<p>This is my first post here at CC. I'll admit I roamed anonymously in the NYU and CMU boards. Hi fellow CC members.</p>
<p>First off, my specs, I'll talk about the felony (ies), identify the schools I'm interested in, and then ask some questions. All input is appreciated.</p>
<p>GPA: 3.889 that will probably drop to a 3.84 once I get my B in Math Application Honors. Dean's list every semester
EC: Student Government, Honor Society, PTK (International 2 year college honor society)
Comm service: 10 hours this semester for school. Next semester (spring 2008) I'm looking into tutoring patients at a rehab clinic nearby in remedial math or english although that probably won't make its way into my transcript if I apply somewhere for fall 2008.</p>
<p>I was convicted of possession with intent to deliver and conspiracy to possess with intent. Legal jargon translation = caught with 2 ounces of marijuana, a lot of bags, and a scale. After the arrest, I graduated HS and went to community college without much consideration on school preferences; admittedly, my GPA was a 2.4 or 2.7 (i don't care to look). Some outcomes of the arrest aren't so terrible, however. I grew into a pretty competitive student at least by comm college standards and intend on transferring to a 4 year college in fall 2008.</p>
<p>I'm considering Villanova, Drexel, NYU, and Carnegie Mellon.</p>
<p>As I will undoubtedly be asked about the felonies on paper and probably during an interview (if I get any), do you guys have any idea to what degree this will hurt my competitiveness? As well, what strategies for getting my foot in the door would the community here suggest? </p>
<p>I'll most likely have to attach a sheet to my application talking about the charges. On that very sheet I'll probably include something like "don't deny me for the felony at least w/o interviewing me." I'm a pretty articulate person who deserves another chance for a drug that was easier to quit then caffeine.</p>
<p>I honestly don't know what to tell you about those schools. However, I go to USC and I know 2 people here who were busted with maryjane (intent to sell) in highschool. Somehow they got in.</p>
<p>I don't know if that helps you. But hopefully it's a bit reassuring.</p>
<p>I think that tutoring patients at a rehab clinic is a great idea. You could show colleges that you are passionate about helping others overcome the struggles you obviously overcame.</p>
<p>Maybe someday you would like to open your own rehab clinic to help others "get clean" or you could become a motivational speaker. </p>
<p>Do have any good recommendations from teachers at you community college? I think that could definitely help.</p>
<p>There is no way to say with certainty how this will affect your chances at any particular school. What will make a difference at many schools is the way you present the information. Don't lie. Don't make excuses. Don't say things like "this was a minor offense for a drug that was easier to quit than caffeine" Don't beat around the bush if asked directly in interviews. </p>
<p>Do explain, with concrete examples, what you have learned from your experience (assuming you HAVE learned something), and why it won't happen again (assuming it won't). Demonstrate that you have taken responsibility for your actions (assuming you have), and that you have grown and matured (assuming you have). Then, hope for the best.</p>
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I honestly don't know what to tell you about those schools. However, I go to USC and I know 2 people here who were busted with maryjane (intent to sell) in highschool. Somehow they got in.</p>
<p>I don't know if that helps you. But hopefully it's a bit reassuring.</p>
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<p>Atleast one recommendation, my ENG101 and 102 teacher gave me only one B on a paper. My comp sci professor would probably give me one if I take his specialized study class for cluster computing and CIS111b. Hrm.</p>
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Don't say things like "this was a minor offense for a drug that was easier to quit than caffeine"</p>
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<p>Sometimes colleges rejoice in reason. It's not a minor offense, albeit it is in the scale of felonies, but neither was kissing a jew only a lifetime ago. Nonetheless, thanks for the advice carlyn.</p>
<p>Delta, so you are comparing your drug-related felony to an old stereotype? Besides being insulting, though I know you didn't mean it that way, that is an absurd comment. Definitely shows you don't really "regret" your actions; you regret that you were caught.</p>
<p>I wouldn't want such a character as part of my college community... But I am sure some wouldn't mind with a more adequate recognition of your serious errors.</p>
<p>Agh, kazehakase this unix-based browser I was just trying out crashed. I'll try to articulate my response once again.</p>
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Delta, so you are comparing your drug-related felony to an old stereotype? Besides being insulting, though I know you didn't mean it that way, that is an absurd comment. Definitely shows you don't really "regret" your actions; you regret that you were caught.</p>
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<p>Whenever somebody says something that doesn't agree with conventional pieties, an explanation is usually necessary. I'll pose some questions.</p>
<p>I used that comparison to acknowledge that injustice isn't just a thing of the past. Should French book smugglers have stopped smuggling books before the French Revolution? Should governments value and legitimize consensual contracts between members of society that do not undermine the general public? Will a tyrannical approach to a social and medical issue solve our drug problem? Do big tobacco execs hurt America more then drug dealers? Does the correlation between mentally-troubled persons and illicit drug use spell oppression? Will drug offenses sound as silly as racial offenses in the future?</p>
<p>Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential to it. - Howard Zinn</p>
<p>@deltateam2:
I completely agree with your argument and believe the war on drugs is a colossal waste of money, energy, and a horrible way to fill prisons, but I certainly wouldn't bet anything on that argument getting you into college. Go with the "what I have learned" side of things.</p>
<p>ps - the kissing a jew example rings true...and i'm a devout jew.</p>
<p>I appreciate the tip JeepMom. I've read a little bit into it. I can get FAFSA money because I wasn't arrested while getting the aid.</p>
<p>Arrogance? Am I too arrogant or possess not enough humility to submit to civil rule? Besides, I'm not an arrogant person; just a free-thinker with cognitive faculties. As a guideline, let's stick to the issues.</p>
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but I certainly wouldn't bet anything on that argument getting you into college. Go with the "what I have learned" side of things.</p>
<p>ps - the kissing a jew example rings true...and i'm a devout jew.</p>
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<p>I was considering that too mmeyers. There are really two ways I could go with this. I really think I can hold positions from both camps to some degree. I think one of my most persuasive points is that my track record in the last 3 years suggests that I'll be the soberest kid on campus. I needed rehabilitation- not a "life sentence." When I say life sentence, I mean the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction, and in particular that of a felon.</p>
<p>I'd just like to extend thanks to anyone that posted in this thread. Feel free to continue the debate or add any advice. I just really needed some discourse where I could feel the water, develop some quips, and just think this over in a community that I admired.</p>
<p>"Arrogance? Am I too arrogant or possess not enough humility to submit to civil rule? Besides, I'm not an arrogant person; just a free-thinker with cognitive faculties. As a guideline, let's stick to the issues."</p>
<p>This is outside perspective. To us you are arrogant and careless about your crime. I agree with you about legality, fighting for what's right and trying to change unjust laws, yada yada. The fact is you're asking here about how to get into college, not what is morally correct.</p>
<p>To get into college you are VERY sorry about the VERY bad thing that you did, and it has made you a better person who would NEVER do such a thing again.</p>
<p>Your real opinion on the issue doesn't matter, and should not be displayed at any time. If you're worried about messing up the interviews just repeat my last paragraph to yourself in front of the mirror every day until then.</p>
<p>The weed is not really the problem - the felony(s) is a HUGE problem tho - and that is what the OP really needs to address and work around cohesively.</p>
<p>Thanks again JeepMOM. I was actually considering trying out that fund maybe 4 months ago until I found out just as the site says </p>
<p>"(If you weren't enrolled in school at the time, you should be eligible for federal aid.) "</p>
<p>Unless they mean public school... hrm.. probably not being that the question posed is "Were you enrolled in college and receiving federal aid at the time you committed any of the drug offenses of which you were convicted?"</p>