Misdemeanor on Application?

[SeanNY]

I have a simple misdemeanor on my record (actually, it is technically two from the same incident). I was charged with a 'Possession of Alcohol Under the Legal Age,' and at the same time, 'Unlawful Use of a Driver's License.' It was during my freshman year of college and will be approximately 6 years before my application period (first one anyway).

First, does anyone know if PhD programs require you to report this information? I know most graduate programs or undergraduate do. However, I know Law and Business schools which only require you to if it was within the past 5 years (Harvard Business being one). And second, how do you see it affecting the admissions process?

[israelecon]

i find it hard to believe that the things you mentioned will factor in to the admission process, unless you give them other reasons to doubt your character. maybe you should have your LOR writers stress also the character aspect.
i think it affects international students more because if they have a criminal record then they may have trouble obtaining a visa.

[okcash]

israelecon, it seems you may have some words on this,
i have a speed limit ticket which i didn't pay for, it was in california. and i don't know if it was a misdemeanor.
do you think that may be a problem for the visa?

[israelecon]

i am not a legal expert. but, i can tell you that the applications usually ask you if you have been convicted of a felony, other than a minor traffic violation. it seems to me that you were never convicted of anything, you got a speeding ticket. and you weren't convicted of not paying. if i were you though i probably would pay the ticket if i want a visa. i find it hard to believe that this is what will prevent you from getting a visa, but then again i don't hand out the visas. you should call the schools if you are worried, most of them have departments that take care of visas. you can call anonymously if you want, no need to give them any information about you. you can probably also call the consulate in whatever country you are.
after all, keep in mind, you didn't pay a speeding ticket, its not like you murdered or robbed someone.

[hubrishedge]

In my experience, the applications almost all ask some variant of: "Have you ever been convicted of a crime, other than a misdemeanor or traffic violation." You likely will not even be asked to report this drinking incident, and if you do they probably won't care about it in the least.

[asianeconomist]

I guess schools also have a policy of not discriminating against anyone (admission, funding) on the basis of the purported crimes committed earlier. I think I read something like this in Cornell's policy (yes, I do read the fine-print).

[fp3690]

I think that drinking beer when you're twenty is OK with admissions people.