Question about ISS and its Impact on your Record

Hey everyone, I've been hearing a lot of mixed responses and I'm really worried here. In high school, do your records of things like in-school suspension (ISS) show up on your permanent record? Would colleges find this info when I send in my application?

Generally speaking, most high school disciplinary actions, such as in-school suspensions, are not included in the documentation that high schools send to colleges during the application process. This can depend on your high school's policy, but typically, it's limited to your transcript (courses and grades), perhaps class rank, and your school profile.

However, many colleges do include questions on their application about disciplinary history. For the Common Application, for example, there's a section that asks if you've been disciplined for a serious behavior infraction. If you're required to answer "yes" to this question, you will also have the opportunity to provide a brief explanation. This is your chance to explain the situation, express remorse, and demonstrate how you've grown and learned since then.

Keep in mind that admissions officers are aware that high school students make mistakes, and one mistake is likely not going to derail your entire application, especially if you've demonstrated personal growth since the incident.

Lastly, honesty is essential. If asked directly about disciplinary actions, make sure you are upfront and truthful. It would be much worse if a college were to discover that you lied on your application than to learn you had a disciplinary issue.

So, in short, while minor disciplinary actions may not automatically show up in your application materials in most cases, you might have to disclose them anyhow, depending on the application's questions. Transparency and expressing personal growth are key here.