Put on Probation - How can it hurt me????

Dear Brz,

By probation, do you mean probation for criminal assault and/or battery? So, if the school were to run a criminal record background check you would have a record? Assuming that is the case and it is still on your record, I would say it probably won't hurt your chances too much provided you submit an explanation in your application. The reason being it was in 1996, you were in high school, and you have learned your lesson. In your explanation, the critical piece to include is the lesson(s) learned and how you are a different person now.

If your probation was from the school, the answer is pretty much the same. However, I'm not sure you would need to disclose it as it would be from high school and you are not providing transcripts from high school.

Hope that helps,
Lisa

If it was expunged from your record, then the school might not find it. However, I agree with you that it is better to have full disclosure to be on the safe side. Since it was about 15 years ago and it was actually not as serious as the charges would lead one to believe, I think you will probably be fine. The key is your explanation on how you are more mature and what you learned from the situation. I know of many applicants that have been admitted with records of DWI or the like, so I don't think your situation is all that different. The only reason it would hold you back is if a school felt you to be a risk, meaning you might hurt classmates or faculty. Based on what you told me, I don't see how the school would make that leap.

Good luck,
Lisa