How badly will my record effect my chances to get into a good grad school.

I have a 3.7 GPA and I’m currently studying for the GRE. I have been published in a psychology essay(my major) and I plan on working on another two before I graduate. I plan on graduating in December of 2019 and I’ll apply for Graduate school then. In 2015 I was arrested for misdemeanor possession, in 2016 I was arrested for underage alcohol possession,I was eventually kicked out of a university for academic reasons in 2016 and I switched universities. Since then my academic record soared I started a new. however earlier this week a female student and I made plans to have sex, and I came over before expected. We have a history and I let myself in, but she wasn’t ready for me. I wouldn’t go and one thing let to another and while it didn’t go to far I was charged with misdemeanor assault. I pled guilty in the criminal case and in the school hearing My adviser/Psychology head came to the hearing and spoke on my defense. However I was suspended for a semester. My adviser conducts the labs I’ve been published on and she said she will continue to work with me and will still write my letter of recommendation. I still plan on graduating in December of 2019 and I plan on applying to grad school then. Between the passage of time, my academic successes, and my letters of recommendation do I still have a chance of attending a respectable graduate school?

My opinion comes from a background in hiring, though I would suspect adcomms would view it similarly. A year and a half is not much time between this event and your grad school application - and you have two situations prior to this, plus the academic expulsion and suspension. You can try applying, but I’m thinking you’ll need a few years of work experience (and a squeaky clean record during that time) to demonstrate maturity, professionalism, and self-restraint. Your current criminal and academic record does not demonstrate that, even if your work is acceptable.

threats of (sexual) assault are just as much a red flag in the academic world as is academic dishonesty. You will likely need to put in several years of time doing research post graduation for penance. Can you get a post grad job on campus as a Lab Manager?

There is an attorney who specializes in such academic cases and posts on cc under the name of Hanna. Suggest that you reach out to her for some counseling advice.

btw: Grad schools will consider all of your undergrad courses, including the grades from your prior school. Is the 3.7 your current school, or cumulative? (Another reason to take some time away from studies is the fact that you were dismissed for academic reasons.)

Good luck.

No.

It’s going to be hard. You may want to investigate some type of mental health treatment to help you to figure out why you continue to engage in significant rule violating behaviors and develop a well thought out plan for preventing future incidents. There is some truth to the caveat that “the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.” You are going to have to overcome your bad decisions in an authentic way, and that’s going to take time. You are going to have to live responsibly. Professional psychologists are held to a high standard. Every time you renew a mental health provider license you have to answer a series of questions about ethical and criminal violations. Integrity and protecting the public are very important.

You refused to leave when the girl said she wasn’t ready? I wouldn’t hire you to be a security officer for next three years.

It is really hard to say based on one paragraph.

My suggestions, talk to your supervisor and maybe your department administration and have an honest discussion with them. Be open and honest with yourself as well. Finally, this isn’t where I’d ask the question, while well meaning I’d trust people I could talk to face-to-face over posters on an internet board. They very well may be right, and maybe we as a society have evolved to where this is more than a data point, but I doubt it. The easiest answer to your question, is “It certainly won’t help.” But, perhaps your department will give you a better take on its impact.