I’m currently getting my bachelors in computer science and want to get my MS or PhD from Cornell, MIT, CMU, or Berkeley. The issue is when I was 20 I got arrested for a misdemeanor, but I wasn’t convicted and I got it expunged. Will I still be able to get into grad school at the schools that I mention or am I screwed now because of the misdemeanor?
This is not likely to be a problem at all provided you do have the GPA, GRE score, LORs, and whatever else those institutions require of applicants for that field of study.
This isn’t going to affect a thing.
well then why some person on reddit who claims they work in admissions said I have a 99% chance of being denied because they can google me and etc?
It was a misdemeanor. It’s been expunged. You will be fine, as long as your grades, GREs and LORs make you a competitive applicant.
Why does some dude or dudette on reddit ■■■■■ you? Because they can.
Expunging means that it is not part of your record. Whether you get into those schools will depend on other factors.
Idk who to believe now. Do grad applications even asked if you have a criminal record?
You can go to these universities’websites, and look at their grad applications. You also can contact their admissions offices and ask. Yes. It really, truly, is OK for you to do that. It’s called research. Something you will be doing lots of if you do end up in grad shool.
I seriously doubt that I’ll never get into grad school now because I have a record.
If you were not convicted you do not have a record, unless you plead guilty or no contest… For the most part, schools and employers care about felonies and not misdemeanors. Expunging means that you have no public record. So what you are saying does not make any sense.
Well I think it does makes sense. If they can possibly google me on the internet possibly then grad school is out of the question. Hell I’m still at a junior college and I’m pretty sure I can’t even get into a 4 year college now not even one in the state i live in.
You do not have a record. The question on the application asks if you have been convicted of a crime. You haven’t, so relax, and stay out of trouble.
Also, learn to distinguish between credible and non-credible sources.
I was arrested for being Drunk in Public in VA during my 20s. It was a stupid charge - I was standing outside the bar, looking for my sister (she had gone to the bathroom but I thought she had stepped outside for some air), and a cop was there…who arrested me for being drunk. I was not driving, I was not bothering anyone…the arrest was complete bs.
I had to explain that arrest on all my graduate school applications. I just stated the facts (leaving out the parts where I threw up in the cruiser and sang Broadway showtunes in my cell overnight). I got into every single school to which I applied, including Harvard (where I ended up attending). I had straight As, published research, great GRE scores, great LOC, etc etc - I probably looked boring and then that arrest made me look more interesting, lol.
Anyway, if you have not been convicted and if it’s been expunged then it’s probably not even on your record. I wouldn’t worry.
So in other words I have to explain it in the application even though I didn’t get convicted and I got my record expunged?
If you’re taking reddit as gospel, I think you have bigger issues than the misdemeanor when it comes to getting into grad school.
ETA: I’ve applied to multiple different programs and sat on an adcom for my program. I’ve never even been asked. A woman who had been in prison for many, many years was recruited by my program but ultimately chose another program.
reddit isn’t my concern right now. do I need to explain my arrest in applications even though I didn’t get convicted and it was expunged?
What do the applications ask for?
idk that’s why I’m asking you guys. Do I still have to explain my arrest on the application although I didnt get convicted and it was expunged yes or no?
People are arrested and then found to be not guilty all the time. Why would anyone hold that against you? I think you have other worries, such as improving your English.
just because I was found not guilty and it got expunged doesn’t mean anything to schools like MIT and CMU don’t you think? All I want to know is do I have to put in it applications at all.