So I'm in the process of finishing up my applications and I've become stuck in a bit of a moral quandary...
A few applications have a question regarding whether I've been disciplined for student conduct violations, and if you select yes, you get a paragraph or so to explain yourself.
When I was a freshman in undergrad, my friends and I got busted for smoking weed in the student dorms. I contacted my University and they confirmed that I currently have disciplinary actions on my record. However - and here's where it gets interesting - they told me that they only keep records for 7 years after the infraction. As it stands I have 2 months until my record is wiped clean. Unfortunately, my applications are due in about two weeks...
So the question is, do I lie about my record, knowing that as long as they don't look it up during the application process there's no way I would be caught in the lie?
I've done a little research online, and it seems like the chances of them putting forth the extra effort of requesting my records if I mark "no" is pretty low. I also feel like if I admit to my student conduct history it'll be a black mark on my application.
So I'm looking for some pragmatic advice (please no moral shaming), and I'm also wondering if anyone's in the same situation as me. Any current/former grad students either lie about this and get away with it, or fess up to your sins and get into your program?
Concerning my Student Conduct Record...
in Statement of Purpose, Personal History, Diversity
Posted
So I'm in the process of finishing up my applications and I've become stuck in a bit of a moral quandary...
A few applications have a question regarding whether I've been disciplined for student conduct violations, and if you select yes, you get a paragraph or so to explain yourself.
When I was a freshman in undergrad, my friends and I got busted for smoking weed in the student dorms. I contacted my University and they confirmed that I currently have disciplinary actions on my record. However - and here's where it gets interesting - they told me that they only keep records for 7 years after the infraction. As it stands I have 2 months until my record is wiped clean. Unfortunately, my applications are due in about two weeks...
So the question is, do I lie about my record, knowing that as long as they don't look it up during the application process there's no way I would be caught in the lie?
I've done a little research online, and it seems like the chances of them putting forth the extra effort of requesting my records if I mark "no" is pretty low. I also feel like if I admit to my student conduct history it'll be a black mark on my application.
So I'm looking for some pragmatic advice (please no moral shaming), and I'm also wondering if anyone's in the same situation as me. Any current/former grad students either lie about this and get away with it, or fess up to your sins and get into your program?