How do colleges verify previous colleges attended, if they even do?

Question

Are they solely dependent on your disclosure of prior colleges attended or do they do some sort of background check?

I was a matriculated student for one semester back in '97, had discipline problems and was subsequently kicked out at the end of the semester. My grades were bad.

I have since taken a year's worth of classes at a local state college and have done fairly well. I took the classes for credit, but did not matriculate. I am in the process of applying to several schools for spring enrollment and feel disclosing the college I attended back in 1997 will hurt me.

Has anyone else ever had or currently has this problem? If I add the classes I took in 1997 my current gpa would be so reduced that I would not meet the minimum transfer entrance requirements for the colleges I am applying to now ( or really any college for that matter). If I do not mention the school I attended back in 1997, can current schools find out?

Thanks!

Answer 1

When you apply they usually will ask for copies of your transcripts to be sent or submitted. You can choose which schools you want to have listed. However to get financial Assistance they will check to see if you have loans out from other schools to determine if you qualify.

I would think more Ivy League schools would do some kind of check. Community Colleges don't usually.

Answer 2

Most colleges will rely on the transcripts that you have sent from the colleges that you have attended (and listed on your application). There is not "background check". Therefore, if you do not list the school and it is not somehow affiliated with the schools that you are applying to (eg not a part of the same college district), there shouldn't be a problem. However, if you do apply for financial aid and have received aid at the previous school, whether it is paid off or not, the timing of the loan could give away the fact that you attended a school not listed.