When do schools perform criminal background check?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the timing of criminal background checks conducted by colleges during the admissions process, particularly in the context of a participant applying for Ph.D. programs in Physics with a prior offense. The conversation explores the implications of disclosing such information on applications and the potential risks involved.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about when colleges perform criminal background checks during the admissions process, expressing concern over a past summary offense and the timing of its expungement.
  • Another participant strongly advises against lying on the application, suggesting that being caught could lead to rescinding an offer.
  • Some participants argue that the question of when background checks are performed is linked to the risk of providing false information on the application.
  • There is a suggestion that background checks may occur only after a student has accepted an offer, though this is not confirmed by all participants.
  • One participant proposes applying to programs that accept spring admits or being truthful on the application as safer alternatives.
  • Another participant emphasizes that the application question pertains to the time of application, not the time of attendance, and reiterates the importance of honesty.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the appropriateness of lying on the application, with some advocating for honesty and others focusing on the timing of background checks. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specific practices of different schools.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the uniformity of background check practices across different programs and the implications of past offenses on admissions decisions.

CoopDogg
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Hi everyone. Does anyone know at what part of the admissions process that colleges perform the criminal background check? I am currently applying for Ph.D. programs in Physics, and unfortunately I have a summary offense for underage drinking from 5 years ago. Fortunately, this can be expunged after 5 years, but the expungement process takes 4-8 months (i.e. my record won't be clear until as late as early August 2016). I am wondering if I can get away with answering "No" on the application when asked if I have any prior (non-expunged) convictions on my record and hope that my record will have been cleared by the time any school does a background screening. If the background check is performed only after the student accepts, which I suspect it is, then I should be in the clear. However, I don't want to answer "No", and get caught in a lie. Any insight is much appreciated, but please spare me the lessons in ethics. Thanks!
 
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CoopDogg said:
I am wondering if I can get away with answering "No" on the application when asked if I have any prior (non-expunged) convictions on my record and hope that my record will have been cleared by the time any school does a background screening.

Do not do this. If you are caught in a lie, I'm willing to bet the offer would be rescinded.
 
axmls said:
Do not do this. If you are caught in a lie, I'm willing to bet the offer would be rescinded.

I'm aware of that, axmls. You didn't answer my question.
 
You asked if you could get away with purposely lying on an application. I just happen to be the first to comment, but I doubt anyone here would 1. know how your choice schools manage their background checks, and especially 2. think this is at all a good idea. Too much risk, and an underage drinking charge from a few years ago would likely have almost no effect on your application in the first place.
If you're so concerned about it, apply to programs that accept spring admits and just wait until your record is expunged, or just tell the truth on your application if it comes up.
 
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No, I never did ask that, axmls. My question was about when schools generally perform their background checks. The rest was simply background information (where I did acknowledge the risk). I don't think that this is esoteric knowledge, and I was not seeking an exact date. My guess is that schools perform the background check only after a student has accepted an offer, and that this practice would be fairly uniform across programs. My hope was that someone who has been through this process as an applicant, or even as an admissions officer, would have useful knowledge, and could confirm and/or elaborate on this point.
 
CoopDogg said:
I am wondering if I can get away with answering "No" on the application when asked if I have any prior (non-expunged) convictions on my record

It is what you asked, though. The entire premise of the question of "when do they do the background checks?" is based on whether or not you'd get caught lying on the application. If your application asks if you have any convictions, it means when you applied, not at the time you'll be attending the school. Again, you would save yourself a lot of trouble by just telling the truth.
 
axmls said:
It is what you asked, though. The entire premise of the question of "when do they do the background checks?" is based on whether or not you'd get caught lying on the application. If your application asks if you have any convictions, it means when you applied, not at the time you'll be attending the school. Again, you would save yourself a lot of trouble by just telling the truth.

You seem to be confused about what constitutes a question. That statement you quoted was a musing I had that motivated the question, not an invitation for you to "wonder" as well. The crux of my question was to assess the chance of getting caught supplying misinformation on my application, not the penalties for being caught, which you seem to be fixated on.
 
While axmls' answer wasn't what you wanted, it is the best answer to your query. Don't worry about whether schools do background checks or not, answer truthfully.

Thread closed.
 

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