I am a 4.0 student with various extra curriculars, APs, an internship, and am dual enrolled at my community college. However, I messed up and got suspended at my school for two days for taking adderall that wasn’t prescribed to me, I regret it and have learned my lesson. However, now I am worried that it will impact my college admissions. I am just not sure what to do and need some advice and knowledge.
While serious, suspension can be an opportunity to learn a lesson, and to develop maturity and growth. Show your character by admitting what you did on the appropriate part of the application and accept responsibility. Throw in a mea culpa and explain what you learned the hard way. Colleges understand kids make dumb mistakes. It helps to show them you aren’t that same dumb kid anymore. They respect that and will move on to the rest of your application.
Trying to hide past indiscretions can backfire. You can get rejected or have an offer rescinded if you’re found out. Your transgression was not of a violent nature nor demonstrated an integrity issue (multiple cheating incidents, for example). So from now on out, it isn’t what you did but what you learned and did since then. Just go with the “I was a dumb kid who made a mistake, but I learned and am better now” narrative. Keep your nose squeaky clean for the rest of high school. You will be fine.