+SUSPENSION+ Still got a chance??...

Colleges & Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>As i've said already... I got involved in a physical fight and was suspended from school for about a month and half at the end of my Freshmen year. It was very minor
offense... and I explained it in detail in the common app essay. but still it sure looks bad on my record..</p>

<p>secondary school : Christian International School in Malaysia (Dalat internationa school)
(transferred from a korean school in my 9th grade)
I'm Korean, so i go into minority group, i guess??</p>

<p>Class rank: 3/40
GPA : 3.94 (probably will increase by a great deal by the time I graduate..)</p>

<p>SAT1: Single best: 2260 (CR:690, W:790 M:780)
Best from each section: 2300 (CR:730, W:790 M780)
I took SAT1 three times..</p>

<p>SAT2: Math2: 790
Chem: 730
Chinese: will take it this saturday..</p>

<p>AP exams: Micro Eco-5 (Online class)
Macro Eco-4 (Online class)
I took AP Eco in my junior year</p>

<p>Taking 4 APs this year (World History (online), Calculus AB, Chinese, English)</p>

<p>Extracurricular activities: Student Council business manager (treasurer) 12th grade,
Varsity Soccer 11th Grade, Varsity Softball 11th grade (our
school doesn't have a baseball team.. so softball was my only option),
Peer tutoring (taught Algebra 2 last year; teaching Pre-calculus, AP
Eco, Chemistry ), Religious group discussion, worked in Penang
Butterfly Farm for volunteer work for a year in 9th grade. School worship band vocalist 12th grade, School Ensemble Tenor 12th grade</p>

<p>As my class size clearly shows.. my school is tiny and there isn't much EC options..</p>

<p>Awards: EARCOS Global Citizen Award (11th grade)
Class awards (Pre-calculus, Mandarin 3, World Mission(bible class..), English 10)
Royal Conservatory Music Exam 1st class honor with distinction. (11th grade)
2nd place in a korean math olympiad in 9th grade</p>

<p>Recommendations: i got one from math teacher who taught me for 3 years and gave me a class award (pre-calculus) last year. the other one was from mandarin teacher who also taught me for 3 years and also gave me a class award (mandarin3) last year.</p>

<p>The things I'm worried about are suspension.. math2 and SAT1 math, and not many AP courses.. (but in my school the options for AP courses are really limited),, yea..
DO I stand any chance/?? </p>

<p>oh right. I haven't applied yet. i will do it soon tho..</p>

2

<p>I have the same problem…I was suspended 2-3 times in my freshman yr each time for about a day. for silly things like skipping a quiz, or a mandatory afterschool study session.
I was also suspended for 2 days this yr (my junior yr) for similar reasons.
My discipline record is crap =(</p>

3

<p>well, that’s DEFINITLY going to affect you…
But judging from your stats…
It seems like you learned from your mistake :slight_smile:
so i think you’ve got a chance :D</p>

4

<p>Princeton will not reject you because of that. If anything they’ll see that as standing up for yourself. Also, they love to see progression; which it seems you have showed.</p>

5

<p>i dont know, having a suspension will put you in a disadvantaged situation, because imagine it, person A and B. A and B have same stats but A has suspension. Who are they going to choose?
In harvard, where admissions are tough, suspension will kill your chances</p>

6

<p>well, A month and a half is pretty long; it doesn’t really sound as just a minor offence…
I think your changes are VERY slim, I am sorry. Especially because you’re an ORM (Sorry, Korean doesn’t make you a minority at all!) and your stats aren’t stellar… Trying can’t hurt of course, just hope for the best.</p>

7

<p>A freshman year offense, especially if your GC on your side is unlikely to count strongly against you. A junior year offense is much more of a problem.</p>

8

<p>First off, you are going to have to stop saying it was a minor offense. it will be very important on your application to explain what happened, be contrite, and talk about what you learned from the experience. How you have grown from the discipline. WHAT YOU LEARNED!!! If you downplay the incident, you will not get in. Guaranteed. The school will forgive you if you do it right. You should also have letters of recommendation from teachers who know you well who can attest to your personality. If you went to any counseling, talk about that and what you learned. If you were going through a rough time emotionally and personally, by all means, explain it.</p>

<p>My nephew got a suspension, and did all the things that I mentioned, and he actually got a scholarship BECAUSE of the suspension. They were so impressed with how he had grown over the course of his high school years. That being said, these top schools often get applicants of students who have been suspended, even expelled. However, Fighting and cheating are two of the most difficult to convince admissions officers, but it can happen. After his suspension, his family talked to admissions officers from top schools to see what impact the suspension would have (Yale, UofC, Northwestern to name a few). All the schools said the suspension would not keep him out, but it needs to be worked. Good luck.</p>

9

<p>Honestly, I would be surprised if you got in. Sorry to say…</p>