<p>so 4 years ago i was caught shoplifting and placed on probation...umm my records are sealed.. i learned from it i have excellent grades and test scores and i'm applying to top colleges.
many colleges asked "have u ever been arrested" or "have u ever been placed on probation"
i dont want to tell the truth because i'm afraid they will reject me, what should i do?? how often do they check backgrounds?</p>
<p>You will be cautioned to tell the truth. However, I am going to tell you to lie and say no. If your record is sealed, chances are huge that this offense will not see the light of day during your college application process.</p>
<p>if you tell them about it your not going to be accepted and if you lie but they find out your also not getting accepted.The second choice is probably better.</p>
<p>From all the cases I've heard of people saying "yes" and responding, they were all rejected. That's all I'll say...</p>
<p>i wouldn't. You have to lie this time.</p>
<p>thanks you all are awesome! I was planning on saying "no" anyway. I'll take a chance!! <em>keeping my fingers crossed</em></p>
<p>You might want to do a search on this subject and look at some other answers.</p>
<p>Yeah this question has been addressed before many times; but lie, lie, lie, your ass off! If the record is sealed they have absolutely no way of knowing.</p>
<p>its funny everyone is saying this...i wouldnt expect people on CC to be so willing to tell someone to lie lol</p>
<p>All I got to say is that they do a profile search...that's why they ask for your social security number.</p>
<p>But SS number is optional, no? (:</p>
<p>Its not really lying, per se. Its like when your lover asks you how many people you have been with, or "Have you done this before." Or the ubiquitous "Does this make me look fat?" It is more like embellishing the truth than lying.</p>
<p>oh joev. how you make me chuckle :)</p>
<p>I think this is one of those times when you have to risk it, because this could seriously keep you out of a lot of schools</p>
<p>Shoplifting FOUR years ago - what were you 12 or 13? - is not like committing murder or being ringleader of a drug cartel. </p>
<p>Consider this: if it did come out somehow - say someone who knew you alerted the school privately because they were jealous of you getting in - most of the top schools will automatically rescind your admission - not because of the original misdeed, but because you lied on the application. In some cases, top schools have even been known to rescind degrees after information such as this was not included on applications. When you sign the application, it clearly asks you to certify that you have told the truth and failing to do so is cause for the school to take action. </p>
<p>On the other hand, if you come clean now, explain what you learned, and how you did your probation, you will not have that possibility hanging over your head. </p>
<p>Yes, I know doing so means you might lessen your chances, but it also shows exactly what type of person you have become since the day you shoplifted. Only you can decide who that person is. Rather than ask for advice in a public forum such as this, I'd suggest you discuss this with your parents, your guidance counselor, a trusted teacher, a clergyman, and, if necessary, a lawyer. They're more likely to give you advice worth taking than a bunch of strangers who know nothing about you and who may not have your best interests at heart. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Sealed record means that NOONE CAN LOOK IT UP! Even in the crazy scenarios that Carolyn is describing, the people could not look it up. Never give ammunition to people to not give you what you want.</p>
<p>Again, this is something to discuss with a lawyer because the laws about sealed records actually vary from state to state. I also think it would be wise not to discuss issues such as this on a public forum, because people can and have identified people this way. This is an issue that the poster should discuss privately with his/her parents, guidance counselor and attorney.</p>
<p>I would advise the original poster to read what real college admissions officers have to say about this topic --- here is a link:
<a href="http://www.collegeconfidential.com/experts/index.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegeconfidential.com/experts/index.htm</a></p>
<p>Carolyn is correct. Private and sensitive issues such as arrest records should not be discussed in a public forum read by millions of people. Therefore, I am closing this thread with the warning to other posters to keep the public nature of this discussion board in mind.</p>