Worried about background check

YOu can go either way here. If you want to tell the company up front, do it, but you can let them find it out as well, I don't think you should worry.

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I am in the same shoes: also in a dream school and with Re Vera after me

I worked in several countries at various positions, with managers and currencies changing back and front. Also, I know there are +/- two week discrepancies between HR system inputs and actual employment dates. My take is that the background check is after evident bluff: non-existing recommendors, positions that never existed etc.

Honestly speaking, I don't care about the process. I know my data is true, but if the school decide to make a case that my CV employment date differs from HR systems by amazing 5 days, then I'll probably won't be happy in that school anyhow.

I would not worry about it at all! Background checks do not and can not go into such detail for every applicant, they just do a highlevel check to make sure your work experience is legitimate, your past education is legitimate and most probably a credit and criminal record check for good measure. Beyond that I dont see how a more indepth background check would be feasible for the 1000's of newly admitted students.

Re Vera did my background check (I’m a R1 admit), and someone from that company emailed me asking about two minor discrepancies (job title not matching what’s on my app and a slight discrepancy in salary / bonus figures). I clearly explained both issues to the Re Vera person and submitted supporting documentation to clarify. They seemed 100% fine with that. From my experience, they will definitely nit pick into your employment history and verify everything (start/end dates, compensation info, job title), but if they find anything that needs clarification, they will absolutely give you the benefit of the doubt and allow you to explain. I really wouldn’t worry about it too much if I were you. Re Vera and the ad coms both know that stuff like this happens and like bb said, they are really just looking for major things indicating that you clearly lied or embellished facts on an application to try to improve your chances of admission. I REALLY don’t think they will revoke admission or fellowships unless they have proof beyond a reasonable doubt that you either purposefully misled the adcom, or you were grossly negligent in unintentionally providing them materially false information.

It is already July 15th and I haven't heard back about the background check. They contacted my references already, and I guess they are waiting to hear back from my uni and work place. Does it typically take this long? School starts next month!

Sometimes these companies do not get back to you when you're finished with the check. Contact the admissions office. I would think that by now that the company or the school would let you know something is wrong if there is.

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Are the background checks random or everyone does them?

The schools that do them (pretty much all of the top schools) will do them for everyone who is admitted and pays the deposit.

My friend who went through the process with ReVera last year said that they went about the process with out contacting him before. They called him to ask for a phone number they were missing and thats the only call they made. So, they don't actually check all criteria, but randomly pick something.
I hope that someone who went throgh the process will verify this.

That's not how it works, they don't contact you before they check individual items, why should they? You already gave them all of the relevant information on your application. They will only contact you if they need additional information or find a discrepancy.

Now, what they check depends on what the school pays for. I think most schools will at least contact recommenders, and confirm transcripts and work experience. But ReVera also has options to check extracurricular activities and awards, and I'm sure some schools do have them checked as well. I don't think anyone knows exactly how much any individual school will check.

Some schools let you know once the background check is complete, with others if you don't hear anything that means there were no problems.

You seem a bit... worried? Tell us what your situation is and we might be able to give you better insight.

Did you go through that process?
Less worried. More anxious to have all the details behind me. For me all is fine, but one job in a small company where the secretaries have poor english skills. I wish I would have given my boss's direct number which would make things easier. It would be fine either way - worst case they will contact me for further contact details.

I am just trying to understand in detail how exactly it works. After working so hard, I dont like feeling helpless. I am a hands on kind of person.
Thx for the info

Dude if you didn't lie then you've got nothing to worry about. Background checks are what they do. They do thousands, maybe tens of thousands per year just for business schools, but they also do pre-employment screening and bg checks for government agencies. Consider the number of international students that apply to b-school from all over the world - they won't have any problem just cause this lady doesn't speak English.

Good luck.

Lets hope so...
Thx!

You think I should email adcom the direct number of my supervisor and my recommenders just in case or let it be?

Your recommenders would have had to put their phone numbers into the online form when they filled it out. If not, Kroll/ReVera will probably go through HR.

Just let it be, if they need anything from you they will contact you. It seems pretty common for them to call with questions or to clarify certain things.

my recommender placed the main company line (small company). With the bigger company I have no concerns. In small places things tend to be less organized. I guess I'll wait and see. All should be ok. Thx for helping.

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