<p>This pertains to graduate/medical/law school admissions:
Does an applicant have an obligation to report a DUI charge, before the case is resolved? If the DUI is reduced to a lesser conviction that is not a misdemeanor, should it be reported? If the charge is purged due to a pre-trial intervention program, what then?</p>
<p>A criminal background check will eventually reveal the charge and resultant outcome. But hopefully the outcome will be either a traffic violation or pre-trial intervention.</p>
<p>I’m not an atty, but wouldn’t an honest answer depend on the question?
If they ask “Have u ever been convicted of…” is different than “Have u ever been charged with…”
and so on.</p>
<p>One would think, but he doesn’t want to get in trouble later on for withholding information if the charges show up on the background check (they will). On the other hand, he doesn’t want to disclose damning information if it’s not required.</p>
<p>I don’t really have an answer, but I agree that you have to look at how they phrase the question on the application. The general consensus on law school apps is that it will come out when you go for the bar exam anyway. If you have not disclosed something that existed at the time of your application it will not be looked at favorably. From what I hear the applications are very specific on what should be disclosed including traffic violations. </p>
<p>I would say it is best to call the specific school, even if you do it anonymously and get your answer directly from them.</p>
<p>If you do disclose it you should also write an addendum explaining the situation, what you learned from it, how you are going to fix it etc.</p>
<p>A lawyer once told me that it depends on the question on the application. It makes a difference if the application asks if you’ve ever been arrested or ever been convicted. Most applications ask about convictions, but applications where security clearances may be necessary will likely ask about arrests as well.<br>
As others have said, it’s prudent to be honest since a background check would reveal the truth anyway.</p>
<p>If someone is successful getting a DUI purged, let me know about it! Most of the people I know with DUI charges do not get them removed. Due to MADD and some other things, states are extremely strict about DUIs, even the lowest level ones/first offenders. Good chance that it will stay on your record. A very large percentage of drivers have a DUI on their record, believe it or not. I don’t know the facts of your kid’s situation, but I would be afraid not to disclose (and I tend to advocate NOT disclosing if at all possible).</p>
<p>AAMC rules are explicit: all felony or misdemeanor convictions must be reported in writing to all medical schools where the student has submitted an application within 10 days of case resolution. This includes guilty and no contest pleas and diversion programs which later expunge the original violation. Applicants must disclose a conviction even if the record has been sealed or occurred when the applicant was still a minor.</p>