College Application Question.

Applying to College
1

<p>I have to notify my universities about a misdemeanor: the charge was "hit/run failure to stop property damage." (no injuries occurred only car damages) </p>

<p>The case was dismissed because of medical reasons. By the way, I was not arrested, did not have to pay a fine, plead not guilty, just show up at court explain my situation and District attorney dismissed the case.</p>

<p>Now when I read these questions on college application:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Have you been convicted of a crime?</p></li>
<li><p>Have you entered a plea of guilty, a plea of no contest, a plea of nolo contendere, or an Alford plea, or have you received a deferred prosecution or prayer for judgment continued, to a criminal charge?</p></li>
<li><p>Have you otherwise accepted responsibility for the commission of a crime?</p></li>
<li><p>Do you have any criminal charges pending against you?</p></li>
<li><p>Have you ever been expelled, dismissed, suspended, placed on probation, or otherwise subject to any disciplinary sanction by any school, college, or university?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>From my side, all the answers are no. </p>

<p>Now my questions:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>How should I mention this case? (I have to be truthful) should I just write a letter to the university describing my case?</p></li>
<li><p>How serious are DISMISSED misdemeanors to a university admission?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Any comments are welcome, thank you for your help!</p>

2

<p>IANAL, but based on what you have written, agree answer to all 5 is no.</p>

<p>Up to you now if you think your schools code of student conduct, honor code, etc. requires you to report it. If there is a way to informally ask without creating a record, look into it. (But watch your driving from now on, hit & run is a serious offense.)</p>

<p>Some employers do look back several years and include dismissed charges and tickets if they exceed a specified threshold. In which case report the incident, as failure to report during the hiring process may be treated more seriously than the incident itself (“it’s not the crime, it’s the cover up.”)</p>

3

<p>A dismissed charge is gone. You’re innocent. You do not need to report this. That’s the entire point of the presumption of innocence.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for answering! Well one of my universities is asking to let them know about the dismissed case, so I was just wondering. How should I report this? should I write to them in an essay?</p>