Do Middle School Suspensions Affect College Admissions?

People often wonder about that temporary moment of a few days, weeks, or months when you are sent away from school as a result of bad behavior or involvement in immoral activities. We all know what it is called. SUSPENSION! It could happen at any time to anyone that makes a bad choice; at Elementary, Middle, or High School. A lot of people did not care about suspension until the situation that could land them in that temporary crisis comes. Then, the panicking begins as they think of the reaction of their parents and guardians, and OH! Am I ever going to get into College? So let’s start with Do Middle School Suspensions Affect College Admissions?

Do Middle School Suspensions Affect College Admissions?

College Admissions & Middle School Suspension

To lift the fear of worrisome parents and inquisitive kids who have made a few bad choices or found themselves in impossible situations in Middle School, No.

Suspensions in Middle School do not affect College Admissions. Suspensions in Middle School do make it to your permanent record but do not go on to affect your application or admission into College. 

Why Not Middle School?

Children in Middle School are in their formative years and so Colleges do not ask for the presentation of Middle School grades or about the demeanor of the children at that stage. Children who were suspended and realized their flaws and made behavioral corrections still found themselves being accepted into schools like Harvard, Princeton, and other Ivy League schools and also other top universities in the country. 

At What Level Should One Be Careful About Suspension?

A little scenario: there is one last slot to be filled at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and two outstanding students are under consideration. They both have a perfect score for MIT, equal involvement in extracurricular activities and they cannot seem to pick whose Essay is the best, but the first one has 3 days of suspension in the 12th Grade for destroying school property. MIT goes ahead to pick the second candidate. 

Having a disciplinary record in High School can affect your chances of getting into a good college or the college of your dreams. It is not always the case and it does not mean an automatic rejection from colleges but it can be a deterrent to getting accepted into a college of your choice. Colleges have a lot of information to consider such as the grades, College Essays, Extracurricular Activities, letters of recommendation, and others, but one cannot be too sure that these are the only things that are considered by the School.

Can One Still Be Admitted With a Disciplinary History?

Colleges want to accept and admit students who are disciplined and have high moral values and so they frequently ask for disciplinary records. Most High Schools attach students’ disciplinary records to their transcripts which makes these colleges have access to your information. On the application forms colleges always ask if you have any disciplinary records – if you have been suspended or expelled – with a little check box to answer the polar question. It is best not to lie because they could always find out the truth and if they do, it could bear heavy consequences.

Being suspended should not leave you feeling like you have a rain cloud following you and you are doomed to fail. One can still be admitted despite having a disciplinary history. It is not and should never be viewed as an Educational Death Sentence

Handling a Suspension when preparing your College Application

Getting a suspension does not make you a bad person. Most students in High school are still developing, forming character, and finding themselves and so mistakes, bad judgment, and bad choices are made by some students at this stage of their lives. No one wants to miss out on getting admission with their age mates or getting into the college of their choice and so they get scared and panic when the application process kicks off. There is no need to be.  These are a few ways in which you can handle a suspension when preparing for college:

  1. YES

You can start by ticking the check box in the affirmation that is if you have been on suspension in your High School years. 

  1. College Essay

When applying to any college you will be mandated to write a college essay which is one of the most important parts of the application. The essay is a personal composition in which you write about yourself, your journey, and why you think you are a fit and deserve to be admitted into the school. This College Essay is the biggest opportunity to talk about your suspension and give them your story about how and why it happened and how that event has shaped your character and conduct. This can help boost the strength of your essay and also make you sound human who is not infallible

  1. Talk About It

When allowed to talk about your suspension by the Admissions Officer do not hesitate to talk about it especially when it is asked at a college Interview. 

  1. Blame

Do not apportion blames to other people but own up to the situation that took place. It is not always easy especially when the suspension was an unfortunate incident that was not your fault. However, to get into college apportioning blame could make you come off as a person with a bad attitude. Do not be too hard on yourself, after the application you get to attend the school of your dreams. 

Conclusion

Middle School kids do not have an issue getting into college because colleges look at or access information from only the High School period or years. However, this does not mean that Middle School kids should be given a freewheel to do whatever they like because the activities during those years do not hold water in the college admission process. More caution should be placed to avoid mistakes that could be made during their high school years. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are There Schools That Do Not Look At Your Suspension Records?

No, colleges ask and look out for suspension or disciplinary history during the application process. There is always a check box on the application form for a polar question asking if you have ever been responsible for any disciplinary violation or if you have ever been suspended or expelled.

  • Can I Get Into An Ivy League School With A Suspension or Expulsion Record?

Yes! You can get into an Ivy League school with a suspension or expulsion record. Many schools still accept students with a disciplinary history. However, applying to an Ivy League school with a disciplinary history can make your chances slimmer and a little more difficult. Chin up! You can still get in.

  • Can Detention Threaten Your College Admission?

No, detention cannot threaten your college admission. Detention is just a school’s way of punishing students for minor offenses. Do not worry about detention spoiling your chances at a good school. 

If that was the case, we would all be panicking!