If you’ve experienced the unpleasant business of being expelled as an undergraduate student, don’t look for the nearest cliff. It has happened to many a student, and you can recover from it; you can still get your college degree. However, you are going to have to apply yourself, like never before, to make it happen.
A Second Chance
It is not in the best interest of undergraduate programs to have it be known that they had to expel a student. After all, they are in the “business” of providing education. When a school loses a student, they also lose the associated income stream that would have been generated for the next four to five years. While most schools do have expulsion processes in order to maintain performance standards, they also tend to have an appeal process. If you are able to persuade the appeal review to grant you another chance, you might be allowed to stay on under a probationary status. But don’t fool yourself. Even if approved, appeals are heavily monitored and your academic performance will be held accountable.
Prove Yourself
Many expelled undergraduates have found it worthwhile to soldier on with their education at a junior college. Many of the basic preliminary classes are the same, and junior college credits for those classes count the same as those in a four-year college or university. Doing so will also provide you the platform to earn new good grades and reestablish yourself academically. Although you can’t erase the expulsion from your records, you can make a good argument for re-admittance to your old school or to a new school via completing a few years of general education requirements with high marks.
Work for Awhile
While skill or trade jobs may not be at the top of your list, there are plenty of ways to earn a few dollars that do not require a college degree. You could take a position in sales, construction or skill-trades, to name but a few. These positions can show your resilience to recover from an upset and reveal your tenacity to not give up when there’s a bump in the road. Establishing a few solid years of work experience speaks volumes when you are applying to a new college. It will also be a testament to your newfound maturity and how much you have learned from your prior mistakes.
Don’t Lie
You may be tempted to avoid mentioning your expulsion when you are trying to get into a new school. Don’t presume that you can hide it. What if you are lucky enough to get accepted to a program without revealing your expulsion? It will catch up to you. Colleges and universities share access of school records via databases. If your new school subsequently discovered that you had omitted required information and lied on your application, you could be immediately expelled again.
Ever Consider the Military?
If you would be willing to join the armed forces for a few years, you would make yourself a very attractive college candidate. In addition, you would then be eligible for the G.I. bill to help pay for college and you would receive special admission preference for having honorably served the country. Finally, when applying for positions, many organizations and governmental agencies will likely grant you additional points in the hiring process for being a U.S. military veteran.
Conclusion
Don’t let expulsion ruin your hopes of completing your degree. While you might find your new path to have some unexpected twists and turns, don’t lose sight of your goal. Continue to soldier on and prove your survivability and academic prowess. With this new maturity and persistence, you should be able to gain acceptance into your old school or into a new program within a few years again.
Sources:
LA Times: newspaper article: “RNC’s Michael Steel Recalls his College Expulsion and the P-Word”
Wisconsin State Government: report: “Alternatives to Expulsion: Case Studies of Wisconsin School Districts”
CollegeConfidential.com: article: “Ask the Dean – Next Step After Expulsion”