Background Check

[needhelp1]

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Hello everyone,
I am a third year undergraduate student gearing up to apply this cycle. As with everyone else, I am trying to get everything in order (LORs, personal statement, DAT study materials, etc.). I currently have a 3.8 overall and around a 3.5 Sci GPA.

However, there is one thing I do not know what to do about. About a year and a half ago, I was charged with petty theft (under 8 dollars). I know it sounds terrible, but it truly does not reflect who I am. It was a complete mistake and lapse of judgement (probably due to heavy drinking that day). I regret what happened that day every single day.

I ended up being in a pretrial diversion program and got the charges dropped, but the arrest will still appear in background checks. I know certain schools do criminal background checks prior to admission and this is freaking me out. So my question is, should I go through the paper work to have this expunged? How will this affect my application? Does anyone else out there have a similar experience?

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate any and all input!

 

[davidius]

You should be fine. An arrest is not a conviction. You weren't convicted of anything so you are not guilty of anything. They only require that you list misdemeanors/felonies but those are convictions.

 

[needhelp1]

So, I do not need to list an arrest unless it lead to a conviction?