Expunged arrest, ridiculous story - Disclose? Forum

[noleknight16]

... thanks everyone for the advice

[ihhwap1]

,

[ben4847]

Wait, did you know them and it was a prank?
Or was it a stranger?

[noleknight16]

Wait, did you know them and it was a prank?
Or was it a stranger?

We did it to a stranger's car.

[noleknight16]

1. Yes, disclose.
2. I would show a bit more remorse in your addendum than you displayed in this post. Maturity wouldn't hurt either.

I'm sorry if it wasn't mature enough for you. I think it's ridiculous how this whole thing was handled. I had no business being arrested.

[RPK34]

I would write an addendum exactly like what you posted.

[ben4847]

Wait, did you know them and it was a prank?
Or was it a stranger?

We did it to a stranger's car.

Hmm. I don't know why they let you off on that. If I was the judge, it would have been some community service for you.

[3ThrowAway99]

This isn't official advice (obviously):

Answer the questions on the apps--nothing more and nothing less. If the app says disclose any arrests it sounds like you have to. If it only asks for convictions then it sounds like you probably don't have to. Keep the addendum short and to the point if you do have to write it for any particular schools, and cast it in light most favorable to you and toned-down (without lying). However, try to avoid sounding like you are minimizing or blaming others. Just my opinion.

[noleknight16]

Wait, did you know them and it was a prank?
Or was it a stranger?

We did it to a stranger's car.

Hmm. I don't know why they let you off on that. If I was the judge, it would have been some community service for you.

The DA didn't even pursue the case. Never went to court.

[citykitty]

Yes, you need to disclose. I would keep it to the facts, and remove emotion. Something like "At the age of [], I was charged with [] on [date]. The charges were dismissed on [date]." It won't be relevant to your application so long as you disclose.

[noleknight16]

Yes, you need to disclose. I would keep it to the facts, and remove emotion. Something like "At the age of [], I was charged with [] on [date]. The charges were dismissed on [date]." It won't be relevant to your application so long as you disclose.

Okay I'll write the addendum just like that.

EDIT: No outside info? Just the fact it was dropped by the DA and leave it at that?

[BeenDidThat]

Yes, you need to disclose. I would keep it to the facts, and remove emotion. Something like "At the age of [], I was charged with [] on [date]. The charges were dismissed on [date]." It won't be relevant to your application so long as you disclose.

Okay I'll write the addendum just like that.

EDIT: No outside info? Just the fact it was dropped by the DA and leave it at that?

If they ask you for more information, give it to them. If they don't and you try to defend yourself, you'll just be drawing attention to the incident, and your trying to excuse your behavior may not look so good (though I have no idea what it is due to the edit).

[noleknight16]

Yes, you need to disclose. I would keep it to the facts, and remove emotion. Something like "At the age of [], I was charged with [] on [date]. The charges were dismissed on [date]." It won't be relevant to your application so long as you disclose.

Okay I'll write the addendum just like that.

EDIT: No outside info? Just the fact it was dropped by the DA and leave it at that?

If they ask you for more information, give it to them. If they don't and you try to defend yourself, you'll just be drawing attention to the incident, and your trying to excuse your behavior may not look so good (though I have no idea what it is due to the edit).

Thanks for the sound advice. Sounds good. Hopefully they'll just leave it at that. I really don't want this to affect my chances.

[BeenDidThat]

Yes, you need to disclose. I would keep it to the facts, and remove emotion. Something like "At the age of [], I was charged with [] on [date]. The charges were dismissed on [date]." It won't be relevant to your application so long as you disclose.

Okay I'll write the addendum just like that.

EDIT: No outside info? Just the fact it was dropped by the DA and leave it at that?

If they ask you for more information, give it to them. If they don't and you try to defend yourself, you'll just be drawing attention to the incident, and your trying to excuse your behavior may not look so good (though I have no idea what it is due to the edit).

Thanks for the sound advice. Sounds good. Hopefully they'll just leave it at that. I really don't want this to affect my chances.

It's quite understandable, but don't stress it too much. There's nothing you can do about it at this point, and if it as minor as you're insinuating, a school is unlikely to exclude you on that basis.