A school may consider a DUI conviction as part of the admissions process
A conviction for driving under the influence (DUI) can lead to a range of penalties, ranging from a license suspension to potential jail time to fines and fees. For many people, the collateral consequences — those that are not issued by a court — are often more significant than the sentence itself. For those who are considering apply to college or graduate school, this may include an impact on their admission.
First, it is important to understand that in California, a DUI is a crime. Being convicted of a DUI will result in a criminal record. This means that when you are applying for admission to a college, university, graduate or professional school, you will typically be required to disclose this conviction. As a DUI defense lawyer Santa Ana, CA can explain, most applications ask if you have ever been convicted of a crime.
It is possible that a school will simply deny an applicant outright for having a DUI conviction. Although this result is unlikely, there are some institutions that have strict rules about admitting students with criminal histories. However, it is more likely that the DUI conviction will be considered as part of the overall decision about a student’s admission. This means that a DUI may weigh against your admission to college or graduate school. If you are close to the line on being accepted, you may find that your application was denied because of your DUI.
For example, consider a graduate program with a limited number of open spaces for the program that you want. If you have a similar educational background, GRE scores and experience as another applicant, your DUI conviction may count against you. In that case, the school may decide to give the spot to the student without a criminal history.
Of course, other schools may not consider a DUI conviction at all. It is important that you be honest about your conviction in any event. If you lie about your conviction or try to cover it up, then the chances of your application being denied will increase.
The impact of a DUI conviction on your future is one reason why it is so critical to hire an experienced DUI defense lawyer Santa Ana, CA to represent you if you have been charged with a DUI. If you have already been convicted of a DUI, then you may be eligible to have the charge expunged. This is available for individuals who have been convicted of a California misdemeanor or felony offense who have successfully completed probation, and who either did not serve time in state prison or who served time in state prison but would not have done so under realignment. If your conviction is expunged, it generally will not need to be disclosed in the admissions process.
If you are facing a DUI charge or have a conviction on your record, the Chambers Law Firm can help. Contact us today at 714-760-4088 or dchambers@clfca.com to schedule a free initial consultation with a skilled DUI defense lawyer Santa Ana, CA.
