Don't Ask, Don't tell?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I am a community college student who is hoping to transfer to a 4 year institution. I was previously expelled from a top 20 school for plagiarism surrounded by bad personal and social judgment. I have since fixed myself up and have gotten counseling and will have my Associates Degree by December.</p>

<p>I was looking at college transfer applications, and noticed that one of my top choices (which does not use the common app) does not ask for previous expulsions, suspensions, etc. However, they do ask for previous college attendance (which I intend to supply).</p>

<p>I have talked to both my community college adviser and a professor from my previous college (who offers me advice, even though I cheated in HIS class!), and they had differing viewpoints on whether or not I should bring my situation to their attention. I am not concerned with the "ethical obligation" to submit information to the college. Both my adviser and professor assured me that if they don't explicitly ask for the information, it is not my responsibility to provide it for them.
However, I want to be clear that I will submit the transcript from the previous institution that I was expelled from.</p>

<p>With that being said, should I inform the college about my situation, or hope that they overlook my past transcripts? On one hand, I feel as though I still have a somewhat decent chance at transferring to the institution, considering my GPA, extracurriculars, and scores are substantially higher than their average. On the other hand, I feel as though I am taking an unnecessary risk if they happen to not check my previous transcripts closely. If they do check my transcripts, will they give me a chance to explain or will they automatically reject me for being "dishonest"?</p>

<p>Thanks </p>

2

<p>If you didn’t apply through common app, and this school’s application doesn’t explicitly ask you to disclose disciplinary infractions, then you have no obligation to. Of course, during the application process, they may see notations on your transcript suggesting your expulsion from the school. If you’re admitted, I would suppose that they couldn’t retroactively punish you for the incident / being dishonest, because they admitted you, knowing that you had a rap sheet. </p>

<p>Good luck to you in the application process…</p>

3

<p>Discipline such as an expulsion is most likely listed on your transcript in which case the schools will see it whether you disclose or not.</p>

4

<p>If the disciplinary history shows up on your prior transcript, why don’t you call the admissions office (or have someone call for you) and ask whether a person now in good standing at a different institution is required to formally disclose or explain the prior history? They might say yes or no. Some colleges are only interested in your standing at your most recent institution. However, as you know, you must answer all questions on the application truthfully. (I believe there is a data base that lets colleges know whether applicants have been expelled from previous schools.)
Good luck!</p>