Admitting to arrest on an application

[Student4Life0]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello all,

I am having a bit of an issue with my grad school applications. I have started to fill out the apps for clinical psyd/phd programs, and quite a few of them ask if I have ever been arrested and convicted. Unfortunately, I have a DUI charge from almost three years ago. I did the classes, went to court, etc etc and was told that after a year of finishing the classes, it would be "off my record." Will admitting to this arrest hurt my chances of acceptance? Will most schools bother to do a background check? How can I approach this?

Thanks!

 

[deleted176373]

Hello all,

I am having a bit of an issue with my grad school applications. I have started to fill out the apps for clinical psyd/phd programs, and quite a few of them ask if I have ever been arrested and convicted. Unfortunately, I have a DUI charge from almost three years ago. I did the classes, went to court, etc etc and was told that after a year of finishing the classes, it would be "off my record." Will admitting to this arrest hurt my chances of acceptance? Will most schools bother to do a background check? How can I approach this?

Thanks!

1. It's never "off your record", but that's a nice lie they use to get compliance.

2. Many schools won't do a background check, but would you want to get caught lying on an application?

3. Yes, it won't help your chances. Doesn't mean it will necessarily hurt them either. Depends on the POI and the school. At some schools it could completely tank your app and at others it will be looked at in context.

Good luck.