<p>Hello, I have done a lot of research in CC about how one should fill out an application should they receive disciplinary action. (Wasn't suspended, but it's a little complex) For a couple schools they ask a question about it and I have answered yes and provided an explanation. </p>
<p>However for college applications that don't ask for disciplinary action but DO the ask applicant whether one would like to say anything they didn't have a chance to say before, I don't know whether to ask yes or no, and I can't find anything about this on CC. Should I answer yes and disclose disciplinary action I faced?</p>
<p>It depends …</p>
<p>First of all is this likely to be discussed by either your Guidance Counsellor or a teacher in a recommendation letter. If not, I don’t think you have to answer a question that was not asked. I would not recommend doing so, except in a rare circumstance.</p>
<p>Next how good is your explanation (for all your answers). It seems to me that only two types can help. (1) Taking full responsibility for your actions or (2) and this will be VERY rare – giving a justification for your actions that would be acceptable to a third party. </p>
<p>An example of something I would think acceptable – you saw another student being bullied (beaten up) and stepped in to protect him. However, your school has a zero tolerence policy so you were punished for protecting this student. As I say, it’s very rare. </p>
<p>Finally – I don’t know the facts, but if there’s any doubt, you should discuss with your GC whether you need to answer this question affirmatively in any case (I KNOW that many will disagree with me on this). Let me give a silly example – Detention is a disciplinary action. If you received detention for chewing gum in class, you might decide not to mention this. There are many other instances where your GC might say it does not need to be disclosed on a college app. IMO, if the GC says don’t disclose it, you’re on the right side of the line not doing so.</p>