I am Asian-American, parents are both full Chinese. I am growing up in a predominantly White high school, and I am often bullied and called racist things here at my high school. Freshman year, I decide I want to fit in, so I made racist jokes to an African American. The teacher heard, and he told my school’s disciplinary officer, and I got 2 days out of school and 1 day in school. I highly regret my decisions, I have learned a lot, and I believe that this suspension has changed me as a person. I went back to talk to my GC and disciplinary officer and they said they may remove or lessen what it says on my record. I am very worried on how this will effect my college apps. I plan to write an essay on my experience. How will this affect my chances?
I feel like if I write a really good essay, it may even increase my chances. The essay will prove that I have learned, I have changed, and now I am a very accepting person. What do you think?
I think if you write an entire essay about one comment you made 4 years ago, you will come across as exactly what your user name says. Was that really the most impactful thing in your entire life? Or do you just want a chance to defend yourself?
Both, it has certainly made an impact on me, but I also don’t want the comments I made 4 years ago to affect my college apps. If I am able to turn that incident into a essay to help my chances, I am willing to do it. I don’t exactly want to defend myself, I just want to state why I did it and what I’ve learned. From the Common Application, it asks for disciplinary problems and tells you to attach an extra sheet explaining it. So, I basically have to write the essay.
An explanation and an “essay” are different things. When you say essay, it sounds like you’re talking about the personal statement. Explanations are usually shorter and if it says suspension in your school report, you’ll probably have to write one.
Well, the Common App tells you to attach another piece of paper to explain what happened, what you have learned, and a reflection. I guess I am just worried on how this will effect me. I sure colleges would want a deeper explanation, and I feel like a good essay will help.
You need to sit with your guidance counselor and preferably dean of discipline and have this very conversation. About how you were 100 wrong and you accept that. And you have learned from it and obviously you are a changed person. It is not a reflection of who you were then or are now. you showed incredibly poor judgement and were trying to fit in by acting in such a lousy way to your friend. You owned it by making amends to your friend and living true to yourself ever since . It was over three years ago when you were 12 or 13.
You would like to make sure that you are in synch with the requirements of the common app. Is there a chance that it could be reported as foul language or poor judgement. And could you see what it says so you can adequately address it without going too deeply into it. My two cents
Do not, in my humble opinion, try to explain it away whe discussing it with school or in an essay. Perhaps mention you understand the sting of racism as well as anyone. And should have known better. That is not the point of this exercise.
Remember the joke was racist. You were not. Then or now based on what you say.
However I am assuming your story to be true and you are being honest here
And your dean and gc will know that better than you think.
@privatebanker Thanks for the advice. I am supposed to meet with the disciplinary officer (he is just one of the vice principals) one year after the incident. I think both of our families are supposed to come together and reflect. Assuming the worst, how should I deal with the suspension on my record? Could also you also tell me some more reasons why you think I should try to explain it in an essay when applying?
I don’t know what to advise on that front. And I would not try to leverage this to your advantage. Only suggesting you ask for leniency if you have been true to what you’ve described here.
But don’t borrow worry from the future to ruin today.
Focus on being a good friend, honest in all your affairs and work your tail off in school. Could it cost you a spot at one school or another. Perhaps. But there will be a great education somewhere out there. The real education is your growth as a person which this experience should be invaluable. I would say make sure you let your friend know that you are a friend by how you act everyday. Not to get into a school.
@WorriedDude
Try to get that removed from your record as soon as you can. Otherwise, your chances for any of the T50 schools is immediately gone. Given that schools want to have a diverse population, a record having racist behaviors would be very unpleasing for them as they will not know if you will repeat your jokes and bring harm to other students. Honestly, like what other people have already said, try to have a positive impact on the community and hopefully have a teacher write about how friendly you were. If there is no way to remove it from your record, don’t bring attention to it by writing about it. It is like being a wounded deer and telling the hunter to shoot you. Good luck my dude!
I do not believe such an offense from freshman year that the OP has learned from would not immediately ruin his/her/preferred pronoun chances at “any of the T50 schools”.
It will not effect your college apps, but it might affect them. If you learn the difference between these two verbs, you may do well in college admissions.
hoping you learn something more interesting between now and your essay so you can write about that. I think I would go insane if I had to read all the virtue signaling, look how 'i have grown essays that seem popular nowadays. I would rather read about hard work and high ideals coupled with an application that supports the essay.
A better essay topic than your suspension might be about how you came to accept the advice of others despite initial misgivings.
