HELP! questions on Criminal record-misdemeanor

[forhonly]

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Hi all. I have in my record a misdemeanor conviction a few years back (non-violent or drug issues if that matters) and will be applying to medical school this year...I'm thinking of applying only to schools that do not ask a blanket statement to the effect of "Have you ever been convicted of ANY criminal offense?" cause I really do not feel comfortable explaining all the confusing circumstances that led to the conviction. I'm particularly interested in finding out if this question appears on the application for top private schools like Harvard (I already knew the answer for my state school). I figured I would post here instead of the pre-allo forum cause you guys all have seen a fair number of applications. Any comment would be very much appreciated!

 

[Sessamoid]

Be up front and explain it. Follies of youth are largely excused in medical school applications, as long as they are not egregious. What is not excused is lying to try getting into medical school.

Learn from Watergate (I know, probably well before your time). It wasn't so much that they bugged the Democrats that forced Nixon to leave office. It was that he knew about it, was complicit, and actively tried to cover up the incident. It wasn't that he did something bad, it's that he lied about it. Ditto with Clinton.

 

[longshot99]

I started a similar thread a few weeks ago. I am in the same situation with public drunkeness and disorderly conduct on my record. I found that Hopkins, Dartmouth, Maryland, and Jefferson asked that blanket statement on the secondaries and I plan on being honest. While several people have told me not to give up hope, I am not very confident about my chances at these schools and am saving these secondaries for last. Good luck.