Criminal Record ---------> ~St. Louis University Forum

[honestabe84]

I was expecting to get into SLU w/ money, but I ended up getting waitlisted. My arrest wasn't extremely serious, and I didn't expect it to be an issue. However, after looking on LSN and talking to a few people on TLS, it seems like SLU is one of the few schools that takes criminal records very seriously.

I know this is a really random questions, but is there anyone out there that has been accepted to SLU despite having a criminal record?

[PlugInBaby]

You know my story...I didn't just get waitlisted...I got dinged despite being over the 75th percentile in both GPA and LSAT. Part of it may have had to do applying late and/or the school not caring for me stating there is no scientific evidence of an afterlife in my PS.

[StoneontaState]

I know how you feel. I got WL at 3 schools I should've easily got into most likely because I was arrested for a misdemeanor (charges were dropped). Luckily I got into one of my top choices as apparently my arrest wasn't a huge concern for them. Good luck.

[honestabe84]

You know my story...I didn't just get waitlisted...I got dinged despite being over the 75th percentile in both GPA and LSAT. Part of it may have had to do applying late and/or the school not caring for me stating there is no scientific evidence of an afterlife in my PS.

If you look on LSN, you'll notice that there are four rejections (including yours) that should have been automatic acceptances. I've checked into each three of these, and each have a criminal record. It's a shame that SLU is one of the few schools that seems to have zero tolerance.

[honestabe84]

I know how you feel. I got WL at 3 schools I should've easily got into most likely because I was arrested for a misdemeanor (charges were dropped). Luckily I got into one of my top choices as apparently my arrest wasn't a huge concern for them. Good luck.

Do you mind sharing what the charge was for?

[PlugInBaby]

You know my story...I didn't just get waitlisted...I got dinged despite being over the 75th percentile in both GPA and LSAT. Part of it may have had to do applying late and/or the school not caring for me stating there is no scientific evidence of an afterlife in my PS.

If you look on LSN, you'll notice that there are four rejections (including yours) that should have been automatic acceptances. I've checked into each three of these, and each have a criminal record. It's a shame that SLU is one of the few schools that seems to have zero tolerance.

Well next time I am in midtown St. Louis and pass the law building I will do the classy thing.....throw my leftover rib bones from Pappy's at the door.

Maybe next cycle I will start a "consortium of evil" threat for those who do have to submit criminal addendums so we can gauge how much of an impact it really is.

[chicoalto0649]

You know my story...I didn't just get waitlisted...I got dinged despite being over the 75th percentile in both GPA and LSAT. Part of it may have had to do applying late and/or the school not caring for me stating there is no scientific evidence of an afterlife in my PS.

If you look on LSN, you'll notice that there are four rejections (including yours) that should have been automatic acceptances. I've checked into each three of these, and each have a criminal record. It's a shame that SLU is one of the few schools that seems to have zero tolerance.

Well next time I am in midtown St. Louis and pass the law building I will do the classy thing.....throw my leftover rib bones from Pappy's at the door.

Maybe next cycle I will start a "consortium of evil" threat for those who do have to submit criminal addendums so we can gauge how much of an impact it really is.

Pappy's is some of the best gosh darned bbq in the country. Sorry, I have nothing else to contribute, except that there is a lot of crime in St. Louis. That could work to your benefit but apparently it worked to your detriment.

[whuts4lunch]

I know how you feel. I got WL at 3 schools I should've easily got into most likely because I was arrested for a misdemeanor (charges were dropped). Luckily I got into one of my top choices as apparently my arrest wasn't a huge concern for them. Good luck.

I don't understand how a school could possibly hold charges in absence of a conviction against an applicant. A charge, in of itself, does not imply guilt.

[honestabe84]

I know how you feel. I got WL at 3 schools I should've easily got into most likely because I was arrested for a misdemeanor (charges were dropped). Luckily I got into one of my top choices as apparently my arrest wasn't a huge concern for them. Good luck.

I don't understand how a school could possibly hold charges in absence of a conviction against an applicant. A charge, in of itself, does not imply guilt.

Some schools actually go as far as to ask you to list accusations. So basically I could accuse you of assaulting me with no proof whatsoever, and you would have to put that on your application.

[PlugInBaby]

I know how you feel. I got WL at 3 schools I should've easily got into most likely because I was arrested for a misdemeanor (charges were dropped). Luckily I got into one of my top choices as apparently my arrest wasn't a huge concern for them. Good luck.

I don't understand how a school could possibly hold charges in absence of a conviction against an applicant. A charge, in of itself, does not imply guilt.

In my case there was a conviction...but it was SEVEN FREAKIN YEARS AGO...and only a misdemeanor...anyway with a higher LSAT score schools won't care as much...or that's what I tell myself.

[honestabe84]

I know how you feel. I got WL at 3 schools I should've easily got into most likely because I was arrested for a misdemeanor (charges were dropped). Luckily I got into one of my top choices as apparently my arrest wasn't a huge concern for them. Good luck.

I don't understand how a school could possibly hold charges in absence of a conviction against an applicant. A charge, in of itself, does not imply guilt.

In my case there was a conviction...but it was SEVEN FREAKIN YEARS AGO...and only a misdemeanor...anyway with a higher LSAT score schools won't care as much...or that's what I tell myself.

Have you considered calling SLU and asking them why exactly you were rejected?

[PlugInBaby]

I know how you feel. I got WL at 3 schools I should've easily got into most likely because I was arrested for a misdemeanor (charges were dropped). Luckily I got into one of my top choices as apparently my arrest wasn't a huge concern for them. Good luck.

I don't understand how a school could possibly hold charges in absence of a conviction against an applicant. A charge, in of itself, does not imply guilt.

In my case there was a conviction...but it was SEVEN FREAKIN YEARS AGO...and only a misdemeanor...anyway with a higher LSAT score schools won't care as much...or that's what I tell myself.

Have you considered calling SLU and asking them why exactly you were rejected?

I considered it but I decided it wasn't worth my time. Sure my numbers were in auto-admit territory but I think I could have framed my criminal addendum much better. In this instance short and to the point did me no favors. Just have to fix up that and many other things and apply to a lot of schools and see which one fits the best next time around.

[honestabe84]

Mine was short and to the point also. I think that's how you're supposed to do it though. You don't want a long drawn out addendum for several reasons.

[PlugInBaby]

Mine was short and to the point also. I think that's how you're supposed to do it though. You don't want a long drawn out addendum for several reasons.

I could have prefaced it, put it into perspective (it was an abberation and inconsistent with my personality and conduct), and shown how my experiences emboldened my resolve to go to law school and expanded my interests into other areas of law. Sure you can't spin an outright negative into a positive, but I also feel like I have to prove that I am not irredeemably evil because of one mistake I made seven years ago.

[honestabe84]

Mine was short and to the point also. I think that's how you're supposed to do it though. You don't want a long drawn out addendum for several reasons.

I could have prefaced it, put it into perspective (it was an abberation and inconsistent with my personality and conduct), and shown how my experiences emboldened my resolve to go to law school and expanded my interests into other areas of law. Sure you can't spin an outright negative into a positive, but I also feel like I have to prove that I am not irredeemably evil because of one mistake I made seven years ago.

So you've decided to go ahead and apply next cycle?