Academic Probation?

Question

I was accepted to one of the best schools overseas for my undergraduate education. When i moved to college, i was only 18 young and stupid; i was all about partying not going to my classes, playing sports and having fun. I was placed on academic probation 3 times and eventually expelled. I then was able to transfer to a different school but also a good school. I was able to graduate and i became more focused. I am 27 now back in the US and i am about to graduate with an MA and i have a GPA of 3.4 in graduate school. I want to apply to a PhD program and they ask if i have ever been placed on academic probation or expelled and they ask for explanation. Should i say the truth, or should i just say that i had some personal and emotional issues and embellish a little. Any ideas what to say ?

Answer 1

You tell the truth. They will very likely contact the other university and ask about it. If they think that you're lying or trying to cover up something, they may not admit you. By earning a BA and MA, you've shown that you have overcome the problems you had the first time. Be upfront about it, and you'll probably have no problems.

Answer 2

Tell the truth. I wound up on strict scholastic probation (I could have been expelled mid-semester) after my freshman year. Once I learned that I couldn't coast thru, the way I had in HS, I shaped up and eventually got a Ph. D. Your later work is much more important to a graduate school. BTW, I was never asked about my probation, just my grades.

Have you published anything? Even a short note goes a long way toward getting you into a doctoral program. Maybe something from your master's thesis ....