<p>how does a public intoxication charge affect your graduate school chances at top schools given all the credentials are awesome?</p>
<p>Not an issue. Criminal charges are not generally part of the application process.</p>
<p>Fairly sure my program asked if you’d ever been convicted of a crime, and threatened to do a background check, (though I don’t think they ever did). Not that public intoxication is the worst crime ever, but read the wording on apps carefully cuz if they catch you lying, you’ll get thrown out.</p>
<p>Many universities require disclosure of previous felony convictions. Some ask for information about misdemeanors as well.</p>
<p>Be sure to mention them if asked on a form, but I assure you, in your particular case, a conviction will not have any impact whatsoever on admission.</p>