So my situation is a bit unusual as a transfer student that began a few years ago. I had began my college career at a community college. Focusing was a struggle because of family issues, so my grades were not that great. Cs, Ds, Fs, you get the picture. Now I had wanted to transfer to an art/vocational school because that is what I wanted to do at the time. Now here’s the part that caused all the problems. I paid for novelty transcripts in order to make it appear that I received my AA and the vocational school accepted it.
Now, while at the school, I was found out by one of the counselors but they surprisingly did me the favor of not saying anything. Later down the road, I found that the major I was studying was not for me and ended up dropping out. I have always felt guilt about the way things were done and handled by me. I kick myself everyday. Wanting to make things right, I now want to return to my original community college to get my AA the right way and earn a BA in a major I’m actually interested in. Problem is, is that now they need my transcript from the Vocational school, which shows on the transcript that they accepted the fake classes from the community college. I think you see where the problem arises and why I can’t just give the community college the transcript from the art school.
I know people will want to say “Well, that’s what you get for lying. Pay for yours errors.” but please, I have condemned myself enough for it. I really want to to go back to school but I have no idea what to do now. Please please please. Any helpful advice is appreciated.
By talking with advising, is that risking them completely shutting me out from becoming a student again? I have already begun the process of returning as a student the community college. The only thing they are waiting on is this transcript though. I don’t want it to be that the second I open my mouth, they won’t even bother discussing the matter at hand and just kick me out.
You are going to have to work through this with the CC, and probably also with the art/vocational school that accepted the faked transcript. You are going to have to accept whatever punishment either or both of them decide on. You might not be allowed to re-enroll. But you won’t know the options until you speak with them and start the process.
Please remember that this original act was done several years ago when you were much younger, and much stupider, than you are now. Your mature attitude, eagerness to cooperate in the process, and willingness to accept the decisions of whoever it is that does actually decide about this kind of thing should stand in your favor. Rather than starting with the counselor, you may want to start with the dean. When you have a resolution from the CC, ask for their help when you go to the art/vocational school and repeat all of the steps.
Are you sure that it is even on the transcripts? I’ve transferred schools twice and I’ve always had to have all my previous schools send transcripts separately.
OP, if you do not come clean with your new school, you will continue to be guilty of fraud. Apart from the ethical issues, you could be discovered at any time, putting your future in perpetual jeopardy.
Ultimately, the call will be made by the registrar’s office, not advisement, and you can bet they will be sharp.
Yes, it’s a risk to come clean now. But it’s the only way you can put this behind you forever.
@astrophilia That doesn’t work. No matter where OP goes, they will have to provide the previous transcripts, which is further providing false information on an application.
Looks like I’m going to have to. Now could another option be talking to the art school, explaining the situation to see if they can fix the transcript to remove the illegitimate courses?
Yes, you do need to speak with the Art School. You need to have those fake classes removed from your transcript there so that the next time you have to get a copy of that transcript, they won’t appear on it.
With all this school how old are you now? I’d be afraid of fraud charges, especially if you received any aid. Maybe one of the pros on here can extrapolate.
I requested two official transcripts front the art school to check, and it’s the first item on the page.