Students with past criminal or disciplinary records have legitimate concerns about how this affects their college options. Here is what the current landscape looks like.
The Common App Change
In 2019, the Common Application removed its question about criminal history from the standard application. This followed advocacy from 'Ban the Box' movements arguing that early criminal history disclosure creates unnecessary barriers for applicants who have already served their time. As a result, the majority of colleges using the Common App do not ask about criminal history as part of the initial application process.
Schools That Still Ask
Some schools retain their own supplemental questions about criminal or disciplinary history. These questions typically ask about: felony convictions, pending criminal charges, academic misconduct at a previous institution, or disciplinary actions resulting in suspension or expulsion. These questions are separate from the Common App and appear in the supplemental materials specific to that school.
How to Handle Disclosure When Required
If a school asks and the question applies to you: be honest, be brief, and provide context. Admissions officers evaluate the nature, recency, circumstances, and evidence of rehabilitation when considering records. A juvenile arrest from several years ago with no conviction is treated very differently from a recent felony conviction. Use the Additional Information section or the school's designated space to provide a brief, factual account of what happened, any accountability you took, and what you have done since.
The Most Important Rule
Never lie on a college application about a criminal record when asked. Misrepresentation on a college application is treated as academic fraud — and when discovered (through background checks that some schools run), it results in rescinded admission or expulsion. Honesty, with context, is always the better strategy.