<p>So my D made a bonehead decision two weeks ago. While on an overnight school trip she got together with 10 or so of her friends and they went through half a bottle of vodka. That was enough to get busted and suspended from school for 5 days for violating the school's alcohol policy. With decisions 2 weeks away and the Common App asking for disciplinary events on the final transcript, we are freaking out, and the school has been of little use (one counselor for 600+ kids, who has pretty much told us we are on our own). Some obvious questions are:</p>
<p>1) How do very selective schools view events such as this, and what are the chances of it having a drastic effect on the upcoming decisions? This is the first offense for our D, and she has been a good student: NHS, NM commended, top 10% of class, etc. </p>
<p>2) Should we notify the schools now or wait for 3-4 weeks. The advantage of waiting is that D will be able to say in her letter of explanation "this is what I did, this is what I have learned from it, and this is what I am doing to ensure it does not happen again". If she contacts colleges now, all she will be able to say is "this is what I did, I made a bad decision, etc". The obvious disadvantage of postponing is that some colleges may decide that she was hiding the event until the last possible minute, and take more drastic action.</p>
<p>Any insights or advice based on specific examples would be greatly appreciated. Speculation does little to help us, we can play the guessing game just was well as the next family :-(</p>
<p>No advice, but just wanted to comment that dispite your screen name, you seem remarkably calm.</p>
<p>I am somewhat of an expert on disciplinary matters and their effect on admissions, so feel free to PM me. There are frequent incidents of this nature in senior year, so rest assured that you are not alone.<br>
There is almost NO chance that this will impact your daughter's admissions. I would not disclose anything until decisions come out, and then meet with the counselor to make sure you are on the same page as the school in what is going to be said. At this point, your daughter will write a very concise Explanation of Suspension. She will describe her lapse in judgment, how disappointed she is that she let down her school, her family and most of all, herself. She will explain the consequences and how she learned not to go along with others when she knows it is the wrong decision. College admissions people are not at all surprised by these things- trust me on this.
I know of a boy from one of the top prep schools in the country who was expelled mid-senior year for a serious alcohol infraction that involved an arrest for fake ID. He was taken in by another school and was still admitted to top colleges and is attending Columbia. An otherwise good kid doesn't get dumped for a bad alcohol decision. Drugs are another matter. However, it is easier for a school to deny admission than to rescind, just in case you get the oddball adcom that has a real issue with this. That is why it is best to wait for your decisions and then get on the same page with the incompetent counselor.</p>
<p>I agree with MOWC.</p>
<p>I would very carefully parse the agreement that was signed on the college application. If by signing the applicant agreed to immediately inform schools of a suspension, then waiting could be seen as dishonest and interpreted as an additional infraction.</p>
<p>^^^Good point. The application in question is the Common App, which is the only one that asks this question specifically at application time, on the midyear reports, and the final transcript:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Have you ever been found responsible for a disciplinary violation at an educational institution you have attended from 9th grade (or the international equivalent) forward, whether related to academic misconduct or behavioral misconduct, that resulted in your probation, suspension, removal, dismissal, or expulsion from the institution? �� Yes �� No</p>
<p>Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, or other crime? �� Yes �� No</p>
<p>If you answered yes to either or both questions, please attach a separate sheet of paper that gives the approximate date of each incident and explains the circumstances.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The "No" answers were truthful at the time of application and midyear, but the above text does not imply an obligation she has assumed to immediately disclose future infractions. She will have to check the "Yes" box on the final transcript, we have not intention of hiding this, the question is all about how best to present it so that it is not only disclosed, but there is some substance behind the obligatory "I messed up" statement.</p>