I was suspended for ten days by my school in NY - but I was notified that the suspension was to be expunged at the end of 11th grade. Specifically, it said that “all written references to the suspension are to be removed and destroyed, with the provision that the suspension be sealed and used for dispositional purposes only in the event of a future suspension.”
From what I can make of this, it is saying that all external, easily-visible references to the suspension (student record/transcript, disciplinary record, etc) are to be removed and destroyed. But of course SOME evidence of this suspension still exists, only sealed away somewhere and used only against me if I got in trouble at school again. I discussed this fact at length with my counselor, of course, and she pretty much affirmed all that.
Now here’s the issue. I know honesty and integrity is very important when it comes to college applications, but my dilemma and currently my biggest cause of stress as a rising senior is what I should do about my suspension. If it’s expunged I really should be able to keep it a secret, but the problem is the question on the CA that asks about your disciplinary history asks “if you’ve EVER . . .”, and this creates this confusing grey area where I technically still would be lying if I answered in the negative on that question …
… but in that case, what the heck is the point of expunging a suspension - or anything you’d rather not anybody else know - for that matter, if you’re going to end up having to disclose it anyways?
My guidance counselor had assured me that she won’t be mentioning my suspension in her LOR since it was going to be expunged. But my biggest fear is the college finding out that I’d lied about my suspension sometime down the line. This is less of a “somehow” and more of a “what if”, since I had wronged another student doing what had gotten me suspended (there was no violence, drugs or academic dishonesty involved, though) and they certainly have the ability and the right to phone any college I’d been accepted to and disclose what I didn’t, essentially proving that I lied.
If that happens, would my reasoning that “I felt I did not have to report a suspension that was expunged” be able to save me from a rescinded offer or, even worse, getting kicked out in the middle of college or even having my degree revoked in the future?
I will be happy if you proved me wrong, but I really wish that the Common App had some kind of solid, concrete policy when it comes to this sort of stuff. I have absolutely no idea what to do with an expunged suspension. If I report it, I’ll hurt my chances heavily (because even though I’ll be taking full responsibility for my actions and appearing “mature” and all that, I know the circumstances around my suspension isn’t something that most adcoms would just brush off as, “eh!”) and render the whole expunged suspension concept a moot point - and if I don’t report it, colleges might take it as me lying on the app if they do figure it out and then it’ll probably be a lot worse.
As a last resort, a sort of balance between full disclosure and not discussing it, I am also considering ticking “yes” for the suspension question but simply stating that “the suspension was expunged” when I am prompted for an elaboration, and nothing else. I saw an adcom on another site suggest this but I’m really not sure how solid that advice is.
I know I’ve done some very stupid and dumb things in my life, but this lack of solid, reliable knowledge is killing me. I’m losing sleep, my fingernails are gone, and I’m overall a wreck. Any kind of response and help will be appreciated. Thank you.