<p>that’s rediculous, half of our school would be expelled.</p>
<p>LOLZ thats the point. its funny because most arent stupid enough to put it in the lockers</p>
<p>if you just explain how you plan to succeed it college by emulating the plot of “How High” i’m sure they’ll accept you. After all, what college admissions officer doesn’t want to smoke a bowl w/ Benjamin Franklin?</p>
<p>You’ve asked for honest, helpful advice so that’s where I’ll go with this.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>You’ve screwed up big time. And it’s going to hurt. But it’s not the end of the world.</p></li>
<li><p>You’re going to have to be honest on your applications. You got suspended and you have to report it if asked. Your explanation will have a lot to do with how this affects you so start working on that now.</p></li>
<li><p>Forget about minimizing your behavior when you write about this. You’re still doing that by admitting taking a few hits “but not possession”. What? Someone else held it while you inhaled? If you minimize things in your explanation, you’re toast. Similarly (and I know you haven’t said this) if you go with, “honest, it was the only time and I didn’t inhale,” you’re also not going to pass the laugh test. You’re at a Catholic school so review the notions of penance and contrition before you write your explanation and incorporate those concepts into both your approach to dealing with this at your school and in your written explanation. Making things right with your school and your GC will help big time. Push the right buttons there: contrition and penance.</p></li>
<li><p>Here’s the real issue for you. Unless you’re exceptional and a real “get” for an ultra selective school, this is going to be a big problem. Two applications, one spot, two substantially equal applicants, one with a marijuana suspension one without. Which one gets the nod? That’s what you could be facing at ultra selective schools. I’m rereading your stats, etc. above: not valedictorian, not 2300+, teachers have “no problems” as opposed to teachers think you’re the best they’ve seen in a while, and, because you don’t add this I assume you’re not a top athlete, musician, or have some other fantastic asset. So what you appear to be is a very good student at a very good school. Truth be told, you application is probably on the “should we or shouldn’t we?” pile. And you’ve given them a really good “shouldn’t we?” option. That’s reality. So whatever your plans were, I’d start looking for a few less selective safeties so you don’t end up wondering what happened come April. You should still reach high, but you need a backup plan now.</p></li>
<li><p>The advice to transfer is nothing short of moronic. First, it looks fishy. Second, you’re already under an obligation to report and you can take it as a given that if you transfer and get into (insert highly selective school here) someone at your old school might spill the beans and then you’re really in trouble.</p></li>
<li><p>Ignore everyone who is telling you that you’ve been mistreated. You knew that your school had a tough policy based on what happened in the past. Also ignore the idea that had your lawyer gotten involved right away, things would be different. That ship has sailed and most private institutions aren’t going to kowtow to a lawyer in this situation anyway.</p></li>
<li><p>If it’s an option, get some professional help with the application process.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>the advice to transfer is not “moronic”…I’ve been thru this with my best friend’s son. If you live in a state where public schools CAN NOT accept an expelled kid, then it’s best to transfer IF YOU ARE QUITE CERTAIN that you are about to be expelled. At a minimum, you put the wheels in motion, you can always not transfer IF you receive a “stay of execution.” </p>
<p>If expulsion is likely, and transferring to a public school isn’t an option or desirable, then withdraw from the school and either home-school or online school. </p>
<p>Some think a GC is going to be helpful with admissions - not if he’s been expelled. </p>
<p>Typically the Catholich school handbooks (that parents sign that they’ve read and agreed to) stipulate that attorneys cannot be brought in.</p>
<p>But…back to college choices…</p>
<p>What colleges are on your list? You probably need more ideas for safeties.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help. </p>
<p>I know this reply is more than a little late.</p>
<p>As an update, I did not get expelled from my school and did not have to withdraw. I was “suspended” for 3 days (the time it took for my disciplinary board to actually reach a decision) and was kicked off a leadership position and given a couple Saturday detentions and have to enter a drug counseling program, but the suspension is not marked on my academic record and my college counselor does not know.</p>
<p>Only the administration knows, and no teachers or students know, so I should be fine. My school said that it was not a “suspension” and that I should not tell the schools nor my college counselor, and that I should just know that I am under “probation”, which is to say that I am on a short leash.</p>
<p>And thanks speihei, for the most thorough answer. I did get 2330 on the SAT and have relatively exceptional grades (top 5 or so students, I would say), which, combined with my contriteness, the disciplinary board basically implied were the main reasons I could stay.</p>
<p>well.
I think that you still have alot to worry about.</p>
<p>No, the OP has nothing to worry about. it’s not on the transcript, ignore it! Honesty is NOT always the best policy. Especially because this was a victimless crime. He didn’t cheat, steal, assault. he simply made a decision outside of school grounds to inhale. WHOOP DE DO. That was stupid, but he shouldn’t be that worried.</p>
<p>All I know is that having “suspension/expulsion for marijuana possession” in your record is gonna screw you out of admission to all top universities, regardless of credentials.</p>
<p>Except it’s NOT on the transcript. So there is no way colleges will know about it.</p>
<p>OK, here is my 2cents</p>
<p>Now, if it is not on your transcript you may get by without telling.
OTOH, is your act/suspension well known among your classmates and parents of those? Are you well loved in the school? Lets say you got into Princeton for example, and the other similar stats student did not and he knows your suspension, is it possible that student or his parents will spill the beans?</p>
<p>Think about it for a while, if that scenario is not possible in your situation, then you just go ahead without telling a thing.</p>
<p>One more thing, how can you be assured that your school’s GC does not know the administrative action? GC is normally sitting next to the other staffs right? Don’t they talk to each other “occasionally”?</p>
<p>You have been suspended for 3 days, so there must be a lot of ppl know about it. Can you control those who know about it not talking? </p>
<p>Besides, who caught you in the other school? Those will know about the incident well. If they know you are going to Princeton after a year or so and they get mad at you for some reason, could they spill?</p>
<p>But there was no suspension technically. It was simply waiting for the administration to make a ruling. The rest of his punishment was just Saturday detentions.</p>
<p>He could defend himself if he was accused of it.</p>
<p>However, it’s best he doesn’t talk about it unless he has to.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Where is the defense if he admitted use already? Maybe George Bush could defend it by saying: “I just had a few puff, I did not inhale”…^^^^ :)</p>
It was Bill Clinton that didn’t inhale but why let the facts get in the way of your story
Even a five year old thread can’t escape the politically obsessed.