SLPwannabe1

Thanks for your thoughts! I really appreciate it. If I was accepted at a school, would you recommend trying to meet with the program director in person, rather than via phone or email?

Prior to the start of the 2nd semester, I made a reckless and foolish decision and was subsequently charged with 1st Offense DUI, a serious misdemeanor in my state. The charge happened AFTER I had submitted my grad school applications, so I obviously did not select "Yes" when asked if ever convicted of a misdemeanor. (My eventual conviction will not occur for another 4-6 months due to processing time.) I have been offered a couple interviews so far, but no acceptances yet. I purchased a background check on myself, and the charge is there with all other information pending, as it is a pending case. I know clinicals and ultimately obtaining a job will be more difficult as a result of the charge, but upon contacting licensing board not necessarily impossible. My question is four-part: 1) Should I be upfront and contact the schools now, even though I still have not been convicted and technically could still not answer "yes" to the misdemeanor question? Would this ultimately close me out from any hope of acceptance, especially the charge being so recent? 2) Should I hope for acceptance, to prove myself to the school, and then ultimately announce the incident upon actual conviction? Or will this be seen as shady? 3) If I should contact someone about the incident, who would you recommend speaking to in the department? 4) Should I just give up on SLP and try to find something outside the medical field? I have been depressed and distraught for the past couple weeks at both the prospect of losing my dream as an SLP, but most importantly the greater impact I could have caused to myself or other drivers that night. I am well aware that I could have caused an accident which would lead another driver or passenger to require the very services I hope to provide someday. If anything, my huge mistake has made me more motivated to go into this field and make a difference. I know I deserve no pity or help, but if anyone has any advice on the matter, I would certainly appreciate it. 0