My daughter got placed on disciplinary probation on her first semester of college because of underage alcohol in the dorms. She is now applying to transfer universities and still a freshman, this is only her second semester here at the university. She wants to transfer because the major she wants to switch into is engineering, which is more prestigious and well-taught at different universities.
I was wondering on the common application if she has to mention that she is on probation?
Do other schools see her disciplinary records? Because I had heard that they only see the academic records (I don’t know if this is 100% true)
She has a 4.0 GPA at college and did very well in high school. She had never gotten in trouble before at school. It was just the first day of college and she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. She wants to apply to transfer to some top 30 schools in the nation, and we are wondering what are her chances if she says she’s on disciplinary probation because of alcohol?
First, from your other posts, it appears you are the student. It’s OK to post as yourself in the parent forum, and no one here is going to condemn you for having alcohol in your dorm room.
Doesn’t the common app still ask about your discipline history? If you are asking if you should lie because you don’t think they’ll find out, don’t do it. In the unlikely event they were to find out after you were accepted, they could rescind acceptance, kick you out, or even revoke your diploma after graduation. You don’t want that hanging over your head.
Is it going to hurt your chances? It won’t help, but they know college students make mistakes. This sounds like a small one, and considering your stellar academic record to date, I don’t think this will sway them against you if you are honest about it, explain what happened, how it won’t happen again, etc.
However, keep in mind that many top schools don’t take many transfers. Your odds of getting in as a transfer student will likely be a lot lower than they were coming in as a freshman.
It may very well affect your chances, but what can you do about it? It’s not something you can go back and change, so you will have to live with it. If you really need to transfer for some reason, then you probably ought to include some colleges that are significantly below the top-30 level among the colleges to which you apply. If you are just trying to upgrade, that’s fine. You already know that you face really long odds, even without the discipline on your transcript. As long as you are mentally prepared for the possibility of rejection by everyone, there’s no harm in trying.
We don’t know the circumstances. Were you drinking, were you drunk, was the alcohol in your room but belonged to someone else, did you procure it illegally etc.? We also don’t know how tough the discipline is at your school, compared to other schools. I don’t know a single college student who hasn’t had a drink at school, usually not in their dorm room but sometimes in someone else’s. Probation seems like a pretty serious punishment: does it go away after a certain period of time? I would also check on whether it is in your record.
Always be honest. In the context of your grades and any possible recommenders, I cannot believe colleges would hold this against you. I would actually write a note explaining the circumstances if they are more benign than they seem.
Ok the circumstances are this: I was not drinking because I’m not a drinker. The probation is only for a year but apparently stays on my record for more than a year.
I do want to leave because there also isn’t a strong academic or social life here
Then make sure any university or college you apply to knows that alcohol was found in your room, it belonged to a roommate, and you don’t drink- or whatever the circumstances were.
If I were you I would have someone vouch for the fact that you don’t drink.
Is there a reason you don’t drink, such as medications, or previous abuse, or is it just a choice? Does your current school know you don’t drink? Were you caught at a party in your room so you are responsible as a host?
If you are innocent, you should fight this honestly. If there is a valid reason for the probation, then explain simply and directly. Good luck!
I suggest you meet with the head of your conduct office and ask if there is anything you can do to have the probation lifted early. Explain your reasons. You might be offered community service or some other way to clear your record. Most University folks want you to succeed. And, you have nothing to lose from trying.