Do Colleges Look at Suspensions or Disciplinary Records?

A single mistake in high school—like a suspension—can feel like it will haunt your future forever. As college applications loom, students and parents often wonder: Do colleges look at suspensions? Will this show up on my record? Could it hurt my chances of getting into my dream school? 

The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Colleges handle disciplinary records in different ways, and recent changes in application practices mean the rules aren’t always clear.

How Colleges Learn About Disciplinary Records

Colleges have several ways to find out about your disciplinary history:

1. Common Application: The widely-used Common App asks two direct questions about disciplinary history:
   1. Whether you’ve been found responsible for a disciplinary violation at your school
   2. Whether you’ve been convicted of a crime
2. School Profiles and Counselor Recommendations: Many high schools include information about disciplinary actions in the “school profile” or in counselor recommendation letters.
3. Transcript Notations: Some high schools note serious disciplinary actions directly on transcripts.
4. Self-Disclosure Questions: Some college applications include direct questions about your disciplinary record, separate from the Common App.

What makes this tricky is that policies vary widely between high schools and colleges about what gets reported.

Types of Disciplinary Issues Colleges Consider

Not all disciplinary issues carry the same weight with admissions officers. Colleges typically pay closest attention to:

• Academic Dishonesty: Cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty raise red flags about your integrity as a student.
• Violent Behavior: Fighting, bullying, or threatening others suggests potential campus safety concerns.
• Drug and Alcohol Violations: These violations make colleges worry about potential substance abuse issues on their campus.
• Pattern of Behavior: Multiple minor infractions can suggest ongoing behavioral problems.
• Recent Incidents: Issues that happened in your junior or senior year carry more weight than freshman year mistakes.

Minor infractions like dress code violations, tardiness, or a single detention usually don’t affect college admissions.

Which Colleges Check Disciplinary Records Most Carefully

Some colleges dig deeper into disciplinary histories than others:

• Highly Selective Schools: Top-tier colleges with low acceptance rates typically scrutinize applications more thoroughly, including disciplinary records.
• Military Academies: Service academies like West Point or the Naval Academy conduct extensive background checks.
• Schools with Honor Codes: Colleges with strong honor traditions (like UVA or William & Mary) often pay special attention to character issues.
• Specialized Programs: Nursing, education, and criminal justice programs may have stricter standards due to their field requirements.

Community colleges and less selective schools generally focus less on past disciplinary issues.

Recent Changes in Disciplinary Reporting

The landscape is shifting toward more privacy for students:

• Common App Changes: In 2018, the Common App removed questions about minor disciplinary infractions, focusing instead on major violations.
• “Ban the Box” Movement: Some states have passed laws prohibiting colleges from asking about criminal history on initial applications.
• FERPA Protections: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act gives students over 18 the right to inspect their records and, in some cases, limit what schools can share.
• New State Laws: Some states have enacted laws limiting what high schools can disclose to colleges about student disciplinary records.

These changes aim to give students with minor infractions a fair chance at college admission.

Should You Disclose Disciplinary Issues?

When faced with application questions about your disciplinary history, honesty matters:

• If Directly Asked: Answer truthfully if the application directly asks about disciplinary history. Lying on applications can result in rescinded admissions offers or even expulsion after enrollment.
• If Not Asked: If the application doesn’t ask and your high school doesn’t report such information, you’re not obligated to disclose minor disciplinary issues.
• Context Matters: For serious infractions that will be reported, consider including a brief explanation taking responsibility and showing what you learned.

Schools value honesty and personal growth over perfection.

How to Address Disciplinary Issues in Applications

If you do need to disclose disciplinary issues, how you frame them matters:

• Be Honest but Brief: Explain what happened in clear, factual terms without excessive details or excuses.
• Take Responsibility: Admissions officers respond better to students who own their mistakes rather than blame others.
• Highlight Growth: Explain how the experience changed you and what you learned.
• Show Evidence of Change: If possible, include examples of positive behavior since the incident.
• Get Strong Recommendations: Teachers or counselors who can speak to your character and growth can help counterbalance disciplinary concerns.

A thoughtful explanation can sometimes turn a negative into a positive demonstration of maturity.

Can You Remove Disciplinary Records Before Applying?

In some cases, you might be able to clean up your record:

• Expungement: Some states allow for expungement of juvenile records, which can remove incidents from your official record.
• School District Appeals: Many school districts have procedures to appeal or remove disciplinary notations after a certain period of good behavior.
• FERPA Amendments: If records contain inaccurate information, you can request amendments under FERPA.
• Talk to Your Counselor: Sometimes, counselors have discretion about what they report in recommendations.

The key is to start early – these processes take time, and you want them completed before application deadlines.

Alternative Paths if Disciplinary Issues Affect Admissions

If your disciplinary record does create barriers:

• Start at Community College: Establish a positive college record before transferring to a four-year school.
• Take a Gap Year: Use time to demonstrate responsibility through work, volunteering, or other productive activities.
• Look for Schools with Holistic Review: Some colleges specifically focus on giving students second chances.
• Consider Schools Without Disciplinary Questions: Some colleges don’t ask about disciplinary history at all.
• Apply to More Schools: Cast a wider net to increase your chances of acceptance.

A disciplinary record doesn’t close all doors – it might just change which ones you walk through first.

The Bottom Line for Students with Disciplinary Records

Disciplinary records can affect college admissions, but their impact varies widely based on:

• The severity and timing of the incident
• How your high school reports disciplinary actions
• Which colleges you apply to
• How you address the issue in your application

Most importantly, colleges recognize that teenagers make mistakes. A single suspension, especially for a minor infraction, rarely ruins college chances on its own – particularly if you’ve shown growth and taken responsibility.

The best approach is to be honest when asked directly, provide context when needed, and focus your application on the positive aspects of your high school career. 

For students facing school discipline with potential long-term consequences, Ghanouni Teen & Young Adult Defense Firm offers strategic legal guidance focused on preserving educational opportunities. The firm works with teens and families to address disciplinary matters in a way that supports both accountability and future goals—especially when college admissions are on the line.

To learn more or request a confidential consultation, visit www.pglawoffice.com.