I got a detention last year for being late a few times too many. Does something like this count as disciplinary action that I need to report on my Common App? Not sure how strict they are with this section and I don't want to mess up my chances.
This is an excellent question and it's good that you're seeking clarity. The disciplinary action section of the Common App asks specifically for school disciplinary actions that resulted in a change of your educational setting. Typically, minor infractions like detentions for tardiness are not required to be reported, as they don't usually involve serious misconduct or result in significant consequences such as suspension or expulsion.
The purpose of this section is for colleges to understand if there were serious behavioral issues or violations of school policies. However, it’s important to note that schools value honesty, so if your detention was accompanied by a more serious disciplinary response or reported on your academic record, it's crucial to be truthful. If in doubt, you can always talk to your high school counselor to get insight into how your school reports disciplinary actions.
Remember, a single minor detention is unlikely to impact your college application negatively, especially if you’ve had no other issues. However, making a choice to not disclose a disciplinary action that is on record might raise concerns if discovered later. It is generally best practice to err on the side of transparency if there's any question about the nature of the incident.
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