* School disciplinary actions: Serious disciplinary actions, like suspensions or expulsions, are often reported on your high school transcript or may be disclosed in a recommendation letter. These are significant and will likely negatively impact your application.
* Recommendations: Teachers and counselors writing letters of recommendation might mention your character and behavior if it's relevant to your application, either positively or negatively. For example, a teacher might highlight your leadership and responsible behavior in a club, or a counselor might address a serious incident that required intervention.
* Self-reporting: Some college applications have sections where you might be asked to self-report disciplinary actions or other significant events. Honesty here is crucial. Omitting something significant can be grounds for revocation of admission even if discovered later.
* Essays: Your personal essay is an opportunity to address challenges or experiences that have shaped you. If you've had disciplinary issues, you can potentially use this space to demonstrate self-reflection and growth. However, this requires a sensitive and mature approach.
In summary, while there's no formal "conduct report," colleges indirectly learn about your behavior through various avenues. Maintaining good conduct throughout high school is generally beneficial for your application, while serious infractions could significantly hurt your chances.