Can colleges revoke admissions offers? What behaviors can cause this, and how can students protect themselves?
It’s the time of year again. No, not tax time. I’m referring to senoritis. The time of year when senior year high school students start getting 
acceptance letters to college and then, promptly, start slacking off in school. It’s tempting, I know. They already got into college, why bother with maintaining grades or doing homework? One important reason is to avoid getting your acceptance REVOKED by your college!
Colleges can, indeed, revoke admissions offers. Typical reasons for withdrawing a college’s acceptance offer include:
- Failing grades or a dramatic drop in grades/GPA
- Dropping AP or Dual Credit classes
- Submitting false information on your application
- Submitting someone else’s college essays
- Failure to submit all required paperwork on time (final transcript, official scores, etc)
- Disciplinary actions from school, such as drug possession or suspension
- Criminal action or investigation with the police
Sure, some of these seem extreme. Certainly your kid isn’t going to suddenly get caught up with the “wrong crowd” and get arrested, right? Unfortunately, this does happen. Usually, it’s during prom season or over the summer when kids are feeling more “free” and then take more risks.
Students who mistakenly believe they are IN with the college of their choice drop challenging classes or stop turning in homework. After all of their hard work and pressure, they feel as if they have accomplished their goals and don’t realize that they might be jeopardizing their futures.
Getting into college IS an achievement, but don’t let lapses in judgment or laziness threaten that.
