"Permanent Record" Can it affect you for life? spinoff dress code thread

[meandtheguys]

O.k., has anyone had something put on their school permanent record that has adversely affected the course of their life? Can it happen? As usual...I am just being curious!

 

[danacara]

my chronic tardiness to kindergarten was noted on my "permanent record". Got into college just fine. Don't worry about it unless it's something truly disastrous!

 

[meandtheguys]

I have to say that I just think it is a hoot to hear it talked about!
I cannot imagine how it could be a problem, but to hear people talk/threaten about it tickles me!

However, on the occasion, I am just plain wrong about these things!

 

[Maleficent13]

Another question: how do colleges know about your "permanent record"? When I applied to colleges, I sent my application, my transcripts, and my standardized test scores. Do they contact your high school and ask about your "permanent record" for every applicant? I can only imagine every university would have to have a huge department to do just this!

If anyone knows, I'm curious!

 

[lindajo]

I guess since I am the one who brought up "permanent record" on the dress code thread, I should respond. I really don't know what kind of things are kept on record at the high school level. I was a pretty good kid, so I never had to think about it. I just thought it might be something to consider, if indeed colleges did look at that kind of thing. I would imagine someone trying to get into Harvard might have more of a concern than someone applying to a trade school. (No flames, please-I went to a community college, then university-my dad went to trade school-nothing against it at all, just a comparison.)

 

[caitycaity]

i had a few detentions (one for a protest) on my high school "permanant record." it didn't seem to hurt me at all when applying to schools. i doubt they even knew about it, honestly.

 

[swanmom]

Malificent13 and others,
I worked with the admissions office at a major university in the Northeast for many years. There is a way in which your 'permanent record' can come up on college applications. (I assume that we're talking about high school here....not stuff that happened in kindergarten ) Many college applications have a question which specifically asks if you've been 'officially disciplined or sanctioned' in high school. If you answer 'yes', you are usually given the opportunity to explain yourself. If they are satisfied with your explanation, that is very likely the end of it. BUT if not, by providing information about any disciplinary action, you are opening the door for them to inquire further at your high school.
Some schools, of course, rarely bother with this. However, if the college is very competitive or does very individualized assessements of each applicant - it could come up.
Hope this helps.

 

[caitycaity]

swanmom, interesting... i think all of the apps i did must have just asked for suspension, not detention because i don't remember being worried about anything like that or giving explanations.

 

[swanmom]

Caitycaity,
You are right. I was talking about administrative disciplinary action - like suspensions or formal reprimands. They don't usually care about things that are part of the normal routine discipline necessary to run the school - like detention for arriving late. However, if that turned chronic and resulted in a formal notification from the school of some kind of higher level discipline then it could come up. Yikes, hope that made it clearer not more confusing

 

[jel0511]

My mother is the Registrar for a high school. She is the one who processes and sends out ALL transcript requests, it's not done by the guidence counselors. She has on many occassions received requests from colleges requesting, attendence information, displinary records, sports teams records, etc. She sends them whatever information they are requesting, and also has on many occassions, seen those with displinary records, attendence problems, and for other reasons, seen kids rejected from college. Her records do include information from Elementary school for EVERY child, and when she sends the additional information, it is included. She also on occassion, gets requests from employers requesting transcripts and their records, sometimes MANY years after they've graduated and gone on and completed college and graduate work. I belive the farthest back she's said she'dhad to go was almost 30 years after graduation!! So, it is true, that your "permanent record" can come back to haunt you!!!!

 

[meandtheguys]

Lindajo, first, I was really NOT trying to be rude. I hate it when people are like that and thank you for not "rolly eyeing" me!


swanmom, you are so good for answering this for me! I never knew that! I ,of course, was a good kid! The fact DH got into college astounds me however!

p.s. Couldn't you just lie and tell them "no?"

 

[lindajo]

Hey Meandtheguys, I didn't think you were being rude at all!! I hope you didn't think I was being rude, just thinking out loud about the permanent record thing. I still don't know if a dress code protest would qualify as a reason to keep a kid out of Yale, I am the kind that just doesn't like to take the chance with something that important! (No eyerolling here, I save that for people that tick me off!!)

 

[swanmom]

Of course, you could lie and say 'no.' However, after admitting you, the last thing they do is request your final information -grades, transcript and proof of graduation from your high school. If, somehow, additional disciplinary information, got included in that they could rescind your admission. (Notice that I'm staying away from the ethical issues of lying to get something you want here.............that's for each individual to decide.)

 

[meandtheguys]

Eeek! Didn't mean to even LEAN towards a moral or ethical debate! I know where they belong!

 

[grinningghost]

My DH admits to skipping school so often, that he doesn't really even remember it. In fact, he never made it past 10th grade, and it hasn't ever held him back on anything. Of course, we would never let our DD know this.

The "permanent record" might just be an urban legend.

 

[swanmom]

Grinninghost,
Respectfully, the idea that 'there's no such thing as a permanent record' or consequences stemming from that, is exactly what jel0511 and I were trying to warn about. I tried to give a reasoned response based on my experience at an admissions office. My point was that, while it isn't likely to create a problem unless it is a really serious offense, it also cannot be completely disregarded. I'm glad that it didn't create problems for your DH.........it probably doesn't for many people. BUT, it would be irresponsible to lead students to believe it isn't ever a factor particularly when applying to good colleges.