Plagiarism - what are my odds/probability? Forum

[sellparkcity]

Okay so I'm just waiting to hear on what my punishment will be for plagiarism which includes the source listed but whatever.

I have a 3.45 from an ivy league graduate school, for a Master's in IR. I've got a BS in Sociology (Major GPA 3.14) from 2005. Lots of science and real estate work experience and some work with the Lantos Foundation.

LSAT: I figure 155-165, barring some miracle

So what are my chances at Georgetown's part time program if I take the LSAT in Oct. 2010?

Do Ad Comm's check applicant's grad school transcripts? If I send LSAC my transcripts now before a potentially devastating plagiarism mark is on my transcripts, will Ad Comm's check it?

[Lmao Zedong]

plagiarism is really bad

you're probably fucked, and deservedly so

edit: also, don't even think about trying to hide this from them, you'd only be digging yourself a deeper hole, and it's one you'll have no chance of climbing out of come C&F time

[scribelaw]

I also see that you didn't list your undergrad GPA, as calculated by LSAC. That's the only number that matters.

Don't try to hide your plagiarism, disclose it and see what happens. Doubling down on deceit will turn out badly.

[GATORTIM]

if 155 LSAT ---> DING

if 165 LSAT ---> see above posts

[Kretzy]

Okay so I'm just waiting to hear on what my punishment will be for plagiarism which includes the source listed but whatever.

I have a 3.45 from an ivy league graduate school, for a Master's in IR. I've got a BS in Sociology (Major GPA 3.14) from 2005. Lots of science and real estate work experience and some work with the Lantos Foundation.

LSAT: I figure 155-165, barring some miracle

So what are my chances at Georgetown's part time program if I take the LSAT in Oct. 2010?

Do Ad Comm's check applicant's grad school transcripts? If I send LSAC my transcripts now before a potentially devastating plagiarism mark is on my transcripts, will Ad Comm's check it?

Was it a missed citation, or did you flat-out cheat? Having chaired our campus' Honor Council in college, and having had to write letters explaining particular violations to graduate programs, having ANY chance at admission is dependent on the type of violation.

[Mr. Matlock]

Hell, even minus the plagiarism, a 3.14/165 is auto ding at Georgetown. Throw in the plagiarism and a 173 and I still think you'd have problems. All transcripts MUST be reported. Imagine getting in, graduating, only to fail the C&F portion of the Bar Review. $200,000 in debt with no hope of a career or bankruptcy...................................... well, it could be a cool documentary I guess.

[Oblomov]

Does this mean that the plagiarism is on your MA? If it were, say, from your freshman year you might be able to talk your way out of it. If it's recent, you're done.

[saltoftheearth]

to answer your question:
Sure, adcomms will look at your graduate work... but unfortunately, it won't count for much
LSAC GPA is everything (besides the LSAT- but you knew that)

1. fight this plagiarism issue as best you can
2. whatever happens next- full disclosure or die
3. study for LSAT
4. apply wherever you'd like
5. pray to your God
6. wait and see

[monkeyboy]

plagiarism is really bad

you're probably fucked, and deservedly so

edit: also, don't even think about trying to hide this from them, you'd only be digging yourself a deeper hole, and it's one you'll have no chance of climbing out of come C&F time

Perhaps he can spin it and make it into a positive. Maybe a bully forced him to plagiarize his work? That's plausible.

[TheOtherJen]

You plagiarized and you want to go to law school? Seriously? You are the last thing this industry needs.

[monkeyboy]

You plagiarized and you want to go to law school? Seriously? You are the last thing this industry needs.

Hey, we all make mistakes. People can change. Did you know that Perry Mason did time for running a dog fighting ring years before attending law school? He changed, and so can the OP.

[Corsair]

..

[FunkyJD]

Okay so I'm just waiting to hear on what my punishment will be for plagiarism which includes the source listed but whatever.

"Mayday, mayday ..."

Do Ad Comm's check applicant's grad school transcripts?

Seriously?

If I send LSAC my transcripts now before a potentially devastating plagiarism mark is on my transcripts, will Ad Comm's check it?

Nothing like going through three years of law school only to fail the C&F portion of the bar, for failure to disclose.

Good luck.

[FunkyJD]

Imagine getting in, graduating, only to fail the C&F portion of the Bar Review. $200,000 in debt with no hope of a career or bankruptcy...................................... well, it could be a cool documentary I guess.

Well hell, Matlock beat me to it. This.

[APimpNamedSlickback]

This thread oozes with self-righteousness.

OP:

Almost no single offense will keep you from law school. Plagiarism is ugly, and it may very well be a dealbreaker for some schools, but if you write a completely honest, comprehensive, and well-written addendum, you will be able to reduce this incident's negative impact on your file.

That this occured in graduate school, rather than say freshman year, will not help you at all, but in almost every case the disclosure is much more relevant than the actual offense. if you are honest and genuine about everything, and this is your only instance of dishonest behavior, i think things will work out ok.

good luck.

[CoaltoNewCastle]

The numbers you listed (no UGPA and a very, very rough estimate of what your LSAT score might end up being) aren't enough information to tell you your chances of getting into most schools. Though with Georgetown, even without plagiarism, your chances are pretty bad.

[lawschooliseasy]

to answer your question:
Sure, adcomms will look at your graduate work... but unfortunately, it won't count for much
LSAC GPA is everything (besides the LSAT- but you knew that)

1. fight this plagiarism issue as best you can
2. whatever happens next- full disclosure or die
3. study for LSAT
4. apply wherever you'd like
5. pray to Gods
6. wait and see

fix´d

[eandy]

I'd avoid schools that are big on honor codes, washington and lee or UVA for example.

[FunkyJD]

This thread oozes with self-righteousness.

That statement itself is self-righteous.

Plagiarism in graduate school is ugly, since by then you should know better -- and [strike]it may very well[/strike] it will probably be a dealbreaker for some schools ... but if you write a completely honest, comprehensive, and well-written addendum, and post a particularly impressive LSAT score, you [strike]will[/strike] may be able to reduce this incident's significantly negative impact on your file.

fify.

Not busting OP's chops for sport, there's a reason why academic dishonesty is to be avoided. And when OP goes further and implies, through their questions, that they may be willing to try and evade detection of their problem by playing games with the submission of their graduate school transcripts, that suggests to me that OP has a loose relationship with honesty to begin with. Here's a lollipop if that sounds self-righteous and hurtful, but that's my opinion.

[devilishangelrjp]

This thread oozes with self-righteousness.

That statement itself is self-righteous.

Plagiarism in graduate school is ugly, since by then you should know better -- and [strike]it may very well[/strike] it will probably be a dealbreaker for some schools ... but if you write a completely honest, comprehensive, and well-written addendum, and post a particularly impressive LSAT score, you [strike]will[/strike] may be able to reduce this incident's significantly negative impact on your file.

fify.

Not busting OP's chops for sport, there's a reason why academic dishonesty is to be avoided. And when OP goes further and implies, through their questions, that they may be willing to try and evade detection of their problem by playing games with the submission of their graduate school transcripts, that suggests to me that OP has a loose relationship with honesty to begin with. Here's a lollipop if that sounds self-righteous and hurtful, but that's my opinion.

+1. OP kinda sounds like he would do anything to get what he wants. Plagiarism is really a big deal. I get the impression it was recent, in which case sympathy is a little lacking, and, while being genuine and disclosing is a given, I'm not sure this will gain the OP many points.

[sellparkcity]

First of all, I love lollipops and would love one.

Second:
I listed the reference and added my own words, but the TA, not even a professor, thought that I should have quotes around all paragraphs that had any words from the listed source.

I might get off with a warning or probation (which I'm praying for) rather than a permanent mark on my transcripts or an expulsion, in which case I'll probably just get a lawyer.

Third:
In reality, my UGPA ended in May of '05. So really it all comes down to the LSAT, no?

[letsdoit1982]

First of all, I love lollipops and would love one.

Second:
I listed the reference and added my own words, but the TA, not even a professor, thought that I should have quotes around all paragraphs that had any words from the listed source.

I might get off with a warning or probation (which I'm praying for) rather than a permanent mark on my transcripts or an expulsion, in which case I'll probably just get a lawyer.

Third:
In reality, my UGPA ended in May of '05. So really it all comes down to the LSAT, no?

I hate to say it, but the TA is right. You need quotes around all words that are not your own, unless they're non-specific. If you rephrase, however, you obviously just need to cite it.

[cae]

Anyone remember that girl from Harvard who plagiarized passages in a "young adult" novel she wrote?

Pretty sure she's at GULC now. I think there was a blurb about her in Time magazine a year ago. So it seems if you're mature about it, admit to it, and write a good addendum, it might not totally screw you.