programs at the moment. I have a 3.9 GPA when I was a freshman, I made a mistake. I had an open note test where I used my notes, but I forgot that up to that point in the class, the notes I write down weren’t in my own words. So when I got my grade back, I learned that I had committed plagiarism. After discussing what happened with my professor and the conduct committee, I received the following sanctions: a written warning, and a 0 on the assignment. Luckily these were the lightest sanctions, and they allowed me to use this as a learning experience. So I know how to write about how this incident has made me stronger on an application. To put it simply, I changed the way I took notes. Instead of passively writing down text and trying to memorize it, I focus on my own interpretation of the text itself, and then write it down. It’s definitely a more active form of learning, so it’s had an effect on my studying in general. Additionally I serve roles at my school such as a volunteer peer leader and tutor, where we basically help students understand concepts for their classes and stuff. I also try to show them to study more actively, which is what I learned from my own experience. So I just wanted to know if this incident would be like, enough for nursing schools to reject me, or if anyone has been accepted under similar circumstances. Like I said, I’m currently a premed, so I posed this same question to experts on student doctor network (SDN). They told me that medical schools will consider this more minor because it happened in my freshman year. But, knowing how hyper competitive medical school admissions has become, I may not get in anywhere just because. I have looked into the nursing profession a lot, and I think I would really enjoy the role and perks that come along with it. That is why I have looked at accelerated BSN programs. So whether it’s that, or a Generic BSN, would this academic infraction be considered a dealbreaker? thank you for your time.

P.S I just learned of this, but I found a nursingCAS link saying that it will be removing the portion of the application asking for academic infractions. Does anyone know why that is? Thank you.

Hey @peterchris do you have any feedback? Like did you apply with the IA, and what happened afterwards? I’d love to know, thank you for your time.

I am currently in my junior year pursing a BA in Chemistry and hopefully applying to accelerated BSN programs after doing an extra semester to finish prereqs and working as a CNA for a while. In my second semester of freshman year, I received a written warning and a 0 on an assignment for plagiarism. the assignment was a notes-based exam where I was supposed to synthesize the answers from my own notes or other outside sources to complete. I did it using my notes. The problem is that at the time, I was taking my notes from the textbook directly. so like I previously mentioned, I got a warning and a 0 (on that assignment only) after meeting with the professor and conduct office. There is no indication on my transcripts, but I did have to sign a form saying that this will be kept internally so it is something I will have to disclose if necessary to ABSN programs. I ended up with a B in the course. I do know how to write about how I’ve grown and the steps I’ve taken to make sure this isn’t an issue moving forward. For example, I changed the way I take my notes, focusing on writing out my own words and interpretation of the material. With some practice, I have been able to improve my ability to recall material through updating my own study habits. In addition to this, I have spent some time as a volunteer peer leader and tutor, where in addition to reviewing class material itself, I have focused on showing students how to improve their own study habits, to apply to their respective circumstances. so ultimately, I take full responsibility for what happened. I just want to know if applying to ABSN programs would be a waste of time or not. I was previously on the premed track, and I posted on SDN where I was given constructive feedback and that this wouldn’t be a dealbreaker for med school admissions. However obviously nursing schools are different, and I wanted to know if this would be DOA at any ABSN program. If there are any admissions members from schools or students who have gotten accepted with disciplinary action similar to mine, I would love and appreciate the feedback. For some added context, I currently have a 3.9 GPA and hope to finish Summa Cum Laude for my BA in Chemistry.