<p>I'm currently a senior in Highschool and I'm applying to a bunch of colleges. (Macalester, Middlebury, Bowdoin....)
I was suspended three times in 10th grade and I'm wondering how this will affect my applications.</p>
<p>My first suspension was from carrying a little pocket swiss blade around. I had gotten mugged a few weeks earlier from the day I got suspended and I carried it around to give myself peace of mind. It fell out of my pocket one day, and I got suspended.</p>
<p>My second suspension came when a friend of mine printed a picture of himself out. I asked if I could fool around on it, and I wrote on it "Wanted for being Black"... It was a joke, didn't mean to hurt anyone and a teacher saw it and I got suspended.</p>
<p>My third suspension came when this girl wanted to have a rap battle with me,
I agreed, and I dissed her so hard that she cryed all day and I got suspended. </p>
<p>I'm a straight A and B student, however I do the International Bachelaureate making all my classes weighted. As of such I have a 4.1 + GPA.</p>
<p>I have an ACT of 32
And an SAT of 2050, which I hope to raise later...
And A LOT A LOT of extracurriculars</p>
<p>But do you think I have a good chance of making it to the schools I'm applying to?</p>
<p>Schools will wonder about your decision making capabilities with multiple suspensions. High grades and scores will probably be enough for less competitive schools but three suspensions may keep you out of highly selective colleges.</p>
<p>Obviously, it’s better not to have suspensions.</p>
<p>Based on what you write – it seems that the suspensions were for minor things, and weren’t related to each other. You’ll probably be ok at many places (I know of people who have gotten into excellent schools with felony confictions). However, every school has it’s own policies, and this could easily keep you out of some specific school.</p>
<p>More important – and please take this as constructive criticism. What could hurt your application is that in each of the three instances you are defending your actions (making yourself the victim) rather than taking responsibility for your behavior.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Carrying a knife. Many schools have a zero tolerance policy for weapons. You carried one you got caught – Suspension is justified.</p></li>
<li><p>“Racist” Comments. Ok, I’m not saying you’re racist (and I honestly think that under the context what you did was joking around with a friend who did not take offense). However, this kind of thing often becomes another zero tolerance situation. The school probably did what it had to do.</p></li>
<li><p>Rap-off. I lack any kind of context as to what you did, etc. However, in general, I would say that dissing someone so hard that they cry all day probably crossed some kind of line.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Anyway – you will probably have to explain your suspensions – I think it’s a common app question. So think hard on how you respond. IMO, taking responsibility, explaining how what you did was wrong, and showing remorse is the better path.</p>
<p>We went to two info sessions for two ivies recently. Both admissions officers said they look at the transcript first (where the suspensions will indicated) to get an overall impression of the applicant. Second were letters of recommendation and next the personal statement and other essays. Their whole selection process is about understanding the student holistically. </p>
<p>I think for highly selective schools such as the ones you list, your chances are diminished, since there is a pattern of aggressive behavior on your part. Why would they take a chance when they have so many other applicants to chose from? What would be your counter argument?</p>
<p>Well, for Ivies plus top schools such as Stanford, MIT, etc, your chances might be higky diminished. However, even if I don’t understand much about GPA’s, I guess 4.1 might be very good . maybe you could write an additionnal essay about what you learned form your suspensiosn (for example, I didn’t mean to hurt anyone but I understand that many people have to face daily with racism which can completely justify the teacher’s reactions, which I found exagerated but comprehensive and so on. Then tell that it taught you to have more tact and that what you could fine funny may hurt others, and it was a good lesson for your future life etc.). About the knife, I don’t know what to say since I think it is kind of a stupid way (excuse the word) to severly reduce your chances but you could find a way to explain why you thought you would need it at school (i can’t) and so on.
Well, good luck, and remember that you shouldn’t not justify but apologize and above all try to take an instruction of your suspensions.</p>
<p>I think a lot is going to depend on how your guidance counselor presents your suspensions in the letter of rec that he or she writes. I’d go talk to him or her now. One mistake is generally easy to get a pass on. Three begins to look like a pattern - and someone who goes immediately in the reject pile. Be ready on your part to explain how mortified you are by your past behavior both to the gc and in your application - if you come across as anything less than totally apologetic, I think you’re toast. </p>
<p>I also suggest you think harder than usual about your safeties. You may be attending one of them.</p>