Application advice, arrest on record

[driftmanji]

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I'm looking for some advice in regard to applying, and any thoughts and insight would be appreciated. I would love to apply for the 2015 application cycle, but am considering waiting until 2016. My question is, do I even have a shot getting in anywhere? And what about this application cycle if I submit my app in early June?

I am a 4th year undergrad student, and was arrested back in August. I was eventually convicted of misdemeanor battery. Without going into too much detail, my friends and I were hosting a party and a guest of ours was very drunk and hostile, getting into the face of others for no reason. I confronted him about this, and he began yelling at me. He made an advancement towards me, and I reacted, punching him. The day after he pressed charges and I was arrested. I fought the charges the best I could, but my state does not have strong self defense laws, and I fell into a grey area of the law.

I was attending my university until this past October, when they decided to suspend me until next fall because of the incident. I have spent my first 6 semesters of school at my university, and am now at a community college for this spring semester taking 16 hours. I am planning on returning to my university in the fall to graduate. Since October I have been working 25 hours a week as an assistant and lab tech for a GP as well.

My stats:
3.6 o GPA
3.5 sGPA
22 AA, 21 TS, 23 PAT

-150 hours shadowing GP, Perio, and Ortho
-1 semester of research
~400 volunteer hours
- Lab tech/assistant position (9 months in June)
-25 hours/week of work all semesters
-Executive officer position in two clubs

-I also am very artistic and love to draw
-I work on and build cars in my free time

IL resident

Since my arrest and leaving school, I have tried to make the most out of a crappy situation by getting the lab/assistant position and getting back to school (although its just CC). I have learned more than a few life lessons through all of this, and I know I can write a fantastic PS because of it. I have also been speaking in highschool classrooms about violence since the incident.

Here is to hoping this isn't insurmountable. I appreciate any help offered.

 

[dieanotherday]

I'm not sure if anyone on sdn will have been in your situation so the best thing to do is contact admission officers from all the schools you plan to apply to and schedule an appointment to meet with them and explain your situation personally and try to get a feel for it. Have you spoken to a lawyer? That is really all I have.

 

[Glimmer1991]

Sometimes, I think it is better to e-mail than to call. That way, you are able to put everything out there in a genuine, sincere, and thorough manner. When having a verbal conversation with someone, it can be harder to do that at times. They can interrupt your story and make you lose your train of thought, you might forget details ,and your emotions might get the best of you.

I would write up a thorough e-mail explaining this situation. I would just lay out the facts. Don't be self-pitying, but convey that you are a good person, and that this was an isolated incident. If your punishment was not on-par with the severity of your actions (and from your description, it sounds like it was not), I'd try to convey that in a subtle manner. Express your sincere desire to attend dental school, and ask them what they think your best course of action would be. E-mail this to your top-choice schools and see what they say.

In your e-mail, you can say that if they would like to discuss this incident with you further, you would be more than happy to talk over phone or in-person. I would definitely begin with an e-mail, though. I find that they are generally more well-received and that you will receive more thorough answers by doing so. With an e-mail, you aren't putting anyone on the spot, and they have time to consider their answers.

I have actually helped members on this site write letters similar to this. I am good with words and writing professional e-mails. I know I'm a stranger, but if you'd like help (I know I would want help in this situation!), I can definitely help you craft your letter. Just send me a PM if you're interested.

Also, you have a really good resume. If not for this situation, I think you wouldn't have any trouble. Especially since this occurred so recently, though, I think you're going to face some problems. You want to be proactive and do as much damage control as you can. Like I said, I think I can help.

 

[gentlerwave]

I'm sorry to hear about the incident man. That is such a shame because the rest of your credentials seem very solid. I know that on aadsas, you have an option to list out criminal records and explain what happened. I'd recommend scheduling an appointment with people in the adcom of the schools you are applying to (if this is possible, otherwise a phone call will do). Since you are an IL resident, what school are you planning on applying?

 

[driftmanji]

dieanotherday: I have spoken to a lawyer, and a family member involved in politics and law. I can have the incident expunged from my record in two years, but I really do not want to put applying off until 2017. I'll still have the suspension on my transcripts, and I don't think I'd be able to avoid the incident that route either.

Glimmer1991: I appreciate the kind words, I think I will be shooting you a PM in the near future. It really is great that you'd go out of your way to help me like this, or any stranger for that matter!

Jttran: My top choice is UIC (UIUC is where I've gone for undergrad), but I'll be applying to SIU and Midwestern as well. OOS schools I'm looking at are Temple, UNE, Tufts, Boston, NYU, Louisville, Kentucky, Creighton, Marquette, Michigan, Detroit-Mercy, WesternU, USC, Roseman, and UConn. I'm trying to narrow the list down to 10.

I don't know if I should be looking at more schools with lower admissions standards, and if that would help me out in this case.

 

[gentlerwave]

Jttran: My top choice is UIC (UIUC is where I've gone for undergrad), but I'll be applying to SIU and Midwestern as well. OOS schools I'm looking at are Temple, UNE, Tufts, Boston, NYU, Louisville, Kentucky, Creighton, Marquette, Michigan, Detroit-Mercy, WesternU, USC, Roseman, and UConn. I'm trying to narrow the list down to 10.

If UIC is your top choice, I would strongly recommend you email or call Carolyn Feller to discuss this matter. Just present your case like you did on this thread so that you can hear her opinion about the issue. PM me if you need any additional help. I'm an incoming D-1 to UIC COD 🙂

 

[ktran17]

Even if you get expunged, on the secondary for most schools, they still ask you disclose all criminal activities, even if the files are closed. There really is no way getting around it unless you lie. However, just be truthful and just talked about how you learned about it in your personal statement.

 

[InspiredDDS]

Even if you get expunged, on the secondary for most schools, they still ask you disclose all criminal activities, even if the files are closed. There really is no way getting around it unless you lie. However, just be truthful and just talked about how you learned about it in your personal statement.

Not true.

 

[ktran17]

It depends on the school, because I remember certain secondaries stating that. You can believe me or not, but I'm way too lazy to go through all my secondaries just to verify this.

 

[cacajuate]

It depends on the school, because I remember certain secondaries stating that. You can believe me or not, but I'm way too lazy to go through all my secondaries just to verify this.

If the case is expunged, he could just say that he hasn't been arrested. There is no way for them to know.

 

[FeralisExtremum]

Even if you get expunged, on the secondary for most schools, they still ask you disclose all criminal activities, even if the files are closed. There really is no way getting around it unless you lie. However, just be truthful and just talked about how you learned about it in your personal statement.

They can ask all they'd like, but after having your record expunged you are not legally obligated to disclose the offense, even if asked directly about it.

 

[ktran17]

I'm not arguing that. I'm just saying this will happen and if you do not disclose your history, it is technically lying. Just hope they never find out.

The op will probably get away with it though .

 

[ramborhino]

OP, were you also drinking and is this in a police report? I think the assault charge will be an uphill but doable battle, but both would be a hard sell. I think if it's documented you had alcohol (the amount in a non-factor) in your system it will, unfortunately, make you look like a reckless drunkard.

 

[driftmanji]

I was not drinking, and the only documentation of alcohol was on the victim's part.

 

[cacajuate]

I was not drinking, and the only documentation of alcohol was on the victim's part.

Dude, it's expunged. Just never mention it.