Solid candidate with huge blemish

[funemail101]

My questions is somewhat unusual compared to the normal questions on here. I have a 740 GMAT score, a 3.5 undergrad GPA from a top 25 undergrad, a solid position in my target field out of college for the past 5 years and a huge problem.

When I was a freshman, I was suspended in my first semester for the entire semester for getting into a drunken fight on campus. I have no criminal record and no other blemishes, but the suspension is on my transcript. It's been almost a decade at this point, and I still wonder whether its even worth it at all to apply to grad school as I'll probably get shuffled to the bottom of the pile regardless of scores or GPA. My understanding is that ethical violations are a huge concern, but I have a bad feeling that any hint of responsibility for violence is an instant black list. Is it worth trying to apply or is the possibility of getting into a decent program so slim that its a waste of my time?

Frankly, I don't know if its worth the embarrassment and the eventual questions that arise from getting denied from a lower tier school after asking for recommendations from my best references.

Thanks for your help.

[rachel]

Hi! If you have a challenge that is part of your academic or legal record, we always say it is best to openly address it, not just in your short answer section, but also in your optional essay. Be completely honest about what happened and let the Admissions Committee know how you have grown and what you learned from the experience. This does not mean that you should get into the every last detail, but be honest.

Best of luck,

Rachel Beck
http://www.mbamission.com

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