Is there a system in place that tracks what schools you previously attended?

Question

I would like to start fresh due to bad grades at a previous school, but is there a computer system in place that tracks where you went to school previously? I certainly hope not, as I am much more mature and ready for school now that I'm 25.

Answer 1

No, there is no such system. If you do not have your transcripts submitted from a former school to the school you are applying to enter and (because) you are not trying to receive credit for previous work, then there is no way for the new school to tell you have attended another college. You are simply applying to become a new student like any other new applicant. In submitting your college enterance examination scores (SAT, ACT, or TOEFL) for both times of applying, the testing organization will know you have formerly applied but they don't know if you were admitted. There is no reason to tell a college or university that you have formerly attended another school unless you want and are applying for advanced standing or as a transfer student. It is not an ethical issue at all. It doesn't matter.

Answer 2

Its pretty much an honor system! Usually they ask if you have attended school elsewhere and they get your transcript. Read your new schools academic code and see what it says. You might be able to get out of it be saying yes you attended school, but that you didnt earn credit. For the most part its not that big of a deal. I had some horrible grades from my fresh/ sophmore year of college; when I went to grad school (the top for my field in the country) they pretty much asked what I had learned from that "experience". When I gave them a valid answer, they were cool with it. Just don't lie on anything-- that is much much worse at that academic level.

Answer 3

There is a "quasi system" in place. For example, if you've gotten financial aid from that other school, they might find out that old school when you apply for financial aid at the new school. But there's no formal system for finding out where you went to school. On the application, they'll ask and will require transcripts from those places. But 9 times out of 10, if you don't tell them, they won't know.

Answer 4

The schools you went to have your records so yeah, I guess there is a system...

But it shouldn't matter as long as you portray yourself as a responsible and ready-to-learn student. After all, if you are 25, you cannot be compared to your 17 year old self. You are supposed to have matured so the new school shall treat you that way.

Don't worry.