Do U.S. universities have a way of finding out if you attended another college/university?

Question

I took one class at a community college that I tried to drop, but the teacher wouldn't let me and ended up with a 'F' grade. It is the only class that I took at that school. This would mean a serious blow to my g.p.a. I'm attempting to transfer schools. If I don't send the transcript, can they find out you went to another school? Is this going to seriously hurt my chances of being accepted to a school?

Answer 1

I don't think one class at a community college should make much of a difference to a school. You might just want to be totally upfront with them, but explain the situation on your application or interview. I'm sure it's nothing they haven't seen before.

Answer 2

I don't think there's any requirement that you report other courses that you took. Most people do just because they want to transfer credits.

When I applied to grad school they asked questions about a couple of undergrad courses that showed up as things I'd transferred from one school to another. When I told them that I was fine with ignoring those courses (as far as we could find out, the school doesn't exist anymore), they dropped it.

You're right. They consider your total GPA for graduating with honors, getting some forms of aid, and other things. Read the application, especially the legal stuff by where you sign it. If it doesn't say that you're required to report all courses, leave this out. You have to tell the whole truth about who you are, whether you really graduated from high school, test scores and things like that but this is much more of a gray area.

Answer 3

Well, technically speaking, is it even a transfer of schools if you only took one course and don't even intend to transfer the credits?
Call the admissions office of the school you are applying to and ask if you should apply as a transfer or a freshman.

Answer 4

Their are companies that will do research for your college grades, however college admissions does not and will attempt to research your past.

The cost is enormous. You must now make a decision as to your honesty and integrity. If its just one grade, I would report it. Keep in mind however that the only grades transferrable are ones that they will accept towards their degree program.

However if you feel that this might deny yourself the opportunity that you have worked for through a correction of personal choice through attitude of your personal past (in terms of grade performance), do not !!