<p>What were the details of your conviction, OP?</p>
<p>Read the question very carefully, and look at the documents relating to your conviction very carefully. Sometimes the question will exclude "minor traffic violations." Sometimes a traffic violation isn't actually a misdemeanor. After doing this careful reading, tell the truth.</p>
<p>It's no one's business until you are convicted. Once you are convicted, then you should tell colleges.</p>
<p>Yup... innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.</p>
<p>Yep, and even if it's a "criminal violation", there is a chance it won't be a misdemeanor or felony but a "violation", which means it's a glorified citation. But if you're not convicted for any bizarre reason, it won't matter. In the US of A, an arrest in more or less meaningless unless you're ultimately found guility.</p>