So Ive been stressing about reporting my discipline record. My school does not send the discipline record and my counselor said he will not disclose it in his LOR. However, i cant live with myself lying and saying no. I have explained everything that was on my discipline record, and cited the 2 infractions. It was an in school suspension. This is my explanation of the incident:
During tenth grade, my friend and I were joking loudly during class and used obscene language, which caught the teacher’s attention. The teacher referred us to the office, where I was cited for obscene language and violating school rules. I received two days of ISS, which was served as full-day detentions in the main office. I completed my schoolwork there, and my teachers checked in to answer questions and help me stay current.
This is the reflection part of the incident:
I take responsibility for allowing our joking to become disruptive and inappropriate. The classroom was neither the time nor the place for that language or behavior, and the experience taught me to stay focused and consider how my actions affect others.
It also changed how I approach friendships. I realized that meaningful friendships do not depend on constant joking or excitement. They grow through honest conversations, thoughtful advice, and taking time to understand one another. I still joke with my friends, but I now place more value on deeper connections than on having fun in the moment. I completed the disciplinary consequence, and I have had no further incidents.
You should not be reporting or explaining anything if the discipline record is not sent & not disclosed anywhere on recommendations or applications. Usually colleges will inquire only about out-of-school suspensions & expulsions. Minor infractions like detentions & ISS are typically kept internal. As far as you’re concerned for applying to college, these incidents never happened.
No. I purposefully asked teachers who I thought don’t know about it. Also, they did not teach me at the grade level where the incident happened. Both taught me in grade 9 and 11.
Neither teacher shouldn’t be referencing this internal incident at all especially since they had no involvement. The counselor recommendation would be the place to do it. You’ve already confirmed that the incident won’t be disclosed, so you’re all set.
I a sitting here wondering if there is anyone in the world who has never said anything that they regret saying (other than babies who have not yet learned to talk).
Please, don’t be a fool. The school doesn’t consider this a suspension, they’re not reporting it, neither is your counselor. Confirm that no one is reporting this, and just move on with your life.
How many kids haven’t joked around and cursed and ragged on each other in school? How many teenage boys can say they never behaved in a sophomoric manner - and when they were sophomores? You just don’t even want to waste your essay space explaining this non-event.
i tried asking for my teachers LORs but they have a no-show policy. thats the only weak link. thats why im hesitating. if i knew they arent mentioning it, i am probably not reporting.
If your school treats ISS as an internal matter and your counselor isn’t reporting it, checking “No” is not lying—it’s following your school’s official reporting guidelines. Colleges ask for what your school reports.
If you still insist on disclosing it for peace of mind, keep it brief, neutral, and strictly factual. AOs only care about one thing when reading these: evaluating campus safety and behavioral risk.
I can almost guarantee you that the teachers will not reference your disciplinary history. They would risk losing their jobs doing so for reporting “lounge gossip.”
If a college’s discipline question directly asks about suspensions, you have to report it. It doesn’t matter that the counselor doesn’t report it…many schools and/or states prohibit counselors from reporting any type of disciplinary action.
Are you applying to any colleges that ask about disciplinary action, including suspensions?
I don’t think this is going to be a big deal. Be brief. I might change ‘obscene’ to inappropriate.
Yeah, i am applying to quite a few that ask about disciplinary action. In their questions, it asks for “any disciplinary actions,” including probation, suspension, etc. They do not specify in-school suspension or out-of-school suspension.
You need to have another chat with your guidance counselor. S/he should be able to advise you on what to do. The word suspension could include both ISS & OSS, depending on the way the question is worded (depending on the college application). In most cases, colleges are only concerned with OSS & more serious matters.
For schools that ask about suspensions and don’t specify in or out of school, I would counsel you to report the ISS. Have you spoken with your counselor, and if so, what do they recommend?
Big picture, I would also encourage you to not discuss how you plan to address this in your apps with your peers.
In the end, it is what it is. You’ll apply to places. Not all schools get recs and pick some that don’t - but what you described is much ado about nothing honestly.
But yes, answer questions accurately but I wouldn’t worry -but if you are, apply to schools with no recs, that you’re assured admission so at least in your mind, you’ll have a home should all else fail.
Wherever you go, there you are. I think the description you provided shows a lot of maturity and growth, and I cannot imagine an Adcom reading this and thinking “this kid is a behavioral risk”. Good luck to you- and a big hug for being a person with an ethical compass!!! We need more people like you in our society…
You can note in your explanation that your understanding is that this matter will not appear on your school record, but that you want to respond to the application question truthfully.
Agree that you might want to change “obscene language” to “inappropriate language”, but I think that you’ll be okay either way.
Full disclosure is a good habit if you ever need a security clearance or apply for bar membership (law school applications are often checked by state bar examiners).