Convicted Felon - Am I Screwed?

Applying to College
1

<p>So, I will be applying to undergraduate programs for the fall 2010 semester. Here's my story:</p>

<p>I attended HS and did not do so well. Got a 1250 on my SATs. I applied to colleges and somehow got into Monmouth, Rutgers-Newark, TCNJ and Seton Hall. </p>

<p>I attended Monmouth University, during my time here I got into the partying lifestyle and was arrested with half a gram of cocaine (this was approx. 4-5 years ago). Monmouth has a policy, as a private university, to basically suspend students who are arrested. They suspended me for 2 semesters. I had to stay in that area because of probation, however, I took some classes at community college while finishing my probation, counseling and paying off all my fines. After a few semesters there I realized I needed to get my life together and come back home and attend community college at home while working full-time.</p>

<p>I managed to get a very good corporate job that is directly related to my major, with a good salary, benefits and even educational reimbursement. In addition to working that full-time corporate job, I am also working part-time nights for an entertainment company securing clients and even running operations and DJ'ing clients' parties, weddings, etc on the weekend - I've probably been working a total of 65-70 hours a week while juggling at least 2-3 classes a semester.</p>

<p>I am very close to finishing my associates now and need to begin to start applying (again) to 4-year universities. I have worked my butt off for the last 2 years balancing a lot of work at the offices, even managing to get a promotion at the corporate job, and making sure I'm doing well in school. I have a 3.5 GPA majoring in Business-Liberal Arts at the community college I am currently attending. </p>

<p>I've secured recommendations from my direct manager and VP at the corporate job and the President of the entertainment company. I can get character recommendations from various professionals I've networked with, or known throughout the years but, is that necessary to have? Or is it even worth it? </p>

<p>In any event, on to my main question - on most, if not all, of the college applications I am looking at there is a question that asks if you have ever been convicted of a felony. Obviously, I will have to answer yes and explain the situation in my personal statement/essay. Am I basically screwed from getting into schools? </p>

<p>I'm hoping that the admissions committees will see that I was immature and made a mistake, but I learned from it and have shown that through my hard work and dedication in the past few years to school and work. </p>

<p>I want to apply to Rutgers-New Brunswick (eventually transfer into their business school), TCNJ, Montclair, Rider, NYU and Columbia (I know it's a REAL long shot for the last two, but, I'm gonna give it a shot in hopes they take into consideration my success at my jobs).</p>

<p>Also - I'm speaking with a lawyer on Monday to see if I can get my record expunged. If I can, I will have to wait another year before attending schools but will a clean record be a huge difference when an admissions committee is looking at my application? (this is still a big IF - I doubt it can be expunged but if so...)</p>

<p>Any advice, opinions, questions are welcome.</p>

<p>Thank you for any help you may provide.</p>

2

<p>I have no experience or expertise to answer any of your questions, but I commend you.</p>

<p>Younger or older, people make mistakes. You had the good sense to realize yours, and take positive steps in putting it behind you and forging ahead. It shows, grit, determination and self discipline, all qualities most institutions of higher learning are looking for in their students.</p>

<p>The positive recommendations from your supervisors/managers will support and showcase your motivation and work ethic. </p>

<p>There may be ramifications in applying for federal need based financial aid thru FAFSA, as there is a policy that prohibits eligibility for those convicted of drug related offenses for a period of year(s); I’m not sure of the exact time length of the ineligibilty after the conviction.</p>

<p>There may be info on CC’s Financial aid forum [Financial</a> Aid & Scholarships - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/]Financial”>Paying for College - College Confidential Forums).</p>

<p>There are a number of college reps/administrators on this forum (Dean J, gadad come to mind, I’m sure there are more). Hopefully some will weigh in from an admission officer/administrator’s perspective.</p>

<p>Good luck to you.</p>

3

<p>Violadad - I appreciate your kind words. </p>

<p>AS far as financial aid is concerned, I am not too worried about that right now as my employer will be reimbursing my tuition & expenses up to a certain amount. Seeing as I am attending part-time, I’m fairly sure it will cover everything and if it won’t I can probably make up the rest out of my pocket. </p>

<p>Which brings me to a point I forgot to mention - I will be applying as a part time student, if this makes any difference. Seeing as the job market is extremely difficult even for recent college grads, I want to hold on to my job. </p>

<p>I look forward to hearing from the college reps/admins that are active on this board.</p>

4

<p>I think you will be fine as long as you are totally honest and show that you will not be a threat to yourself or others, your recommendations should do that. </p>

<p>As for getting your record expunged, don’t bother. A lawyer friend did some of that work for young people but says that with the advent of records being available on the internet it doesn’t matter that it’s officially expunged at the courthouse, because it will always show up on the kind of online databases that are used to verify arrests and convictions. As a legal maneuver it’s still legal but kind of useless, and makes you look like you have something to hide. And you should not hide anything.</p>

5

<p>ncmentor -</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice. The only reason I would want to get it expunged is that I would be able to check “NO” on the applications - and this may stop them from doing a full background check. Also, I’m assuming most universities will run a basic background check not go through searching the internet for my name, etc. After a felony is expunged a basic background check will come up as clean.</p>

6

<p>Don’t the applications ask you “Have you ever been convicted of a felony…”, so technically you still have to check yes (because you were at one time convicted) and explain? You should still try to get your record expunged, that way you can add it to your explanation of your felony. Ask your lawyer about what to put on your application.</p>

7

<p>immortalix -</p>

<p>That’s incorrect. After expungement, you may thereafter truthfully state that you were never arrested, charged, or accused of a crime. In the eyes of the law, the entire incident never occurred. In most respects, a sealing or expungement restores you to the status you occupied before being arrested or charged. </p>

<p>Actually - In most cases, it is illegal for an employer to ask for information relating to an arrest or detention that did not result in a conviction. Expungement even restores rights to own a firearm…</p>

<p>It’s basically like it never happened. So, you would be able to check “NO” on all forms that ask if you have been convicted of a felony.</p>

8

<p>Expungement, even if you can get one, may not save you on college applications because you may also get the question as to whether you have ever been suspended by a college and thus you will still need to explain. Will the conviction be harmful to your application? You should assume yes. Will it mean you will definitely not be admitted because of it? No, particularly, as it appears, if you can show stellar conduct since then.</p>

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<p>drusba,
Good point. I will have to explain my suspension at Monmouth and obviously I cannot do that without speaking of my arrest. So, I suppose there is no point in getting the expungement and waiting another year…</p>

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<p>You are working, want a part time college status and I assume you are set in the area you are, as your employer may not pay for an far away college. You would want credit for the course you work you have done, hence you are transfer student. So your college choices are limited as the college should have facilities for part time students, should accept community college credits and should be within commuting distance (unless you want to start from scratch and be a freshman, assuming the colleges allow it)</p>

<p>Hence check with the colleges you are interested in. How selective are they? How much weight do they give to current work? Can you meet with the AO and explain your situation? In other words, unless I am mistaken, you do not have a big list to begin with. Research your options and your decisions may become obvious.</p>

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<p>That is why I am trying to stay local - yes. Rutgers, TCNJ and Rider should accept all my college credits (an associates degree, so I should only have 2 years left for a bachelors) according to my counselor and NJTransfer. As far as NYU and Columbia those are just long shots I am going to pray for…which will hopefully accept most of my credits if I am admitted.</p>

<p>My friend got accepted this year into UPenn transferring from a community college in NJ with a 3.5 GPA. He was working part time as a waiter while going to school part time. Not sure how or why UPenn accepted him and he was just as shocked as I was…but most, maybe all, of his credits transferred.</p>

<p>Oh - and this may be a stupid question and may be different for each school, but in general do I have to include my high school transcripts with my application?</p>

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<p>I’m for full disclosure. People, teens, esp., make mistakes. I am sure that schools have seen this before, and your conviction was for drug use not murder. I wish you luck; it’s very commendable that you have turned your life around. And colleges have to know that they have plenty of kids, in their cache of students, who have been in possession of drugs who were never caught.</p>

<p>But, again, full disclosure with a sincere and articulate note explaining what happened.</p>

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<p>Thanks SWHarborfan for your positive words. I feel very proud of the changes I’ve made in my life. I just hope my past doesn’t come back to haunt me as I try to move forward in the right direction. </p>

<p>Also - I agree about full disclosure. I was never planning on lying on the application. Just wondering if it’s going to completely destroy my chances at the various universities I am applying to.</p>

14

<p>Another commendation for your turnaround. You really have brought up two different issues. Regarding your legal record, do all you can to get that expunged. If it comes up at any time anyway, you can explain that you were very young when you made the mistake, you turned your life around, never reaffended, and that the courts expunged your record. You will be able to vote, and have a lot more peace of mind. If they do not expunge it, you will still have a great life. There will be times when it comes up, but it won’t stand in your way unless you allow it to. Clearly, you won’t.</p>

<p>Because of your background, apply to a lot of schools. As a more mature student with years of turnaround and great recs, I think you will do quite well. I know someone who was unable to get a felony removed for a similar offense (he lacked the funds long ago to pursue it). He has a great career and leads a good life in every category (a complete success). He was accepted into good colleges and grad schools as a mature student. He was even offered a teaching position at an Ivy League school. </p>

<p>Everyone loves a good turnaround story (even many admissions officers).</p>

15

<p>I would be surprised if colleges still held that conviction against you. I don’t think you should send $ on a lawyer now as it may not be necessary. I think your good work record after your conviction reflects that you’ve turned your life around, and I think colleges will take a chance on you.</p>

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<p>As to the question about having your high school provide transcripts to the college as part of the application process, the answer is they will be required. However, in considering a transfer into junior year, najority of colleges do not give any consideration to high school record or SAT scores but instead rely on college grades. The high school transcript is necessary to prove you completed high school. Nevertheless, some do consider, at least somewhat, high school grades and test scores and many high ranked colleges are among those and I believe it would include Columbia and NYU.</p>

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<p>What if your high school transcript sucks but your first two years of college rocks? Are they gonna accept that people DO change over time in academics or push him off the cliff for something that he’ll probably NEVER do again? “Oh, this guy got an F in Junior year of high school. Too bad that he got a 3.8 doing premed for first two years at X University, he still go that F in high school–oh wait I found a D, uh oh this guy sunk his HS transcrip. He’s REJECTED.” <— Tell me this is a joke.</p>

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<p>O.P.,</p>

<p>Were you a first time offender? If not, I’m shocked that your original lawyer didn’t cut a deal at that time for accelerated rehabilitation as well as an agreement to wipe clean your felony count (on condition of successful parole). </p>

<p>People make mistakes and some move on well in life. Best of luck to you. I’m sure there are many college admissions officers that will feel the same way PARTICULARLY with your rather long track record of no additional problems. Someone that was just convicted would have a much harder time getting accepted because Admissions would be worried about accepting someone that has a continuing problem and putting other students at risk in the process.</p>

<p>However, I would not be surprised at an admissions officers not asking the same question, I’m asking. Why was the felony not expunged?</p>

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<p>Thank you to everyone for the words of encouragement and support.</p>

<p>ctyankee - the felony was not expunged because a few months prior I was caught with marijuana. The plea brought it all together and down to just the simple possession of a controlled substance (felony). In my state, a felony can not be expunged for 10 years. Maybe my lawyer wasn’t too great, but I didn’t exactly have the money to afford a top notch lawyer. If I was asked this question by an admissions officer I would just tell them that I wasn’t given much leniency by the judge, got convicted of poss. of a controlled substance and got a year probation & tons of fines. I mean I don’t think they are going to get into the detailed specifics of my arrest/etc? I would hope they focus more on my life now and how I’ve moved past that…</p>

<p>drusba - Thanks for the information regarding a high school transcript and I hope that melin is right in saying they won’t hold so much weight in my situation.</p>

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<p>On a side note –</p>

<p>Would it be worthwhile/a better shot for me to apply to UPenn LPS or Columbia GS instead of the traditional Upenn/Columbia schools that freshmen would be applying to?</p>