UPenn nursing school admissions question -- please help

RunawayN · Aug 29, 2010

The simple answer is "no" since you have not been put on probation or dismissed.

I have a similar story but I know that area is for actions like cheating or starting riots

Good

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Aug 29, 2010

Either I have read this story before on another thread OR your story is oddly similar with someone else's on here ... :uhoh3:

Hello everyone,
I am applying to UPenns ABSN nursing program that begins in September 2011. I have a question on my application which asks:
"Have you ever been placed on probation or dismissed by a secondary school or university, or incurred serious disciplinary action?"
At my undergraduate institution I got accused of falsely activating a fire alarm in my dormitory. I did not do this but was simply at the wrong place and the wrong time. There are many students who live in this dorm and it could have been anyone. However, at my school you don't have to be guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to get convicted (50% likelihood is all it takes). I had to write an essay and had to pay a fine to the school. I was not pub on probation, suspended, expelled, or anything of that nature. My transcript is the same as any other person's transcript and I was allowed to return to the school.
How should I answer this question as I do not want to ruin my chances of being admitted. Will Penn actually call every single school that I ever went to (high school and my 2 colleges)? No one is asking for a Deans Report or anything. I have never been in trouble for anything in my life and have always been a top student in high school and in college (3.85 gpa) plenty of leadership activities.
Thank your help,
Nick

You have three options:

(1) Disclose it. Because what IF you were supposed to and did not? Then you'd be caught in a lie and be in even more trouble than when you started (meaning at the very least that you won't get accepted). Someone once told me that disclosing discipline, dismissal or probation incidents don't automatically render you a denial of admission, but LYING about them DOES. Personal note: I was on academic probation my 1st semester undergrad, I have since disclosed and been accepted to schools. A stellar record of achievement more than likely overshadows small incidents such as yours anyway.

(2) Call UPenn and ask them anonymously whether your particular situation warrants disclosure. The admissions department would know ... and if they say YES, then you by all means follow (1) above.

(3) Call your undergrad institution and ask them if this incident was something you should worry about when answering this particular question. Additionally, ask them what kind of disciplinary report is given to other schools on your behalf. You want to know whether or not you have a clean record from the source.

It's pretty much that simple.

n1cktm · Aug 30, 2010

Thank you for your replies.

Paco69, I followed up on your advice and actually talked to a person at admissions today, she told me that as long as my transcript doesnt have any red flags on it or anything like that then I do not need to disclose this because Penn doesnt need a Dean's Statement or anything like that.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2010

Paco69, I followed up on your advice and actually talked to a person at admissions today, she told me that as long as my transcript doesnt have any red flags on it or anything like that then I do not need to disclose this because Penn doesnt need a Dean's Statement or anything like that.

That's awesome, THANKS for the update. Glad you have no worries going forward.

Good luck in the app process! I would have applied to UPenn myself had I not need to take general bio & retake chemistry (it's 5 years old this year, not worth taking over for one school, and seriously don't wanna go through it again, lol). All my other schools either don't require a chem prereq or don't time-limit it. As for gen bio, UPenn is the only school that wants it.

n1cktm · Aug 30, 2010

thank you :) I am actually glad that they request it because I don't have any prereqs done except for general bio/chem/psychology. I'd prefer to do all of my prereqs at the nursing school rather than spend my time taking classes here or there, I feel like it would provide more structure and I would spend the majority of my time in one school as opposed to several. NYU/UPenn are the only schools ate I am eligible to apply to as everything else requires anatomy & physiology and a bunch of other classes to be completed before I am allowed to enroll. The school where I am at now does not have a good nursing program at and the NCLEX pass rates are pretty low for first time takers. Not to mention its an expensive school. PENN has a no loans policy for people with family incomes that fall below a certain threshold so I think I'd have a good chance of going there for free on grants/scholarships/work study. NYU should be deadfully expensive even for poor people though