Suspension from school

SemperFi2003

SemperFi2003

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Sep 27, 2020
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Hi, I am a junior applying to the Service Academies (most notably USNA, USMA, and USMMA) and I have a question about something that happened to me a year ago.

My sophomore year, I made some great and bad choices. One of my worst I made was getting a 3 day suspension from school. I still regret what I did to make it happen to this day, and I have made changes to myself that have improved me for the better in the long run.

I wanted to know how this will hurt me on the admissions process, and if I can explain what happened.
 
I understand I may have also posted this under the wrong discussion board. I apologize.
 
Will that degrade my application though? As in, will admissions will look heavily down upon my application, if I am required to put it on there?
 
It’s part of who you are and what you have done, so you own it and learn.

The SAs understand that people in your age group make bad choices on occasion, whether from impulse, immaturity, peer pressure, or whatever. You put the best application you can together and keep moving forward. It will not be the last time in your life you will make mistakes and choose poorly. They know no one is perfect. They will evaluate the whole person, weighing many factors. Show your character growth from this situation.

If you have not yet read every page, drop down menu and link at your primary sources, the SA websites, I strongly recommend it. Most answers are there at the official source. You’ll see the information that is requested from your HS, such as the USNA page below.
www.usna.edu

High School Transcript Application

High School Transcript Application page for Admissions at USNA.edu. Updated Sat Apr 27 05:08:09 EDT 2024.
www.usna.edu
 
SemperFi2003 said:
Will that degrade my application though? As in, will admissions will look heavily down upon my application, if I am required to put it on there?
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It probaby goes without saying, that it would depend on what it was for. DONT POST. But obviously some reasons are probably more ‘problematic’ than others.

You cannot avoid discussing it. A school suspension will be on your school record. Be honest, own it, show how you have learned and grown from it. No one attending an academy is perfect. In fact, they don’t expect perfect. They are developing leaders of imperfect people. You ‘mistake’ could be some that actually makes you a more empathetic person. We all will make mistakes our whole lives. It’s expected.

Good luck to you!! You will probably discuss this in your BGO interview, so thinking about how to frame that up verbally is a good idea.
 
I agree with all of the advice above. We are human and thus fallible. Whether for interviews or essays, be prepared to own the mistake and explain your growth. One way you could help peers or those younger than you are is to mentor kids and use your mistake as an example of what not to do. Do you peer tutor? Do you work with at risk students at your school? Not as a resume builder, but as a place you could really pay it forward and be a positive example.
 
CAPT MJ has some sage advice -- own the problem and use it for a learning experience, and show how it has made you a better person.
Here's a hint, quibbling, sea lawyering and excuses aren't the right approach.

Can it impact your application ? Perhaps, but as noted before -- kids do dumb things. Admissions knows that, but will look at it from the perspective of how you have addressed and overcome the issue.

Keep in mind, while the Admissions Board may give you a pass, if this issue was significant enough, you may have reputation to overcome at your school. Your Math and English teacher evaluations are important, and if your teachers know about the situation, it may impact what they think about you. I would encourage you to discuss with them, before asking for their evaluation, so they don't let this incident impact your whole life.

Finally, one saying I learned in the Navy rings true here -- "It takes a whole lot of Attaboys to overcome one Aw **** !" You got your Aw Sh!t, so you better be building up the Attaboys !

Good luck.
 
Will that degrade my application though? As in, will admissions will look heavily down upon my application, if I am required to put it on there?
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I would suggest you mention it even if you don't want to. The reason behind it is because those service academies may look and see you own up to your mistake which shows a grea tdeal of ownership and di. This shows that you realized you made a mistake and you grew and learned from it. Like Capt MJ said "great essay material"
 
Just letting you know, I was suspended for two days from school my freshmen year for punching a kid in the face for stealing my lunch. I applied to the service academies, ROTC scholarships as well. I explained in my essay that I after this event, I learned to control my anger and discipline myself. I got a 4 year AROTC scholarship. Although, I didn't follow through with Army ROTC, I am now a Marine Officer. My advice to you is similar to the ones above, we all make mistakes. Own up to them and explain how you learned from them.
 
Echoing all of the sage advice above and adding a little personal reference. My now 2/C had a similar situation. He owned it, learned from it and used it to explain how he defended himself as he would defend his country. Don't know what your situation is (and don't put it here) but honesty is always the best policy. During the application process, my 2/C had to request a letter from the high school administration detailing what happened. He was also brought before a "Conduct Board" (don't know if that's the correct term) to review the situation. Throughout the entire process, he never wavered from his convictions, and owned his part in the situation. Be accountable, forthright and be proactive. You want them to hear it from you first and not find it later. The Academies know that things happen. Show what you have done to rise above the situation and how you've grown from it.
 
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I was suspended my junior year of high school for 3 years. A lot of my guidance counselors told me I wouldn't have a chance to get in here anymore but I still made it. Best advice is to be as upfront about it in everything you do. It came up in all my interviews for nominations. I'm by no means an amazing applicant.. moreso pretty average.. but I still made it in. I did have to go through a "Character Review Committee" which just made me provide more details about what happened. I sent what they required in and never heard from them again. Feel free to private message me and we can talk more about your specific scenario.
 
Yeah I think your essay should have said I learned to control my anger and he learned not to steal my lunch. :)
 
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