My son was putting on his coat in school, and was struggling with one of his sleeves, he then accidentally set off the fire
alarm as his arm was either in or came through the sleeve. He immediately told a member of staff, and he was questioned by police. He has vehemently denied that it was intentional and insists it was an accident. The school does not believe him and placed him on a one day suspension. The police officer did not see enough evidence to press charges. Now we are in a conundrum as this is something that he will have to disclose in his college applications (most colleges asks for disciplinary records or if you have ever been suspended). How do we handle this - he wants to take a lie detector test to attempt to prove his innocence and we are all distraught. He has close to a 4.0 GPA. He is 16.
Be up front and honest, it’s hard to imagine an admissions committee seeing this as a big deal. Remember, they work on a college campus–they see antics & pranks from their current students all the time.
The Caltech admissions site even lists some of their famous pranks:
https://www.admissions.caltech.edu/content/traditions-and-pranks
Oh, not at all! Just explain the situation. I got suspended for 4 days for a much worse offense and still got into elite colleges and got merit aid
Find out if the school reports discipline issues, some don’t. If yours does, he explains (and is contrite.) You can find this section on a sample Common App. If he’s on good terms with the GC, he/she may speak of his usual honesty and fine behavior, valued role at the hs, etc.
Colleges don’t take pranks lightly. But adcoms know things happen. You’re going to find the way to navigate through this.
As an addl step, make sure he’s on good terms with teachers who’ll write LoRs (and who can write them well.)
thanks everyone, and for those that responded privately. I guess the hardest part is grappling with the fact that the school believes it was intentional and he claims it wasn’t and I am not sure if an admissions officer would potentially see that as lying and side with the school. You have helped ease our angst so for that I appreciate it.
I think the most important thing is to get counselor and teacher reqs on your side