If I now have a criminal record, would it be best to drop out of graduate school?

Question

I got in some trouble a few months ago, during Christmas break. (Got in a fight.) I'm no longer able to pass a background check. To graduate in a few months, I have to do several internships, each of which will require a background check. Since I know I can't pass them, would it be best to just drop out now?

Drop out.

Don't drop out.

Select age and gender to cast your vote:

GirlGuy

Answer 1

chriscdi | 436 opinions shared on Education & Career topic.

Master

you need a clean background to graduate? well if you are planning on dropping out maybe go to the one in charge and talk to them about your background and as them if its gonna be any trouble graduating with it, if they say yes then drop out

chriscdi

14 d
ask*
Asker

14 d
The school itself isn't really a problem. But the hospitals and other places I'm supposed to intern at most likely won't let me work at their businesses without a clear background. And the internships are required to graduate.
chriscdi

14 d
well then you should graduate cause youd still have the degree and you have a better chance of getting accepted with it than having no chance without it, besides a fight on your record isn't as bad as people get into fights a lot
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Asker

14 d
The internships have to be done BEFORE graduation.
chriscdi

14 d
then ask them if you are good for the internship or whatever

Answer 2

chriscdi

ask*

Answer 3

Asker

The school itself isn't really a problem. But the hospitals and other places I'm supposed to intern at most likely won't let me work at their businesses without a clear background. And the internships are required to graduate.

Answer 4

chriscdi

well then you should graduate cause youd still have the degree and you have a better chance of getting accepted with it than having no chance without it, besides a fight on your record isn't as bad as people get into fights a lot

Answer 5

Asker

The internships have to be done BEFORE graduation.

Answer 6

chriscdi

then ask them if you are good for the internship or whatever

Answer 7

Tstrbrainer | 78 opinions shared on Education & Career topic.

Yoda

I should say, try if you don't have to incur more costs.

I think you should consult a specialist in internships or someone who knows about law

Answer 8

Gwenhwyfar | 186 opinions shared on Education & Career topic.

Guru

I would need a lot more detail to answer this. PM me if you want. Follow me first. We can talk tomorrow (I’m going to bed rn).

Gwenhwyfar

12 d
Thanks 😊

Answer 9

Gwenhwyfar

Thanks 😊

Answer 10

abc3643 | 956 opinions shared on Education & Career topic.

Master

Don't worry about it.
I had a "criminal record" in graduate school. I was fine.

Asker

14 d
Did you have to go different places to do internships?
abc3643

14 d
I didn't need to do internships, per se, although a buddy and I had to spend the summer at a USAF base.

Answer 11

Asker

Did you have to go different places to do internships?

Answer 12

abc3643

I didn't need to do internships, per se, although a buddy and I had to spend the summer at a USAF base.

Answer 13

OlderAndWiser | 613 opinions shared on Education & Career topic.

Master

What were the charges against you and what was the outcome?

Asker

14 d
Domestic violence. Court isn't until April and I was supposed to graduate this spring
OlderAndWiser

14 d
Do you have an attorney representing you?
Asker

14 d
No, still trying to find one.
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OlderAndWiser

14 d
For a first charge of domestic violence, there are some alternatives to prosecution that ultimately result in a dismissal of the charge if you successfully complete your prescribed program. Hire an attorney immediately to help you with this!
Asker

14 d
This is 2nd degree domestic violence, so it's too high of a level to ever be expunged. It's not eligible for that.
OlderAndWiser

14 d
You are assuming that you will be convicted of such a charge. You don't know enough about criminal law to be forecasting the range of possible outcomes. But if you don't get an attorney to help you now, hiring one after your conviction will be useless.
Asker

14 d
The reason I know that is because I looked up the laws for my state, and that's also what the people who work in our expungement office told me. I don't have court until April, so I still have time to find one beforehand.
Asker

14 d
2nd degree domestic violence is what it's called on my paperwork from the state prosecuted. So I'm not just assuming that.
OlderAndWiser

14 d
The prosecuting attorney can probably reduce the charge to a lower level offense and that is quite common for first offenses. Stop listening to legal advice from non-lawyers.
Asker

14 d
prosecutor*

Answer 14

Asker

Domestic violence. Court isn't until April and I was supposed to graduate this spring

Answer 15

OlderAndWiser

Do you have an attorney representing you?

Answer 16

Asker

No, still trying to find one.

Answer 17

OlderAndWiser

For a first charge of domestic violence, there are some alternatives to prosecution that ultimately result in a dismissal of the charge if you successfully complete your prescribed program. Hire an attorney immediately to help you with this!

Answer 18

Asker

This is 2nd degree domestic violence, so it's too high of a level to ever be expunged. It's not eligible for that.

Answer 19

OlderAndWiser

You are assuming that you will be convicted of such a charge. You don't know enough about criminal law to be forecasting the range of possible outcomes. But if you don't get an attorney to help you now, hiring one after your conviction will be useless.

Answer 20

Asker

The reason I know that is because I looked up the laws for my state, and that's also what the people who work in our expungement office told me. I don't have court until April, so I still have time to find one beforehand.

Answer 21

Asker

2nd degree domestic violence is what it's called on my paperwork from the state prosecuted. So I'm not just assuming that.

Answer 22

OlderAndWiser

The prosecuting attorney can probably reduce the charge to a lower level offense and that is quite common for first offenses. Stop listening to legal advice from non-lawyers.

Answer 23

Asker

prosecutor*

Answer 24

EaterPeter

Xper 6

You have hit the major stretch back in your life and a road block. Things may get tough but please don't give up. Don't let yourself loose to roll down hills.

Answer 25

Wise4myage | 120 opinions shared on Education & Career topic.

Guru

Don't drop out and apply for those internships anyway.

Answer 26

Pete671 | 94 opinions shared on Education & Career topic.

Yoda

No just be honest about what happened, how do you know you won't pass these background checks?,

Asker

13 d
I have already failed 2 of them. The first internship still let me come and work, but the 2nd one didn't.

Answer 27

Asker

I have already failed 2 of them. The first internship still let me come and work, but the 2nd one didn't.

Answer 28

Danny_dan92 | 129 opinions shared on Education & Career topic.

Guru

Is it a misdemeanor or a felony?

Asker

14 d
Misdemeanor, technically. But even though it's my first offense, it's a high enough level crime that I can't ever get it removed from my record.
Danny_dan92

14 d
I got a misdemeanor for lying to the cops...

Misdemeanors are only seen as a bad thing when you take these three factors into consideration

1. Your age at the point of time you got it on your record

2. If you have any criminal activity before or slightly afterwards

3. How much time has it been since you have been convicted.

So for me, I only have that one misdemeanor. If someone ran a federal background check on me that’s all they would see, is the misdemeanor from almost 10 years ago. What cops and what most people think when they see that is. “They just made a mistake, they’re not a bad person”

But if say you get convicted of another petty crime afterwards? Then yeah. You’re fucked
Danny_dan92

14 d
Also, with that being said. If the internships do federal background checks. That is the only way they’ll be able to see that you have a misdemeanor
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Danny_dan92

14 d
Felonies on the other hand pop up on any background check (obviously)

Answer 29

Asker

Misdemeanor, technically. But even though it's my first offense, it's a high enough level crime that I can't ever get it removed from my record.

Answer 30

Danny_dan92

I got a misdemeanor for lying to the cops...

Misdemeanors are only seen as a bad thing when you take these three factors into consideration

1. Your age at the point of time you got it on your record

2. If you have any criminal activity before or slightly afterwards

3. How much time has it been since you have been convicted.

So for me, I only have that one misdemeanor. If someone ran a federal background check on me that’s all they would see, is the misdemeanor from almost 10 years ago. What cops and what most people think when they see that is. “They just made a mistake, they’re not a bad person”

But if say you get convicted of another petty crime afterwards? Then yeah. You’re fucked

Answer 31

Danny_dan92

Also, with that being said. If the internships do federal background checks. That is the only way they’ll be able to see that you have a misdemeanor

Answer 32

Danny_dan92

Felonies on the other hand pop up on any background check (obviously)

Answer 33

pigoat | 226 opinions shared on Education & Career topic.

Guru

Drop out no one wants to hire you now

If I now have a criminal record, would it be best to drop out of graduate school?

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