How to Proceed w/Admissions Mistake?

jonri
Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:09:45 +0000

A long time ago, Jean Fetter was in charge of Stanford UG admissions. She wrote a book about the experience. In it, she tells a story. I read the book a long time ago and may have the details wrong , but the gist of the story was this. A young woman was a junior at Stanford, doing well academically. One day, someone from her town came to visit campus. That person said to someone at Stanford that she was so happy to hear that Susie was doing so well at Stanford after flunking out of Smith ?–not sure it was Smith, but another college anyway. Well, whoever heard it said something to Fetter not really reporting it, just mentioned the conversation in passing. Fetter went back and checked the file. No mention of the other college. She called the other college and asked one question–was Susie ever enrolled there. Yes. Susie was expelled from Stanford that day. Her transcript was stamped with words like “expelled due to academic dishonesty.”

Now, I still think the OP should get legal advice. But, I think that it’s probable–I obviously am not in any position to guarantee anything–that the OP will be in a better position if (s)he admits the truth now. If the OP applies for admission to the bar, it’s almost certain to come to light. If the OP chooses another career, the lie on the app to the 3rd college may never come to light. However, it might. For the rest of the OP’s life, (s)he’s going to be waiting for the other shoe to drop.It’s a terrible way to live.