Will suspension for self-defense hurt chances?

Applying to College
1

<p>In 11th grade I was suspended when I asked another kid to stop making derogatory remarks (I'm asian), and then he tried to jump me. I put my hands up just to cover myself, but the teacher hauled us both down to the office anyway, and we were both suspended for a day. Nobody was hurt, but does it get blanketed under "violence in school" or do extenuating circumstances count at all?</p>

<p>I'm applying to Carnegie Mellon, and I'm worried I may have been too frank on the explanation:</p>

<p>In September of 2004 I was suspended for one day for fighting on school grounds. During a computer class a student sitting next to me spent considerable time making derogatory comments and disturbing the rest of the students. As an Chinese-American I was highly offended by his comments and demanded that he stop. He took my request as a challenge and lunged out of his chair towards me. I immediately put my hands up in self-defense and held him off long enough for the teacher to rush over and break it up. We were both given the same disciplinary action, a one day out of school suspension.</p>

<p>Can I please have some feedback on this?? thnx</p>

2

<p>maybe a one line sentence at the end saying, like...I have always believed violence is wrong.</p>

3

<p>ok...thnx, but what can you make on impact and stuff on admissions and app consideration?</p>

4

<p>I would say have a GC verify this and sign the statement so they know that you didn't really beat the crap out of the guy.</p>

5

<p>This incident will not hurt your admission chances. You might ask your counselor to address it as well, to confirm your version of the story. I agree that you should add that you don't advocate violence.</p>

6

<p>You go MOWC, keeping true to your word :)</p>

7

<p>you should have beat that kid's ass.</p>

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<p>I second what jhum111 said, get a GC to verify it. I sympathize you due to the stupidity of your school administrators.</p>

<p>"maybe a one line sentence at the end saying, like...I have always believed violence is wrong."
Dont. It sounds very stupid. These types of things are highly advised against in essay how-to books, like "On Writing the College Application Essay" by Harry Bauld, very good by the way.</p>

9

<p>that would be a really corny ending.</p>

10

<p>lol this isn't an essay.... =P
it's to explain what he did.
Point out somehow that you are against fighting won't hurt.</p>

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<p>point that out somehow, but dont say "ive always believed fighting is wrong"</p>

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<p>wow, thanks for the feedback guys! that was a lot better than my "chances" post. well, i already handed in the CMU app online, so should i have the counselor write an extra letter along with his evaluation concerning the topic?</p>