College Records/Submitting Transcript

[SpecialKC]

I'm a resident in the state of California.

I'm currently a student at a community college, in California, in good academic standing. Before my current community college I had attend another community college, also in california, with disastrous result, where it came to the point that I got dismissed for 2 years. Within that 2 years I'd decided to start fresh and attended my current community college without disclosing that I've attended a previous community college, so I basically started completely over. Most of the class I've taken at the previous community college was non-transferable. Two years has passed, and I have done well at my current community college and is now applying to a University (in california) and I'm not listing the first community college that I have attended. I'm wondering if the University would even know about that first community college that I've attended and would they even care, since I've done well at the second community college that I'm currently attending. Any helpful information will be greatly appreciate.

 

[ChimpMama]

College Records/Submitting Transcripts

Did you have federal student aid while at the first college? Are you planning to transfer any of the credits? If no, then I would present myself anonymously to an admissions counselor and explain that you hope for a fresh start with only the good grades transferred. If you got aid or plan to use any of the credits, then you may be out of luck. But I would ask the person who really knows but try to do so under the radar.

 

[SpecialKC]

Thank you for you response.
Yes, I did use Financial Aid at the first College. However, I'm planning to make a Federal Student Loan for the University I'm transfering to. Would that be a problem? I won't be transferring any credit from the first college to the University. I'm actually goint back to the first college to see if I can do an Academic Renewal or re-take some of those classes to bring my GPA back up so I'd be in good standing with them. Is applying for a Federal Student Loan the same as getting Federal Financial Aid?

 

[ChimpMama]

College Rules/Submitting Transcripts

Yes, if the money comes from the feds, whether loans or grants or whatever, it is considered Federal Student Aid. And there are rules that tie eligibility for fed dollars with academic progress. I do not fully understand when a person is considered to have maxed out on the money they can borrow or receive in grants if they fail to earn enough to credits, i.e. to move from freshman standing to sophomore, etc. These are questions that can best be answered by the financial aid office of your new school and by whatever office determines what credits should and can be transferred. My best advice is to do this right away so you can plan for the unexpected. Trying to improve your previous grades sounds like a great idea, but you may have to pay tuition and retake the classes. Good luck.

 

[dmalone]

Yes, the school will care... It is considered academic dishonesty if you leave off any previous educational history. I work in the Admissions office at a community college in Texas and about once a week we will have somebody from the financial aid office come over and tell us about a student who they show attended another school but we don't have it on their records. We will then place holds on all of the student's records until they complete an application addendum and meet with the registrar to discuss why the failed to list all of their educational history. As far as I know, we have never actually kicked somebody out for this, but legally we have every right to do so.

So just list the other school. You new school will not care. They will completely understand that bad things happen and students do get into a bind every now and then. It is a lot easier to deal with the situation now rather than wait any longer with possibly worse results. And most often, when you transfer to a University, they only transfer in hours, not grades. So even though you were suspended/dismissed from the original school, your GPA at your University will most likely start over.