College applications and High School Suspensions.... "Were you ever suspended?"

<p>My freshman year of HS I had ISS (In School Suspension) for 1 day. (I made a really idiotic decision to quickly run into the boys locker room to ask the coach for a bandaid, because I cut my finger really bad. I took the advice of a male student to "just go in there and ask". There were no other supervisors in the girls locker room, and I had my blood all over my hand. I wasn't thinking, so I just went in). Apparently it was deemed for harassment. </p>

<p>The administrator said that it wouldn't show up on my transcript at all, she wasn't even thinking about putting it on there because I was a very good student. I just made a really dumb decision that got me in trouble. But for disciplinary actions, I was put in ISS. </p>

<p>College applications ask if I was suspended at all during high school, but since it's not on my record, what do I reply with? I know I should own up to it but it worries me that I'll get less of a chance getting into the college I want to attend. </p>

<p>What do you guys think?</p>

<p>Wow you got in trouble for entering the boys’ locker room to find someone to help you with an injury? That sounds dumb to me and I’m sorry that happened. I think you should ask your guidance counselor what you should do.</p>

<p>Talk with your GC. But if you were my kid, there are a bunch of administrators who would have chewed butts and possibly a new career after I got through with them. That sort of unthinking automatic punishment policy is precisely what’s wrong with some schools - no one uses common sense. There was clearly no intent on your part and only circumstances dictated why you went in there in the first place. The first question I would be asking is why no one was in the girls locker room, without which you wouldn’t have needed to go find someone.</p>

<p>Yeah it happened, it was kinda dumb but I was also kinda stupid for going in there and not thinking about the consequences. The thing is the administrator said it wasn’t going to be on my transcript anyway, so if I answered truthfully, am I setting myself up for loosing my chances of getting in? What would you do?</p>

<p>You might consider reporting it, but spinning it in such a way that you make the administration look like the fools they are. Someone really talented could even turn it into an essay, though that’s really, really risky. Talk with your GC, they’ll know the best way to deal with it.</p>

<p>The only answer of value is “Ask your GC,” so don’t keep soliciting for different opinions. If it’s not included in his/her report, there is no reason for you to mention it; if it is included (which I doubt), answer the question in a straightforward sentence without additional embellishment. What you don’t want to have happen is for you and the GC to give different answers. Otherwise, it will not impact your chances for admissions.</p>

<p>Precisely. The reason why there were no supervisors in the locker room is because we had a sub, she left early and at the time, the girls locker room was unlocked by a male teacher and I quickly scoped for someone to help me but the two coaches were in the boys locker room. I asked one of the boy students in my class to fetch one of the teacher but he flat out rejected me and told me to get him myself. I was hesitant on the idea but I went in anyway. </p>

<p>After the incident the administrator said it was a minor mistake but I had to be punished anyway. It’s not on my record at all, because she knew I needed to find help. I just don’t know if I should be honest about it or just not say anything at all. </p>

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You could ask the college if “In School Suspension” counts as suspension or not. Or you could just report & explain it. I don’t think any colleges would give you hard times.</p>

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<p>Not to belabor the point, but you did not “have” to be punished - administrators are well within their rights to use discretion. They probably have the letters Ed. D after their name.</p>

<p>Making sure your story syncs with the GC is the best advice anyone has given.</p>