Hi everyone,
I’d appreciate your honest analysis of my situation. I got detention for having my cell phone out during class. This is the first time I’ve ever gotten detention in high school (and the first time my cell phone has ever been confiscated), and I am in 11th grade. I’ve never been suspended or had more serious disciplinary action. I read that colleges may care more about disciplinary actions in 11th or 12th grade.
I also got detention in 5th grade once for being “disrespectful” to my teacher (not willfully - she interpreted it that way), but I suppose that doesn’t matter as much, does it?
Will colleges need to find out about this recent detention? Will they get records of it? If there is a question on an app which asks about disciplinary action, do I need to mention it? If my guidance counselor is asked to report on my history, does she need to report it or is it at her discretion? If colleges do find out and ask about it and I explain honestly that it’s about a cell phone, will they understand?
Sorry for asking so many questions. I just want to be sure. And I have learned my lesson.
Thank you!
In my school, you could get a single detention for anything from being unprepared for class to failing to report to a teacher after school to any one of a million other small things.
Suspension is one thing. But a single detention is no big deal.
But next time, put your phone in your locker.
First off, anything before HS, colleges will never see. Don’t worry about your fifth grade detention.
Secondly, you should have a conversation with your GC in what, if anything, your school will report to colleges on disciplinary actions. Nothing will tank your application faster than you saying one thing on your application and the GC saying something different on the Secondary School Report.
Thirdly, in general detentions are not reported. Even if an act results in a suspension, colleges are most concerned with suspensions as a result of academic dishonesty, bullying, drug dealing, and similar infractions. If you were to get suspended for leaving school to get lunch at Mickey D’s or sneaking a beer into a dance, colleges will not care.
Finally, if your school reports a disciplinary issue, you need to own it, show you’ve learned, and move on. Two-three sentences at most; don’t make a book out of it.
So basically you have a pattern of flagrant disregard for school rules including what might possibly have been a sassy tone of voice to a teacher. Could be a deal-breaker at a selective school right? They come down hard on 5th grade sassiness and cell phone visibility.
Seriously, detention isn’t what they are interested in. I doubt your school will bother to report it - just ask your GC if you are really worried about this.
Here is what the common app asks. Most colleges follow these general guidelines.
- “Have you ever been found responsible for a disciplinary violation at an educational institution you have attended from the 9th grade forward (or the international equivalent), whether related to academic misconduct or behavioral misconduct, that resulted in your probation, suspension, removal, dismissal, or expulsion from the institution?”
- “Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, or other crime?”
I don’t see how detention for a cell phone violation fits this, so I would not feel a need to disclose it.
Seriously, if colleges refused to admit any kid who has ever been caught with a cell phone in school, there would be a LOT of empty seats in every college.
Thank you guys. But @JustOneDad I don’t know too much about college applications yet. Do they ask your guidance counselor for input sometimes? And what if my GC decided to report it?
If the college uses the Common App, they ask for GC input all the time.
Refer to last paragraph of response #2.