Help Recovering from College Dismissal

Applying to College
1

Hello CC,

I’m writing to you tonight asking for help and advice. I’ve been administratively dismissed from UC Berkeley. I don’t want to go into details, but the gist of it is I played a huge (and what I thought to be harmless at the time) prank on several students, and they didn’t find that very funny. After a long administrative process, I was dismissed administratively and to my understanding, I’ve exhausted my appeal options. This sucks not only because I screwed myself out of Berkeley, but also because I’m effectively barred from every UC. I’ve come to terms with my naivete and know that I’m over all of this; I’ve even sought counselling to enlighten myself. At first I thought that I could spring back, and I even took a year off taking CC classes, and applied to transfer into other colleges. However, I’m receiving rejection after rejection and it’s starting to take its toll on me. I’ve lost so many friends because of this and I can feel the disappointment from my family.

Anyway, the dismissal is in no way linked to my academics, and I’d say my grades are okay; I got A’s and B’s in Berkeley and pretty much straight A’s in CC. It’s become obvious that this dismissal just overshadows all of my accomplishments. Even Santa Clara University declined my admission, and that was my absolute back up. I feel like I’m running out of options and my life is out of my control right now. If anyone can offer some advice for me, I’d greatly appreciate it.

Here are what I can see as possible options right now:
Apply for transfer again next year. The administrative process took so long that I didn’t get to apply for transfer to CSUs, so it will be my first time applying to them (except for when I applied to them during high school). I don’t know how well applying again to the schools that rejected me will work out, as I feel that would only hurt my chances. During the next year, I could take more CC classes, and maybe that would help. My parents tell me to retake all my GE classes at the CC and apply only with my CC transcript, but I feel like that won’t work and that college admissions will find out about my dismissal anyway.

Instead of more CC, I could look for some sort of internship/ job. I’m studying computer science and know Python, Javascript, and C++, but I know I won’t be able to compete with students who have actually taken upper division CS classes.

Apply out of state. The costs will be pretty substantial, and I’d prefer to attend a college in CA, but a degree is a degree.

Anyway, I know I’ve royally screwed myself over, and I hate myself for doing so. Whatever I hoped to achieve with my actions was not worth what I brought onto myself. I was stupid and impulsive and I’ve all but ruined my life at this point. If anyone could help, I would greatly appreciate it. Also, if anyone knows the UC system well, and knows of some way or loophole to get me back in, or at least clear the dismissal from my transcript, that would help immensely. The wording on my dismissal is vague, and only states that my readmission into the UC system will require the approval of the Chancellor of the school. I just want to be able to look my peers in the eye again and say I have my life under control.

My thanks,
A lost student

2

Putting aside the cost, OOS college options may also prove unsuccessful, since – despite your self-serving characterization of this incident as a “prank” – it must have been quite serious for you to have received a system-wide UC expulsion. Obviously, you MUST report this dismissal on the Common App and it will almost certainly appear on your UCB transcript, which must be provided with every application. There’s no need for you to elaborate regarding the incident, because the institution’s judgement has credibility, whereas your explanations/excuses simply do not.

Perhaps your best solution might be to enlist in the military (presuming – no guarantee – you can pass their entrance requirements). Were you to do so and to serve with honor, you’d receive GI Bill benefits AND the years, the self-discipline, the sacrifices, the maturation, the learning, and the stringency required just might convince the UC system to offer you a second chance.

However – and I cannot over-emphasize this point – you’d have to enter the military and to serve with an unconstrained and deep commitment to excel and to comport yourself by their rules . . . a debacle of the magnitude that you probably committed at Berkeley (we know neither the facts nor the details), just might earn you a less than honorable discharge and some time in Leavenworth Military Prison (which would make your current problems seem like “a day at the beach”). Whereas, were you to “turn your life around” in the service (as millions of individuals have done during the last century), I suspect it would be quite persuasive to UC’s officials. BUT that will not be at all easy AND the the military’s tolerance for poor attitude, poor performance, non-compliance with policies and regulations, and misbehavior is, indeed, very slight.

3

Colleges will require reporting of all previous college attendance, and there is a national clearinghouse for them to find out if you did not.

Did you apply to any CSUs, and what did they say?

According to https://secure.csumentor.edu/filing_status/Default.asp , Bakersfield and Humboldt are still accepting transfer applications for fall 2015.

4

What evidence does any future school have that you won’t treat their students/faculty/staff with the same lack of respect that led to the dismissal?

5

Sorry to hear you have found yourself in this situation. Your post indicates to me that you realize the gravity of the mistake and it has been a learning experience. People make mistakes that’s just life. Sounds like you have a supportive family who will help see you through it.

If you were my son, I would be contacting UCB to determine exactly what will be appearing on your transcript and if that was negotiable at this point in time. Were you represented by anyone at the hearings and is there any defense that could be proffered on your behalf that might be mitigating? If not, then when you apply as a transfer student you will have to explain the dismissal on the application. There are professional counselors who you could retain who may be able to better advise you on how to best present the dismissal.

6

“contacting UCB to determine exactly what will be appearing on your transcript and if that was negotiable”

Whoa, above all else, institutions – especially public ones – must be fair and consistent in their policies. Therefore, UCB will necessarily have to treat the OP precisely as it would any other student in his situation (and, I suspect, they have already done so). Berkeley and the UC System clearly cannot have a different set of rules for the OP – and for his transcript – than for MANY others. How would that be potentially perceived by senior California legislative and executive branch officials, by the media, and by the pubic?

P. S.: For @HarvestMoon1: I wonder if “your son” would be better served in the long-term by your “riding to his rescue” – in all probability, without any success – or by LEARNING that accountability is critical to adult life and that decisions have consequences?

7

I think people are being hard on the OP. The OP was dismissed from Cal, not banned from college for life, which is what this is sounding like. He is done with CC, now what do you suggest he do to get a 4 year degree? He cannot afford to go out of state and no school in California seems to be willing to take him him (sorry OP did not mena to be harsh), this sounds like way beyond what the administration at Cal intended. So it makes sense to go back to them as Harvest suggested. That is where the problem started. Also, there may be mistakes on his transcript or how it is being presented on his transcript. He needs to verify that, preferably after talking to someone who has experience in this area first. Even going through the college admission process I see what a difference hiring experience or having parents with experience makes.

The OP has admitted that he made a serious mistake and while I do not know what he did, it sounds like he has already paid a very price. He also says he is depressed about it, understandable. Berating him further and saying he should put his life on the line because he got kicked out of college is not what I would suggest. The military is a fine option for those who want to do it, if the OP is one, great. If he does not, it should not be used to make amends for being dismissed from Cal. Also while I am not from the area, I thought Cal was the most liberal place in the country, I doubt military service would carry the same weight as in the midwest.

@HarvestMoon1 I thought your suggestion was excellent. It sounds like the OP did not have any counsel, legal or otherwise, while going through the dismissal process. I am sure Cal has in house counsel and a lot more experience at disciplinary hearings than the OP. What appeared on his transcript should have been negotiated at the time of the dismissal but I am not sure what it would hurt for the OP AND HIS PARENTS OR COUSEL to visit with the Cal administration. Perhaps if you can show how you have changed since this incident you can apply for readmission or request permission from the Chancellor as it says on your dismissal. Maybe get letters of recommendation from the CC saying you have been a courteous and model student. Which will address some of the concerns about future behaviour.

Also, how long were you at Cal? If this happened first year v at the end of second? If it was at the end of second then you can point to the fact that you were a model student up until that point.

Is there really a clearinghouse @ucbalumnus? Just curious. Can an individual access it to see what is on file? I thought grades were confidential and your personal property? Even your parents cannot access and they pay for your education.

@TopTier, neither the OP nor Harvest are suggesting that he wants special treatment. Does he say he is the son of a big donor? Doubtful since he is worried about cost. I bet if his last name a building he would not be having these problems. Institutions are made of people, who change their mind, can see when someone has tried to make amends (OP have you? Maybe by community serivce related to what you did?) Plus these are case by case situations. It was not objective such as based on poor grades. This was based on an improrper action on OPs part which he admits. It may be something we would universally condemn (sorry OP) or it may be something that we would think is a silly prank that went wrong. It may have been the University has a new policy that it decided to implement with him. I recently heard about another state’s flagship where someone’s stalker ex girlfriend got him suspended. The reason, because the University had not been tough enough on improper male contact in the past and was trying to send a message. Meanwhile the kid had done nothing wrong except refuse to get back together with her, she lied but it was a he said/ she said. If this had happened 5 years ago they would have believed him, this time they did not. Not someone that has ever been in trouble before or since. Universities are cracking down on behaviour that they would have tolerated in the 70s and 80s when most of the parents here went to school. Some is needed, some is an overreaction. Since we do not know what the OP did we should not rush to judge him or automatically say that what the University did was fair.

OP, do you have state senators who represent your district? Or perhaps Cals? Discuss with your parents and others who actually live in California (I do not) whether it makes sense to approach your elected official for support. The ones in my state are remarkablely helpful about unrelated items but not what you would think they would bother handling (to all voters, no special treatment).

Excellent suggestion about seeing which schools still have room. I believe there is a listed posted somewhere

8

I think that you will have a hard time gaining acceptance at any college, at least in the near future.
NO college wants to admit a student who has demonstrated poor judgement and disdain for other students. Trouble makers are kicked out of college every day. Its tough, but you did this to yourself.
But, since you are interested in CS your options, and they fortunately are good ones, are to enroll in one of the various intensive 10 week coding academies that are located in the Bay area. That will at least increase your chances of getting a CS job here soon. The ability to code is more important to many startups than a piece of paper. I’d also look into getting an online degree in CS.

9

'Is there really a clearinghouse"
YES.
Why , do you think he would actually make that up?? :open_mouth:

10

I would try to apply to some low level contract jobs in CS. Something must be serious to barred from all UCs.

11

@menloparkmom please post a link to it then. Is it international or just for US schools?

I never said he was making it up, I want more information about it. Especially how they get around the privacy laws

12

http://www.studentclearinghouse.org/

13

@SaphireNY The national clearing house does not have grades, so it doesn’t violate privacy laws. What it does have is a list of all post-secondary schools you’ve ever attended (this includes dual credit, dual enrollment, etc), what terms you attended, what status you had (part time or full time, etc), when you withdrew, etc. So no one can see your transcript without you providing it, but they can tell if you didn’t send a transcript, i.e. you can’t hide the fact that you ever attended in a certain term.

14

Thank you. Very interesting.

15

Hi OP. I think a few of the commenters have missed your note that you didn’t have the opportunity to apply to any CSUs. I think that’s what you should try next, and as someone already pointed out–Humboldt & Bakersfield are still taking transfer applications. Obviously the schools you apply to will find out you were dismissed from UCB, with whatever language they use on your records to communicate the infraction, and personally I think you should also take the opportunity to communicate your “side” on the additional information section. Your “side” would not be excuses; I’d even refrain from calling it a prank. But I think to not acknowledge what happened and that you did something wrong anywhere on the app will look strange. I would keep it fact-based and free of excuses. Being contrite is wise.

That said, you may need to take some more time off if this dismissal is really fresh. Show growth & maturity/a bit of distance. TopTier’s suggestion of joining the military is pretty extreme, yet if it appeals to you even in the slightest, it could set you on distinct and possibly very fruitful path for your future. But take a crack at the CSUs first. Good luck.

16

How about trying to get some work experience? You do not necessarily need a degree to get some entry level work in CS or even retail. To me, it sounds like you need to take a year or two away from school if you really want to get past this.

17

I think in a few years you can reapply and at least learned something about it. Hoping sooner rather than later. But do apply to CSUs as well.

18

Thank you everyone for your support. I just wanted to provide some clarifying information. It’s not that I did something exceptionally horrible that they not only had to dismiss me from Berkeley but also block me from every UC. It’s just how the UC system works: every student who gets dismissed from one UC needs chancellor approval to get into a different UC.

I know calling it a prank is the understatement of the century, but like I said, I didn’t feel comfortable spilling my life story to strangers on the Internet. Rest assured, I know how serious my actions were and I feel nothing but regret and remorse towards it every day, and I’ll probably be haunted by it for the rest of my life. If it helps, I didn’t physically assault or hurt anybody.

I studied at Berkeley for two years. My grades could have been better, but I would say academically, I was a decent student. With regards to the administrative process, I had representation, but they were other students (part of a Student Advocacy Group, basically lawyers in training), and we had to face against officials from the Office of Student Conduct. Looking back on it, going through the whole appeal process was probably a futile effort from the start. The one thing that really frustrates me is that many colleges provide students about to be dismissed with the option of withdrawing voluntarily, avoiding a dismissal from appearing on their transcript. However, Berkeley just decided to dismiss me outright. Also I probably picked the worst time in the century to screw up because colleges are under national pressure to crackdown harder on student misconduct because of the race demonstrations, feminist movement, and etc.

With regards to CSU’s, I did not get the chance to apply for transfer this year. However, I did apply to them in high school, but obviously declined their acceptance for Berkeley. Would that affect my application now? Towards the army, it crossed my mind as an option, but realistically I doubt I would excel there. I’m kind of a pacifist, and I probably wouldn’t be able to handle the rigorous physical drilling they’d put me through. Plus my parents would never approve.

All in all, I’m not asking for special treatment. I just want to be able to get into a decent college and complete my education, but this dismissal is really hurting me. My dad recently got demoted from a full time worker to just a contracted worker so it’s that much more important that I get a good degree and career to support my family with. Best case scenario, there is some hidden appeal process I didn’t see that will allow me to get readmitted into Berkeley sometime in the future and I spend the time until then getting work experience. Worst case scenario, I try and enter the competitive work force without a degree. I don’t have the weight of being related to a big donor, nor do I have the money to buy myself into a top tier college.

19

Consult someone who specializes in this area. A lawyer or someone else. Make sure you get references before you hire them.

20

@Toptier I disagree with the “punitive” approach to the OP’s situation. It is clear from his posts that he understands fully the gravity of his mistake and has learned from it. According to you, this boy’s life is over, except of course for your one suggestion that he enter the military. This boy seems to have been involved with some sort of serious “prank”, it is not like he murdered or raped someone. So yes, in my mind he may very well deserve a second chance. Colleges allow students to “voluntarily” withdraw all the time and sometimes for offenses that I consider pretty serious. So it would make some sense to me to look into whether they have done that in the past and then contend that OP should be granted that option as well.

And yes, if this were my son I would support him and do what I could to allow him to move on. That’s my job as a parent - to ensure he accepts responsibility for what he has done, learned from it and then help him find a path that let’s him continue with his life. Many independent college counselors make a living from advising students in these situations and yes, these kids do get accepted to other colleges. Life is not as black and white as you make it to be. There are always options.