<p>I just heard about a senior (athletic recruit) who is already "in" at an Ivy League school (likely letter), and he has no less than 5 arrests under his belt. Does this school know and not care? Or do they not know?</p>
<p>Believe me, I am not considering blowing the whistle on this kid, but I really wonder -- do schools do a background check on applicants? Or are they prohibited or not able to do so?</p>
<p>Or is there something every student signs (wasn't an issue with my child) that states: "I have not been arrested in the past year"?</p>
<p>Is there a point at which schools should investigate an applicant? </p>
<p>Especially if the prior arrests show that the person was or could be a danger to others?</p>
<p>Most college applications ask the question of criminal record - my guess is he will have to say yes to this answer when he finally fills out the application. I can’t guess what the college will do at that time.</p>
<p>No, “accepted” and “arrested” are not mutually exclusive and I think you’re going way too deep here assuming some kind of conspiracy or coverup.</p>
<p>For one, we have no idea what those arrests are for. Pot? Drunk driving? Murder? Civil disobedience? Unpaid traffic tickets? An arrest for disorderly conduct (“contempt of cop”) is qualitatively different than an arrest for assault.</p>
<p>Applicants do have to declare arrests/convictions, but that is not an automatic bar to admission - nor should it be.</p>
<p>If he has a likely letter, that means he has already established a relationship/has been recruited by a coach, who presumably has done due diligence into this student’s history and is comfortable recruiting him anyway.</p>
<p>I want to further note that we are in a society that considers people innocent until proven guilty, and simply being arrested is not a sure indicator of a person’s criminality. “Probable cause” for an arrest is a far different legal standard than “beyond a reasonable doubt” for a conviction.</p>
<p>You’re thinking of blowing the whistle on this kid? I don’t mean to be rude but It’s not really your buisness… Especially when it comes to someones education! Everyone has a story, I don’t think you should judge.</p>
<p>^thanks for the self-correct Georgia – saves me a post. </p>
<p>No – I would never step into this – not my place at all.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure the arrests were all DUIs according to the person who told me. It’s not like it means they aren’t still good at their sport or eligible in every other way to attend this school. I just wondered procedurally if there was a mechanism to catch this kind of thing. And in a different case, if the arrests were assaults or something that indicates a dangerous personality, I would hope the school would know about it before they admit. </p>
<p>I think what I’m hearing is that there is no airtight way for schools to know about arrests if the student chooses to not admit them on an application.</p>
<p>Disciplinary History
a Have you ever been found responsible for a disciplinary violation at any educational institution you have attended from the 9th grade (or the international equivalent)
forward, whether related to academic misconduct or behavioral misconduct, that resulted in a disciplinary action? These actions could include, but are not limited
to: probation, suspension, removal, dismissal, or expulsion from the institution. Yes No
Have you ever been adjudicated guilty or convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, or other crime? Yes No
[Note that you are not required to answer “yes” to this question, or provide an explanation, if the criminal adjudication or conviction has been expunged, sealed,
annulled, pardoned, destroyed, erased, impounded, or otherwise ordered by a court to be kept confidential.]
If you answered “yes” to either or both questions, please attach a separate sheet of paper that gives the approximate date of each incident, explains the circumstances, and
reflects on what you learned from the experience.
Note: Applicants are expected to immediately notify the institutions</p>
<hr>
<p>It looks like they don’t ask about arrests.</p>
<p>“I just heard about a senior (athletic recruit) who is already “in” at an Ivy League school (likely letter)”
The Ivy’s haven’t sent out likely letters yet. Ivy recruits wont get that “official” letter until the Fall. The student may have been told he is the coaches #1 pick and that he will get him in using one of his tips[ I’m assuming he has the SAT scores and stats to meet the AI] , but he has no guarantee until the Admissions office gives its official blessing.</p>
<p>On a side note a lot of colleges go through several hoops to ensure they get a certain athlete. One of my close friends in high school was recruited by a big SEC school for a big SEC sport (trying to keep him anonymous). The coach (the reason for anonymity) told him that his GPA could of been a 0.0 and they still would have accepted him to play on there team, needless to say if it weren’t for his sport he would have been completely under-qualified for the school he is at know.</p>
<p>He also had the school staff pick the easiest classes with the easiest teachers for him so he could coast through his education while primarily focusing on his sport.</p>
<p>LLs don’t generally go out til mid Oct and after…
so I doubt anyone is holding a LL right now without an application etc
As for HYP–the FULL application , SAT scores and essays, LORs etc etc is submitted for review by admissions before the LL can be issued. It is not done afterwards…</p>
<p>I would be pretty disappointed for any school to accept a kid with multiple convictions…
as for speculation…arrests for DUI would also be underage drinking offenses and in our state the kid wouldn’t be in school…</p>
<p>^definitely could be the case. The student is a top athlete, and legacy, and grades and scores are excellent, but beyond that, the rest of it could all be someone’s negative spin on a shred of a story. </p>
<p>The person who told me about the arrests seemed very knowledgable, but who knows what the truth is? I think I’ll take the whole thing with a big grain of salt.</p>
<p>Schools can back out of likely letters. They aren’t done deals. GPA may be a factor, as well as the pool of other attractive athletes in his sport. And we don’t know what the arrests were for - if there really were any.</p>
<p>I personally have a hard time imagining someone so undisciplined as to get five arrests, being able to make it academically at an Ivy league school. This will all sort out, IMO.</p>
<p>Really? Around here judges want to make sure they stay in school. Some have anklets monitoring their travels, but staying in school is a biggie they want to see.</p>
<p>“multiple DUIs” would bring HUGE HUGE penalties in our state…
even a first DUI … would bring horrible consequences and for it to be an "underage’ offender…</p>
<p>Glad it isn’t my kids</p>
<p>and yes IMHO
given the scarcity of LLs for top athletes…
no coach in his/her right mind would take on a scholar-athlete who is a loose cannon</p>
<p>This sounds like gossip the OP would be smart not to repeat. Not sure what state this is, but in our state after two DUIs the student’s butt woud be in jail for some period of time regardless of who the daddy and mommy are, that’s just the way it works. One DUI might get pled down but a second, not likely. Even if the kid were in trouble five times many of them could be civil infractions which aren’t required to be reported or happened as a juvenile and are expunged.</p>
<p>Being “arrested” even a hundred times does NOT mean you have a criminal record. </p>
<p>Arrested and convicted are two very different things. </p>
<p>Anyone can be arrested for anything simply on the word of a out-of-control policeman. Then the justice system involves itself. And that is why colleges and employers are only legally allowed to ask about felony convictions.</p>
<p>BTW, Did you know that when you are stopped by a cop for any reason, even while walking down the street, you are technically “under arrest” until he gives you permission to leave? I bet that is news to you.</p>