So. Seven years ago I flunked out of college spectacularly. The usual story, wasn't ready, wasn't mature enough, and had depression on top of that.
Cut to the present. I've gone back to college (community college for now, going to transfer to a four-year after that) and all is going well, hoorah.
I'm applying for a scholarship that requests all previous college transcripts but, unlike most scholarships I've applied for to date, does not have any space for "tell us miscellaneous data you want us to know", which is where I would normally explain why I flunked out years ago. It does require an essay. I could possibly try to work the information in there. I'm just worried it will sound awkward. ("My career goals are blah blah, I can't wait to get a job involving blah, and BTW don't worry about the flunking thing I won't do that again olol!"
Should I just turn in my old transcript without referring to it, assuming they'll see it was 7 years ago? Try to work it into the essay? Just not turn in my old transcript? (I'm afraid to do this, though.)
Posts
I think the fact that there is an essay is an excellent opportunity for you to show that you're capable of learning from your mistakes. Taking responsibility for your previous performance, and stating how you're going to improve/avoid that in the future shows both honesty and maturity, and that may weigh in your favour. Something in the style of "This is what I tried before, and this is why I failed. Here are the mistakes I made, and here's how I plan to avoid making them again."
In that case it may just be wise to attach a seperate piece of paper containing your explanation. Attach it to the transcript. I don't think you have anything to lose doing that. Either they're not interested in an explanation and will ignore it, or you'll get your information across. Just keep it short and to the point.
"Seven years ago, I flunked out of college because of BLAH BLAH and have regretted it ever since because it prevented me from realising my dreams of BLAH BLAH BLAH" etc.
How many people do you think would try and hide this fact? You are flirting with the idea.
So I would assume that there are at least a few people who actually go through with it (the omission) for every person that decides to man-up. Working the fact that you are admitting your mistakes, explain what caused it, and what you've learned from it could work pretty well.
I find that people are usually impressed when you admit your shortcomings and analyze how you can overcome them.
Weaboo List
Write about it, be honest, and don't hide shit.
The recent discussion on reusing essays/academic dishonesty has got me wondering . . . Would it be academically dishonest to tailor this essay a little and use it as an entrance essay when I start applying to four-year colleges?
In college, my wife used one paper for three different classes in the same semester (english for science majors, tropical ecology, and evolutionary biology; it was about bats in costa rica). I was rightly jealous of her. In that case, she did need to ask permission since it was for three classes during the same semester and some times teachers can be assholes about that kind of thing. Since it was written for the graduate level class, she actually ended up dumbing it down for the other two so it wasn't exactly the same piece of work.
Murphy's Paradox: The more you plan, the more that can go wrong. The less you plan, the less likely your plan will succeed.