So I am currently a sophomore enrolled at a small town college, and also a student-athlete. When coming back early from our summer break, I went to a party in which I got fairly intoxicated, and do not remember much from the night if I’m being honest. However, I half-a-week later got dragged into a case in which I do not recall doing, but I allegedly shoved a volleyball player at this party. I’m sure most people say this when in these kind of scenarios, but it really not a representation of my character whatsoever. Moreover, I have not gone out or consumed alcohol since. However, this altercation, in which was dealt through with the school, is all on my record and deemed me guilty of doing.
Prior to this, I was looking into transferring, but by doing so I wanted to get into the same level of school, if not better, then the one I am currently enrolled at. However, after the school assumed that more likely then not I had committed this act, what are the chances or likelihood of me still getting into a better school? I currently have a 3.5 GPA coming from a prestigious school, and want to pursue graduate school, it’s just that if I do not transfer from where I am currently, I will have to report this incident to graduate schools, versus if I transferred into my fall of junior year at another college, I would not have to do so.
Furthermore, after meeting with my dean of student affairs, he said that he would write me a letter of recommendation on my behalf, saying that this is not something that represents my character whatsoever. He was also the judicator of my trial. I just hope that this incident or scenario will not totally throw my livelihood or career goals offtrack.
This is very unlikely to be the case. I’ve never seen an application that asked only about discipline at a degree-granting school. Have you looked at the graduate school applications you’d be filling out? What kind of graduate school are we talking about?
Law schools are uniformly going to ask about any discipline you faced in college. You’ll have to disclose it when you take the bar, too. Transferring won’t change this. I’ve helped lots of students explain this kind of history on law school applications. The history won’t keep you out of law school, but trying to hide the history will.
Regarding transferring my junior fall, would this hinder my ability to transfer to other colleges? I wanted to pursue transferring in general because I changed my major and there are other colleges better for what I want to do.
Yes, a disciplinary history will make you a less desirable transfer candidate, but this is going to vary a lot based on the severity of the offense/punishment, how wisely you talk about it, and where you’re applying. The most selective schools that are unforgiving about this kind of thing may not be open to taking an applicant with a 3.5, anyway.