<p>My friend had some suspensions and has a misdemeanor. Do colleges really check up on that stuff?</p>
<p>Short answer: yes.</p>
<p>The ramifications are going to be dependent on the severity and nature of the offenses.</p>
<p>So they make an active effort to look up your disciplinary record?</p>
<p>What about huge colleges like UW Madison, do they have the time for that?</p>
<p>
Sure sounds like your “friend” is planning to <code>forget</code> to mention these issues, and is wondering if the schools can find out, especially the big ones. Or will the crush of apps let it be overlooked? First off, the common app and most colleges have a section where the HS counselor is required to list any suspensions. So now your friend needs to forge this letter. Many schools also list disciplinary actions on the official transcript, so I guess he needs to forge that too.</p>
<p>As for criminal convictions, most apps ask about this and you sign a statement at the end that everything you have said is true. Criminal convictions are public records and there are plenty of search firms out there that check; if your “friend” lives in WI and the misdemeanor was in the state then its not that hard for them to write a little computer program that submits names to the online database. Try looking up some of your buddies at [Wisconsin</a> Circuit Court Access](<a href=“Wisconsin Circuit Court Access”>Wisconsin Circuit Court Access) and see how easy it is!</p>