<p>I'm a junior in high school, '08, plain old white kid. As I'm getting ready to establish a list of my favorite colleges and those to which I will most likely apply, I realize that despite my 4.0 GPA (unweighted + 4 AP classes), my all right test scores (30 on ACT, 2190 on SAT), good extra currics (learning two foreign languages outside of school plus the two I learn in school, Classical piano + competitions, teacher's aide at a daycare, Constitution team, etc.) there is one flaw about me that I fell might stain my entire application:</p>
<p>I got caught shoplifting with a friend summer of '04, before I was even in high school. It's a misdemeanor, I'm pretty sure. Of course I plan on honing up to the incident on all my applications if I am asked, but I was wondering how much of a deterrent this would be to adcoms, etc. and whether or not I should even apply to some of the more selective schools on my list, such as:</p>
<p>Georgetown
Middlebury
Boston College
UChicago
UBC
Vanderbilt
Boston U</p>
<p>although it is admirable to want to be honest and take responsibility for your actions, it seems to be the general consensus on this board that crimes committed while you are a juvenile are sealed and do not need to be reported. You basically start with a clean slate when you turn 18.</p>
<p>Most schools would not care that much about a shoplifting charge in middle school -- they are more concerned about felony charges and drug and alcohol related incidents. </p>
<p>When you were caught shoplifting, did you go to court? Most first time shoplifters are allowed to complete a certain program or a certain amount of community service hours and then the charges are dismissed -- if this is the case, you definitely don't need to report it since the charges would have been dropped entirely.</p>
<p>It depends on the question asked in the application - "Have you never been arrested" is dfferent than "HAve you ever been convicted of a felony". Discuss this with a GC. If you indicate you have no record, and it is discovered later, you can be expelled from school.</p>
<p>It wouldn't hurt to ask one of the adcoms at one of the schools -- email Georgetown and ask what they expect.</p>
<p>If the records are sealed or the charges were dismissed (sometimes there are other fancy names for this) then the record can't be "discovered later".</p>
<p>Ok -- that is what I thought. As a first time offender, you had to do something (in your case community service) and then the charges were dismissed.</p>
<p>so -- you have never been convicted of a crime. You can honestly answer no to the question. You were never actually convicted.</p>
<p>Yes, it is essential you speak to your GC about this immediately. Find out if your record has a note of this incident. Unfortunately, you are not given a new record once you go to HS so it is essential you find out if there are any blemishs on your profile because if they find out themselves without you admitting it, your app is basically tossed out.</p>
<p>Personally, I agree that your profile is probably clean and that the place you tried to steal from wouldnt go as far as charging a middle schooler who did something petty like steal. However, don't take a risk of there being some note of it somewhere lingering for colleges too see; better to know for sure.</p>
<p>Juvenile records are sealed just for this reason, the court believes that a child who makes a mistake at 14 should not be punished for the rest of their lives for it.
hsmomstef is right, many juvenile cases are dropped after community service and staying out of trouble for a period of time.
Personally, I would not report it, but ultimately, you have to do what feels right for you.</p>
<p>I would be careful about speaking to the GC, once you tell them, are they obligated to note it on your records? Or to mention it if they speak to colleges? Will it affect how the GC views you? Talk to your parents!</p>
<p>flong brought up a good point -- ask for an official copy of your school transcript (the same one that will be sent to colleges) and see if there is any mention of the incident. I sincerely doubt it, since shoplifting isn't something that happened at the school.</p>
<p>You can always consult with an attorney -- there is often a free legal aid service in most towns -- but the combination of your age when the crime was committed and the fact that the charges were dismissed means that you were NOT convicted of a crime -- and that is what college want to know. Being charged, being arrested, doing community service, going to court -- those are not the same as being convicted. </p>
<p>Consider contacting the the county attorney's office where you were arrested and ask if there is a record of you being convicted of a crime -- then you can be really sure.</p>
<p>I would not discuss this with your GC -- this is confidential information and you don't need to share it. You can ask your GC if there are any conduct problems on your file, but don't volunteer info. And do not allow someone to convince you that this needs to be reported to colleges -- unless you have a conviction on your record and that record is not sealed, you do not have to report it.</p>
<p>kingkouture, try going to your local police department and asking for a copy of your criminal record. They may be able to tell you if a conviction shows up. If not, then the answer to "Have you ever been convicted of a crime?" is No. If yes, then you know the answer.</p>
<p>There is a reason why kids' records get expunged, and why getting community service can replace a "conviction". It is in society's best interests to offer a child unique protections from youthful indiscretions. You deserve that protection, and advertising your mistake in any way (such as to a guidance counselor, who will need to be very excited about you in writing your recommendation) is unwise and unnecessary. I am sure you can answer all aplications honestly if you look at your situation clearly. If there is nothing on your criminal record, then not only will colleges not find out, but the justice system has decided that the event no longer exists. That societal decision was made for a very good reason.</p>
<p>You would be an IDIOT to menntion that in your apps... i know the people on here may not agree with what im saying but once you turn 18 and its sealed its SEALED.</p>
<p>I see know point in mentioning it unless you have some great awakening essay out of it to tell the adcoms</p>
<p>I got into some trouble when I was 10. Ran with a bad crowd. I have answered "no" to every question like that, even though I did go to court, etc. No one knows about my incident and probably wouldn't care if they did find out, since it was 14 years ago, so why go through the hassle? (that's a rhetorical question btw)</p>
<p>Thanks, all of you; you've given me some great advice. One thing I should note is that I will not be 18 until the summer after my senior year, so technically I will be seventeen when I apply to colleges. But I will talk to someone at my county and see if the charge still holds on my record.</p>