<p>My HS junior was suspended for being intoxicated at prom. We are reeling from the poor decision-making on my child's part and I am trying to gauge the fallout. She previously had a spotless record, 4.5 GPA, 31 ACT. How badly will the suspension affect her chance of merit aid at various schools?</p>
<p>It will probably depend on what the GC writes about the incident. Being a junior she still has time to recover from the problem. And intoxication in my mind is more pardonable than cheating.</p>
<p>If any citations were issued from the police, there is cause for concern. Some schools do factor that kind of behavior into merit aid decisions. I would double check with the principal and the GC.</p>
<p>I would think if the police were called you are not just talking about merit aid problems. There may be schools that will think twice about accepting her.</p>
<p>The questions regarding suspensions and any misdemeanors varies from college to college. I would ask the GC what information will be given to colleges first and foremost. Secondly with regard to criminal behavior, many applications only ask about felonies and finally below are the questions that are on the common app (<500 colleges/unis). If the action resulted in police activity make sure you talk to a lawyer regardless to understand the implications of pleading guilty vs. a plea bargain that might be expunged. Much will depend on your jurisdiction and the age of your junior and if there was police involvement.</p>
<p>Have you ever been found responsible for a disciplinary violation at any educational institution you have attended from the 9th grade (or the international equivalent)
forward, whether related to academic misconduct or behavioral misconduct, that resulted in a disciplinary action? These actions could include, but are not limited
to: probation, suspension, removal, dismissal, or expulsion from the institution.
Yes
No
Have you ever been adjudicated guilty or convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, or other crime?
Yes
No
[Note that you are not required to answer “yes” to this question, or provide an explanation, if the criminal adjudication or conviction has been expunged, sealed,
annulled, pardoned, destroyed, erased, impounded, or otherwise ordered by a court to be kept confidential.]
If you answered “yes” to either or both questions, please attach a separate sheet of paper that gives the approximate date of each incident, explains the circumstances, and
reflects on what you learned from the experience.</p>
<p>For being intoxicated at a prom? Have you been to college lately?</p>
<p>No way this affects anything. There aren’t many admissions counselors that wouldn’t sympathize, and though they won’t admit it, some view it in a positive light as someone who can loosen up enough to have some fun. </p>
<p>There are real offenses that matter a lot more that affect the public safety of other students. Get suspended for a fight? Big problem. Get caught cheating? Your whole transcript is suspect. Accused of sexual assault or carrying a weapon? You’re toast. </p>
<p>Get drunk at the prom? The girl likes to have fun. Princeton could use a girl like her.</p>
<p>Dat true ClassicRockerDad, but if the police were involved it’s worth the lawyer costs to plead something that will be expunged and it’s worth knowing if the high school reports that sort of info to the colleges…I would guess not simply because it happens…more often than most people realize.</p>
<p>I agree momofthreeboys</p>
<p>I would hope so. (If I’m in admission and I have two perfectly good candidates for merit aid, why wouldn’t I go with the one without a suspension for public drunkenness?)</p>
<p>Mo of 3… A lawyer really? The girl was drunk at prom! Now she’s going to get a lawyer to say what? What a BAD message the parents would be sending. And if its a public school, then the taxpayers are stuck paying for the defense. Helicopter parenting? No, lawn mower perenting…lets smooth out whatever might be in your way…just in case!</p>
<p>It’s pretty straightforward:</p>
<p>“Have you ever been found responsible for a disciplinary violation at any educational institution you have attended from the 9th grade (or the international equivalent)
forward, whether related to academic misconduct or behavioral misconduct, that resulted in a disciplinary action? These actions could include, but are not limited
to: probation, suspension, removal, dismissal, or expulsion from the institution.
Yes
No”</p>
<p>Why would you need a lawyer for this?</p>
<p>Answer: “I was suspended for public drunkenness at my prom. Honestly, I’ll probably get drunk again - after all, most college students do, at least once every two weeks. Especially on your campus - that’s why I want to come. You guys throw a great party! Oh, and by the way, could you please give me some merit aid? After all, I deserve it.”</p>
<p>If you read her posts, momof3boys said IF police charges were involved to get a lawyer. She did not say anything about suing the school (therefore no need for public school to pay for a defense!) Very good advice, it would be a shame if a mistake as a teenager ended up with long term consequences due to poor legal knowledge.</p>
<p>I’m a bit surprised that the concern is about merit aid, which may well be a problem, and not about underage drinking and drinking to excess. Yes, many college students drink, do drugs, have unprotected sex, but these are not healthy behaviors. </p>
<p>I would be very upset if my high school daughters were drinking and drinking out of control at the age of 16.</p>
<p>I know a girl who had the same thing happen in 9th grade and we are convinced that the suspension was the reason she didn’t get into most of her matches. She ended up going to a safety and will graduate next month. She had a wonderful 4 years, so all ended up fine, but we will never know what could have been.</p>
<p>Don’t know about various grades of disciplinary actions, but I do know that a student (senior) at the school where I teach was involved in a much worse situation than drinking at prom and was suspended for a long period of time (a couple of weeks). This student was accepted ED at the same time as this was occurring, with a sizable merit scholarship. This award was taken away as a result of the situation, but the acceptance was not rescinded. So, in this true story, the answer is, yes, it’s possible, I guess depending on the severity of the infraction, or whatever you want to call it.</p>
<p>Considering the incredible competiveness of getting into college and getting aid it may well affect all aspects of her college application process. </p>
<p>If this is part of her official high school record the GC has no choice but to include it as part of the report.</p>
<p>If xxx college has 2 (or more likely 100) students applying that have similar statistics but one has a blot on her record and one doesn’t I think the outcome is obvious. I hope it goes well for you and your daughter.</p>
<p>I don’t know the backstory of your D, but it sounds like she is on track to attend a good college and now she has made a sizable mistake. Many students engage in the same behavior but don’t get caught. She did. Unfortunately there are consequences in place and we can all understand why.</p>
<p>I’d hate to see her/you give up. Have you been to college campuses? Binge drinking is an artform. These same “competitive students” with no blot on their HS records are bellying up to the bar each weekend.</p>
<p>That said, assuming that she is truly remorseful and she has learned her lesson early, why can’t she use this experience as a life defining lesson? Why not own up to it? Perhaps she could spend time in the summer and in her senior year speaking out against the dangers of binge drinking, etc. Sure, it would take a lot of courage, but colleges may see it as a strength - the ability to turn a real negative into a positive. Maybe she could write about it in her college essay. She has nothing to lose.</p>
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<p>Well, darn it . . . and here I’ve been encouraging my kid to work hard, fulfill his EC commitments, and keep his grades up. Silly me - I should have just told him to go out and get drunk!</p>
<p>Well you might use Google and check out the Facebook or Myspace pages of some recently graduated regional admissions reps and you’ll see what I mean. </p>
<p>They can only be so hypocritical - it’s human nature. They would sympathize with someone who got in trouble for something that they can see themselves getting in trouble for. </p>
<p>I’m not recommending that kids should go out and get drunk. Not at all. </p>
<p>I’m saying that in the scheme of things, I don’t think that an otherwise great applicant getting drunk at a prom is viewed any more harshly than getting a speeding ticket (hopefully not while drunk).</p>
<p>Thanks for the thoughtful replies. There was no citation issued by police. I was advised by vice principal there would be no indication of suspension on transcript and it would only be disclosed by school if an admissions director called an asked about it, which he said has never happened. However there is no getting around that common app question I’m afraid. I agree that with two otherwise equal candidates, the merit aid likely will go to the student with a spotless record. I assure you I am not “only worried about merit aid” it is just the one aspect of this terrible situation that I sought advice from CC on. Thanks.</p>