Help! Criminal Addendum

Graduate School
1

<p>I'm applying to graduate school again, PhD in cultural/media/communication/american studies--just finished my MA in english in may--and I got a DUI right after Grad school graduation--after a celebration, it was egregiously stupid, opprobrious behavior, I can't describe the shame and emotional pain I feel. I completed all of my sanctions within a month, had to do jail time because of a possibly dumber error made 3 years before this after undergraduate graduation...this is my addendum and I'd really appreciate it if anyone with any experience could give me some pointers on this one.</p>

<p>On July 13, 2011 I plead no lo contendre and was convicted of Driving Under the Influence and Reckless Driving by Speed in Brunswick County, Virginia. I was pulled over for speeding by a state trooper at 4:45am on June 11, 2011, who then conducted field sobriety and breath tests and cited me for driving under the influence of alcohol (BAC <0.15). It was an extremely poor decision for which I served two weeks in county jail, completed 140 hours of community service in 14 days, 20 hours of DUI and substance abuse education, 12 hours of risk-reduction driving education, and paid all fines and restitution. In completing these sanctions I garnered the highest levels of approval from my supervisors. This was a horribly stupid error in judgment on my part, for which I take complete responsibility. It will never happen again.</p>

<p>On July 12, 2008 I was involved in a single car accident as a result of my attempt to use a cellular phone to send a text message in Savannah, Ga. For this, I was charged with Reckless Driving-Improper Use of a Cellular Phone While Operating a Motor Vehicle. This contributed to the harsh sentencing for the later offense, which I understand and accept as appropriate. I suffered both sternal and femoral fractures and was placed on probation for 3 months. This was also a stupid and extremely dangerous decision. I am grateful to be alive. I have an extremely heightened awareness, now, of the responsibility requisite for operating a motor vehicle and will never take such activity lightly again.</p>

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<p>I think it is very well-written and all you can do is be honest. I know that schools ask for this info and as long as you don’t hide it, you should be fine. I have a friend who was reluctant to mention some bad mistakes in his past but he did it honestly and now he’s in law school. I think everyone makes mad choices in life and I think an adcom would see that you are obviously trying to do better in life. I think that it’s a good addendum. Now, if your SOP, LORs, transcripts and other accomplishments are in order, then I really don’t think this will be an issue. Good luck!!</p>

3

<p>This thread may be pretty relevant.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/graduate-school/842728-graduate-school-dui-my-record-help.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/graduate-school/842728-graduate-school-dui-my-record-help.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Professor X is a pretty well known poster on the fourm, though he doesn’t post nearly as much as he used to.</p>

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<p>@applelinguist: thanks for the vote of confidence, I really appreciate it!</p>

<p>@racinreaver: thanks for the link, you’ll notice i have actually posted in there…i’ve also bugged professor x about this very issue, and he is extremely helpful–thanks for the direction!</p>

<p>i think i’ll stick with the addendum as is and work hard on my sops…
cheers to you both and please, any more comments are extremely welcome!
PHDH</p>