What are my chances...

[throwaway102024]

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I am a junior accounting major taking the pre-reqs for dental school. I will take the DAT in March. I currently have a 4.0 GPA, 3.9 sGPA, over 150 shadowing hours with 2 overseas mission trips with a dental focus. I have lots of extracurriculars. Here's the problem.... as a sophomore I got an MIP... and the summer between sophomore and junior year I was arrested for trespassing and resisting arrest. It's not as bad as it sounds... I was walking back to a bar to retrieve my debit card and walked through a construction site to get there. Police were waiting on the other side.. when they said 'under arrest' I panicked and ran a few steps.. stopped on my own.. but they added resisting anyway. I participated in a diversion program... paid court costs and did community service. My records were expunged. I know I will be asked on my application if I have ever participated in a diversion program and I plan on being completely honest. I just hope I haven't screwed up my chances. I really am a good person.. just made some dumb mistakes. Oh, I also voluntarily participated in a weekly alcohol education program for about two months after my arrest. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Toothout]

Rock the DAT and you should be fine as long as you are completely honest about your misdemeanor.

 

[ljcesar]

I also think you should be good. Just remember it will come back up during your interview so be prepared to talk about it. Also double check that it actually has been expunged by running a state police background check on yourself. If it shows up it hasnt been expunged and schools will decide not to take you as that would make getting licensed to practice difficult. Most people dont know this but just because something is eligible to be expunged doesnt mean it happens automatically. In most states You have to petition the court to push the expungement through once you have completed the probation and diversion program. If you know a thing or two about the court system you can file the paperwork yourself, otherwise pay an attorney to do it for you.

 

[throwaway102024]

I also think you should be good. Just remember it will come back up during your interview so be prepared to talk about it. Also double check that it actually has been expunged by running a state police background check on yourself. If it shows up it hasnt been expunged and schools will decide not to take you as that would make getting licensed to practice difficult. Most people dont know this but just because something is eligible to be expunged doesnt mean it happens automatically. In most states You have to petition the court to push the expungement through once you have completed the probation and diversion program. If you know a thing or two about the court system you can file the paperwork yourself, otherwise pay an attorney to do it for you.

I paid an attorney to file the paperwork. I received the court documents stating the records were expunged a couple of weeks ago. I do plan on getting a background check just to see if it's really gone. I think there are different background checks that schools can do.. I know some legal issues will make getting a license more difficult. I'm just hoping this mistake won't last a lifetime.

 

[Toothout]

I paid an attorney to file the paperwork. I received the court documents stating the records were expunged a couple of weeks ago. I do plan on getting a background check just to see if it's really gone. I think there are different background checks that schools can do.. I know some legal issues will make getting a license more difficult. I'm just hoping this mistake won't last a lifetime.

Even if it doesn't appear in the BC that you'll do, you must be honest about it in the app. Just in case their BC does find your misdemeanor.
Just put yourself in a good light and talk mostly about what you learned from it.
They'll probably won't care about it.

 

[ljcesar]

Its always good to check yourself and make sure things are done right! and as CallMeDoct said, just put a positive spin on the situation and mention how it impacted your life and what you learned from it, and how learning from your mistakes has made you a better person! be truthful and honest and all will be good.