<p>Well one of my friends, in 9th grade, got suspended for making a racist and offensive remark at a Hispanic Spanish teacher. If you want to know what he said PM me, but he got suspended for 2 or 3 days for saying it. He gets good grades and is in 2 AP classes, in addition to being good at sports. He asked me today to ask because he’s beginning to worry about college. How are his chances at Top schools?</p>
<p>It will definitely hurt his chance of getting an admission not only to the top schools but to all the other schools, if not properly explained. Since they allow applicants to explain the reasons why they got suspended, if he writes an excellent excuse that includes acknowledging how immature he was and that he learned from that circumstance and etc., regarding that he was only a 9th grader, it may be overlooked.</p>
<p>I would say it puts him at a significant disadvantage for top schools.</p>
<p>Your friend is at a huge disadvantage. He better have volunteered for every minority activists cause in his area and write a superior essay if he wants a chance at getting accepted. I don’t think any excuse would help him, even if the teacher deserved it. Then again it was his freshman year and we all make mistakes. He should show how he has matured in his essay.</p>
<p>One thing that can help is by starting a Hispanic Tolerance club or something like that.</p>
<p>Don’t despair. Some high schools don’t even report all suspensions. This happened with my son. He had a few suspensions for trivial things and the school didn’t report them. Of course he didn’t learn this till senior year. Even if the school does report them just explain in an essay (there usually is a special circumstances essay) that you were an idiot and that you have matured. I think most schools understand that kids, especially freshman make mistakes. The most important thing is to learn from your mistakes.</p>
<p>If it is not explained, your friend can probably kiss goodbye to college admissions. However, he can actually use this incident for his benefit by maybe even concentrating his whole essay about his racist remark. Not only as a remorseful letter, but as how he learned the importance of tolerance, etc</p>
<p>in my school, i dont think suspension because a dean is not having a good day, or because they made a remark which the teacher took as an offensive, even if he/she didnt like the student, doesnt matter. BIG suspensions matter, like prinicpals, or if u got into multiple fights in school which lead to BIG things, like being arrested. This is in my school, not sure about others.</p>
<p>As others stated, I would definitely consider making the experience the focal point of the essay - However, his chances at top schools are slim, especially when they have numerous candidates with his stats without the suspension. However, colleges realize students make mistakes, and they want to see that you LEARN from those.</p>
<p>Wow I laughed.</p>
<p>I’m really glad I don’t go to public school. </p>
<p>I would seriously suggest you tell your friend to omit that negative. Universities/colleges are more politically correct than ever, so even a slight swing at the <em>gasp</em> indoctrinating system will most certainly decrease your chances at acceptance. </p>
<p>Unless your friend is the son of some super wealthy dude, I’d start preparing him for rejection.</p>
<p>Also, you can fight for the suspension to not be listed in your transcript. If he contested the suspension, or argued it, he can file an appeal now (seriously) and request for it to be removed. A formal apology or promise to start a club would be a good incentive…</p>
<p>Don’t sissy out and plead your case with the university. They. Will. Turn. Your. Friend. Down. Doubly so if he’s applying to California schools.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Hold on a second. A lot depends on what his record says, what the guidance counselor will say, and what he can say. If his record says he was suspended for something like “rude behavior” or “inappropriate language” or “showing disrespect” or something vague like that, he can say that he spoke disrespectfully to a teacher in the 9th grade, and it may not have that much effect. If, on the other hand, his record says he made a “racist” remark, he will have to address it more directly.</p>