Academic/Behavioral Misconduct on the Common App

The very last week of my sophomore year, I got ISS (in school suspension) for excessive tardies. To be fair, I was late in the mornings way more often than I liked. I haven’t been like that since… Now that I’m applying to colleges, I am wondering if I have to say yes to this question. I mean, yes, I did get suspension (one teacher got me out to be in her class, I’m a good student I promise) but I don’t consider it to be major. I have obviously changed since then (I know everyone can say this about their situation). I intend to talk to my guidance counselor about this as well as the rest of my questions…
Other than that, I have a 4.4 GPA and I’m in the top 10%, so I really don’t want this to hurt my chances when I’m applying to schools. Do I say yes to this question?

Answer the question honestly. It’s not going to hurt your chances, but even if it did, you need to be honest. You’re not going to be harmed by an ISS for excessive tardiness IMO.

I would ask your GC. My D also had ISS for excessive tardies and was told not to mention it because the colleges are asking about OOS suspensions for things like cheating, fighting, drugs and not ISS because a kid can’t wake up… However, my D graduated HS almost 10 years ago, so I would check with your GC.

Ah thank you for sharing, this was really relieving. Hope ur d is doing well!

My son’s GC also said not to mention his ISS. She said it wasn’t on his record and the school did not feel like it was worth mentioning to a college and would be in no evaluations. (He left a class 10 minutes early without permission at the end of the school day when they had a sub and all the work was done and everyone was just talking because he was about to get sick - sub pushed the issue and per the letter it was a one day ISS). Definitely talk to your GC to see how they view it. Oh and he graduated this year.