Disciplinary history's effect on everything, not only acceptance

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi. I'm a junior in high school. I know and have read many threads regarding the effect of having disciplinary action during high school. I have recently received my first in school suspension for leaving school during the last period of the day (I was going to the library to study for the upcoming AMC. But it was still a misjudgment and mistake on my part). I have been told that this will not be on my school record or on my transcript. I am aware that the Common App asks whether you have any disciplinary history or not. I plan to check the yes box and fully explain the circumstances and the sincere regret I feel for my infringement of school policy. I understand that my mistake and subsequent suspension is considered a minor infraction by many application reviewers and that the effect it will have on my acceptance is marginal (from what i have read).</p>

<p>My scores are as follows: 35 ACT, 230 PSAT, 2210 SAT (ACT and SAT I plan on retaking to improve). I believe I could have a decently strong extracurricular/curricular background. This year I am participating in DECA (scored top of my district, state is upcoming), hoping to make the AIME, planning on achieving my Eagle Scout rank, made alternate for my state's All-State Jazz Band, in the IB program, all As (not sure what my weighted GPA is though), class rank 2 out of 463 (or 465, whatever), plan on receiving National AP Scholar (I must study/have studied independently for 3 of the 8. So far I have two 4's and one 5, this year I will be taking 5 exams), volunteer at the local hospital, participate in Science Bowl, Science Olympiad, the local Science Fair (leading up to ISEF), and have been taking multiple online courses for both programming and math subjects. I audited two classes at the local university over the past summer. I make money off of tutoring younger middle age students in math and saxophone. I am applying for the TASP this summer. I received 3rd nationally for Le Grand Concours in my division last year. I am an Asian male (if this affects acceptance chances, I've heard ethnicity does).</p>

<p>I have read that disciplinary history's effect on acceptance depends on what type of college. Given I achieve all of the things above that I have not already, how would my 'minor infraction' affect my chance of getting into Ivy League or other first tier colleges/universities? I am interested in attending Princeton University, Stanford University, and the University of Chicago. How would my disciplinary history affect my chance of acceptance into those schools or similar ones, given that it will not show up on my school records? Of course I understand that it is very difficult to get into those colleges anyway, and I am extremely afraid that this one misjudgment will lead to denial from those universities. (Also if you have comments about my curricular/extracurricular background, feel free to share those aslo. Anything to improve my resume. Please keep in mind I may have forgotten some things that I have done).</p>

<p>But my general question is: How will my disciplinary history affect EVERYTHING college/academically/scholarship related? I am worried that my teachers will be disappointed in me, and I plan to apologize to them as soon as possible. I am worried that this will affect:
1. My rec letters
2. National Merit Finalist chances (I qualify for Semi-Finalist in my state)
3. National Honors Society membership
4. Acceptance into academic programs such as TASP or EPGY, etc.
5. French Honors Society membership
6. ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN THINK OF, PLEASE.</p>

<p>Please give me any information you can regarding any of my concerns raised above. Also please keep in mind that my in school suspension will not be on my school record/transcript.</p>

<p>Thank you very much.</p>

<p>P.S. i am not as boring as all of the above may sound haha i'm sorry if i come off as super serious/nerdy/goody-goody, i'm just a normal guy worried about how this one dumb decision will affect my future life. Some fun stuff about me if you care to read it: I have recently been obsessed with Childish Gambino and Sufjan Stevens (though forever in my heart remains John Coltrane). I used to be athletic until I quit all sports, and now I just work out about once every week haha .___. I really enjoy music, sports, and dumb banter. My favorite color is green. I am OK at french. I really like 30 Rock, Arrested Development, How I Met Your Mother, and Modern Family (ish) (though I listen to Childish Gambino, I don't watch Community.. I should, I know). My favorite subject is probably TOK, because my teacher is really awesome and knowledgeable and my classmates are opinionated and intelligent and good discussions are always generated. I like playing most sports, even ones that I'm no good at (volleyball, ping-pong) I also really like food, except after my sister moved out (UChicago) nobody bakes :-/ but my mom is a good cook sooooo yup. My favorite basketball player is Blake Griffin (whatuppp). And any Boy Scouts out there: I went to Philmont summer 09, best experience of my life. Ever.</p>

<p>P.P.S. i hope that P.S. made me seem more like a normal person.. If you found it unnecessary I apologize. I'm a new member to college confidential as of today!</p>

<p>P.P.P.S. I guess I could always just apply to UC's, lolol.</p>

<p>P.P.P.P.S. Thank you for any responses! I sure hope I get some.. sorry if my post is too long. please do not tl;dr me though!</p>

2

<p>You are over-thinking this. Instead of asking random people on the Internet, go sit down with your guidance counselor on Monday, and ask for his/her expert professional advice.</p>

3

<p>The overall picture is what matters most. As long as your guidance counselor mentions you’re a good student overall, disciplinary infractions aren’t a huge deal.</p>

4

<p>Talk to your counselor. A lot of the time they will advise you to not check the box and not explain yourself. But they can tell you more than any of us.</p>

5

<p>Unless your teachers hate you now (they probably don’t,) you should be fine. </p>

<p>I was given a two-day suspension in my junior year for what I thought was a harmless prank, but the administration interpreted differently. I explained the circumstances surrounding my suspension on the common app, and as of yet, nothing negative has come of it. In fact, in the letter I received from my college’s adcom in charge of my region after my acceptance, the adcom handwrote a note to the effect of “if you had done that at Yale, we would have had a sense of humor about it.”</p>

6

<p>Contrary to popular belief, high school really doesn’t matter.</p>

<p>Now I know that nearly everybody on this site would go nuts and talk about how it effects your future greatly and all this BS, (which it certainly could), but if you mess up in high school, whether it’s one huge mistake or a thousand little ones, (heck maybe a thousand big ones!), it does NOT mean that you are screwed in life and that you will not succeed.</p>

<p>How you conduct yourself, and how hard you work AFTER high school is what really matters. With your scores and other various credentials, you will have no problem being accepted into at least a few highly competitive schools. I mean even if worst comes to worst, you could still attend a state school, and succeed just as much, if not more than those Ivy League schmucks. (No pun intended to the Ivy Leaguers; just a joke of course)</p>

<p>We as human’s are not perfect. As much as some people may believe they are, they’re not. Everybody makes mistakes; everybody has their flaws.</p>

<p>My Dad, who is a radiologist and graduated from Penn State Medical School always says, “Life begins after High School, it doesn’t end.”</p>

7

<p>I wouldn’t worry about the disciplinary infraction. If you check the “yes” box, you have to provide additional information. Most schools are looking for red flags such as cheating, plagiarism, substance abuse, criminal conduct, etc. Some schools have very strict policies (i.e. wearing jeans is prohibited) so just because someone has a disciplinary history doesn’t necessarily mean anything.</p>

<p>Also, if you have a 35 on the ACT, I don’t think it’s necessary to take it again, unless you did not take it with writing. Or unless getting a perfect score is important to you.</p>

8

<p>^ I agree with College-query. I would check the yes box and explain it. That particular infraction is no big deal IMO.</p>