<p>Hi there, my 24 year old son who is an A student, never been in any kind of trouble before, served in the army and, apart from this one time, a truly law-abiding citizen, did a very silly thing. He drove home after having a couple drinks (which he should never have done) and now has a DUI conviction. We are in California.</p>
<p>He is currently attending a CC and is about to apply to universities as a transfer student. My questions is this..... on his college application should he admit to the DUI and write a letter acknowledging how sorry he is (which he really is) and how he has learned his lesson and will never do anything like this again? He has an attorney and his next hearing is in a few weeks. He has a one year driving ban. </p>
<p>If he doesn't own up to it, are they likely to run checks and find out anyway? Obviously I don't want him to get deeper in trouble.</p>
<p>I know these questions may sound silly, but are beside ourselves with worry and would very much appreiciate any feedback or advice.. </p>
<p>There will be a place for your son to disclose any issues like this. He must be honest in all instances. He will be able to give a personal statement on the application as well where he can speak of his deep regret. I would not recommend that he use this as a topic for an essay. Given his military service I’m sure he has a unique perspective and voice to offer. He should use these essays to show positive and unique things about himself.</p>
<p>Colleges do not run criminal checks on their applicants. Application fees would be much higher if they did. Schools do run a factual spot check on randomly selected applications–by doing so they hope to convince applicants to not lie on their applications. But again, I’m sure there are no criminal background checks.</p>
<p>However, if there is a place on the application to disclose felonies, etc. and he should answer the question truthfully. If the application doesn’t ask, don’t tell.</p>
Was he underage at the time? Because it takes more than “a couple of drinks” to reach 0.08 BAC. And it wasn’t a “silly thing”. It was a stupid dangerous thing. And I say that as someone who has been there and done that.</p>
<p>He should fill out his applications truthfully.</p>
<p>Be honest and remorseful. Being 24 with military service it will likely be viewed as part of his unique history. </p>
<p>If it came up sometime during his college years and he didn’t list it on his application it would likely be viewed as a very present dishonesty and perhaps breaking of the schools honor code and subject to applicable disciplinary action.</p>
<p>ginab, I gather you are a student–please be aware that such distinctions are jurisdictional by state. The law where you live is not necessarily the law of the state where the OP’s son resides. But good that you are aware of what your law is!</p>
<p>OP, your son should answer the question for each application. Some colleges only ask about felony convictions and not misdemeanors. Someone quoted the Common App above which is used by some colleges and that asks about misdemeanors and felonies. He should truthfully answer on each application and give any detail that is required/asked for in the space provided.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your answers and for all your help. I’m just so scared this will ruin his chances - it just happened this past June so we’re right in the midst of it - it’s a real nightmare. </p>
<p>Sylvan, I wasn’t asking for a lecture or a moral viewpoint. Do you really think I’m proud or that I condone what my son did? Trust me, I’m beside myself. Silly vs stupid… it’s the same thing. My question was about how best to approach his college applications and I’m really grateful for everyone who has given constructive help in that direction.</p>
<p>I have one more question… if anyone has been through this already, did it cause many rejections?</p>
<p>Again, thank you all so much for all your help.</p>
No, silly is “he ran across the football field in the buff” or “he went on a panty raid in the girl’s dorm”. I just find your inclination to minimize it in your description rather disturbing. </p>
<p>In reality, it isn’t likely to have much effect on his applications. This kind of thing happens to a lot of people. I would not dwell on it. Answer the questions with the facts and leave it at that.</p>
<p>Sylvan, I’m sorry to say this, but I find you rather disturbing and you’re being extremely pedantic - maybe we just went to different schools in different countries and learned different vocabulary. Not once have I minimized my son’s actions. Obviously these two words have extremely different meanings to you, but then again, this wasn’t meant to be an English class.</p>
<p>Words are very important to how we perceive things. You want to know how admissions personnel making decisions about your son will perceive this set of events. If he uses “minimizing” words in his explanations, he may be seen as not taking it all that seriously.</p>
<p>To the original poster, I think sylvan has a point, and if English is not your first language, this is an important nuance that matters to admissions. You son’s attitude has to be that this was an action that was stupid, not thought out, one that could have had serious consequences. He has to understand the gravity of the error and not minimize it. Sillly is a word that should never be used in the same sentence as DUI. Because it is not a silly mistake. And ADMISSIONS COUNSELORS will understand the difference. It could be the difference between an accept and a deny.</p>
<p>Let your son take ownership of the mistake. If he does he will have no problems getting accepted. If it is referred to as a silly mistake, it is not taking ownership of it’s seriousness. </p>
<p>Sorry, I DO NOT MEAN TO DWELL on this or make you feel bad. But in this context, silly is a word that should not be used. Really.</p>
<p>If your son is mature, has the grades and the scores, this event will likely not hold him back, esp since he was 23/24 and not 16. His military experience will also be a plus.</p>
<p>OP, you obviously are not minimizing the seriousness of the situation, as evidenced by your concern. </p>
<p>However, some posters are conveying how your wording came across to them. Suggesting that they are ignorant or can’t speak English doesn’t change the fact that you most certainly do not want anyone who matters - i.e. not posters on here, but admissions counselors, employers, etc. - to have the same perceptions. The upshot is that if your son has to explain this, he has to choose his words carefully, as sunnyflorida suggests.</p>
<p>I appreciate all your help and advice and have taken it all on board and feel encouraged by your comments. </p>
<p>It was not my intention to imply that anyone was ignorant or couldn’t speak English… in fact I meant that I am the one coming from a different country. Indeed, English is very much my first language, having been born in England and having a BA in English… and yes, sometimes people from the US and the UK do use different words. I am horrified by what my son has done; to have said that he had been “rather silly” would have been trivializing his actions; to say that he had been “very silly” to me means the same as stupid. I apologize if I have offended anyone, however, when I wrote my post I had NO idea that one word could possibly have caused such a misunderstanding. As I said, I didn’t want a moral lecture (I am already only too aware of the implications and the severity of my son’s actions) only some advice which you have all kindly given me. </p>
<p>My son is truly sorry for what he has done (thankfully there wasn’t an accident) and of course will chose his words carefully… whatever he writes will, I know, be revised several times before it is submitted. This post was just coming from me as his worried mum and I didn’t feel this was the right forum to speak about how upset and devasted I am by what has happened (but now, here I am talking about it.) My son has truly learned a huge lesson, never to be forgotten or repeated.</p>
<p>Sometimes we, as parents, panic so much and just feel like we’re going in circles not knowing where to turn or what to do for the best. </p>
<p>Thanks again to you all or all your help and advice.</p>
<p>Applied to a top 10 engineering school with a DUI and got in without a problem.</p>
<p>I kept mine short; I just included when I was sentenced and when I completed met the terms of sentencing and probation (and what those were). I did not specify that it was a dui (they will probably ask if it was recent… if it was several years ago then they may not…mine did not). It’s not a show stopper; most admissions people know that young people make mistakes.</p>
<p>You should also look into expungement which is available after a few years unless it happened in michigan or alaska (permanent). Jobs are harder to get and travel is restricted (example- he’s banned from canada)…I think most people who have the means have it expunged at some point.</p>
<p>I didn’t think the OP minimized the situation, but I would agree–and this is for anybody facing this kind of situation–that you should be careful in characterizing what happened. Actually, I would go beyond what sunnyflorida said, and I wouldn’t use the words “mistake” or “error.” I would refer to it along the lines of “I did something I very much regret.”</p>