<p>I got a misdemeanor charge - at least I think I'm going to - I was involved in a parking lot accident for an unattended vehicle and didn't report the property damage.</p>
<p>How will this affect my chances at HYPSM? </p>
<p>I have a stellar academic record (val of my school out of 600 or so), pretty good extracurriculars (research, president of a a few important clubs, student government leader), and good awards (ISEF, siemens, etc.). My SAT is 2300.</p>
<p>My court date is in early december. So how should I go about this?</p>
<p>It depends on the college obviously, but that seems so minor that I wouldn't really worry about it. If you were involved in a violent crime that would be one thing, but that's just a technicality. There's usually a space on applications to explain the circumstances, so just be honest and reiterate what you learned from the experience. Maybe say something a little lighthearted.</p>
<p>My only advice is to follow up with the court date and if needed, explain this on your applications. It seems like something small (i mean parking?? lol) so i'm sure it won't impact your application greatly considering your other stats.</p>
<p>This reminds me of that one kid who got suspended (expelled?) for hacking into his school's computer system and putting a picture of Borat as the desktop.</p>
<p>It was kind of stupid, but you didn't kill anybody. Explain the situation and the college will understand.</p>
<p>Sorry, but I think you are getting lots of poor advice from students here, who are erroneously downgrading the seriousness of what you did. Leaving the scene of an accident, not immediately reporting the damage to the other car is LYING. It is a crime. Colleges do not look fondly on this type of behavior. It shows a lack of character.</p>
<p>Well, I've got to agree with momof3sons. I understand that you may not have known what to do or been planning to deal with the person personally later, but regardless, you are going to have to address this and not by making light of it. Leaving the scene of an accident with damage is stealing from someone. You are taking the value away from their belongings. It will not be seen as "nothing" by admissions officers, but you have a good chance it won't hurt you if you deal with it properly.</p>
<p>I think your best bet is to very seriously explain what happened and what you've learned from it and how you plan to change in the future.</p>
<p>I am a former Deputy District Attorney, and I agree completely with momof3sons.
I hope that your family is involved in helping you manage this situation, and that the adults in your life are taking this seriously. If you were my child, we would be having some very long conversations about how this could have happened in the first place.</p>
<p>I agree with the above. While this isn't necessarily something that's going to keep you out of HYPSM, it is something that you need to address on your applications in a major way. Make sure that colleges understand that this is a big deal to you. I'd even write an essay on it, emphasizing what you've learned and how you've grown as a result of the incident. If you simply mention that you have this charge of failing to report damage to someone else's car without going into detail or making it seem like a big deal, colleges are going to have serious questions about your character.</p>
<p>I'm not quite sure how you can "grown as a result of the incident." It's a minor thing, I wouldn't write an entire essay about it. Just mention it in the application.</p>
<p>Hahahahaha, Ardou --- That's me you're talking about :-P I posted about that here on CC a while ago..</p>
<p>I didn't hack - someone left the web design account logged in, and it was Borat on the front of our school's website. I was suspended, not expelled :P</p>
<p>siliconvalleymom and neelyoon,
I am a former assistant district attorney in a major metropolitan area. Perhaps I should have mentioned this in my original post. I am not just guessing that this is more serious than a number of your peers are telling you here.</p>
<p>What would be the appropriate plan of action? Right an essay on it, and do it as my CommonApp? or do it as a supplemental essay? Or attach the essay to where it asks if you've been involved in crime, etc.?</p>
<p>I don't take this lightly. But I seriously need some advice. I did not know how to go about contacting the driver, since the driver was not there. I should've left a note, but panicked at that instant. When I went to the police station after to report it, it was closed. So I left it at that. I should've probably taken down the number of the car - but did not realize that it would be helpful. I made horribly dumb choices. So a week later, I learned a witness had taken down my car number and reported the accident.</p>
<p>I've had a long talk with my parents, etc. I do regret my actions a lot - and I am going to try and abide the law ferociously in the future.</p>
<p>Neely, what I am doing about my suspension is writing it under the upload document about disciplinary history. Also, you will not technically have to report it if you apply before the court date. Though, I'd suggest you do.</p>
<p>In your essay, do not act cocky. Act remorseful, and coherently explain what you learned from this incident, and explain this incident out well, but don't pity yourself.</p>
<p>Neely, it depends on whether the college app question asks about it. If you are indeed convicted of a misdemeanor as a result of this situation, and that is a question asked on your apps, you do need to report it. This is a situation that I hope you are discussing with an attorney. Depending on its resolution, you may not have to report it, and it may not be anything your high school is going to be interested in reporting either. Perhaps you can ask your GC about this at your school if you are unsure. </p>
<p>The best mea culpa essays are ones where there is truly a regret and a learning experience, and sadly most of the ones written are the CYA essays, where kids try to say the right thing. My son had to write an apology and learning experience essay as a sophomore for his involvement in some trouble. Two years later, he wrote another essay reflecting back on the experience. What a world of difference between those essays. He was embarrassed at how trite and self serving he sounded in the first essay. Time was what put the event into perspective of what his behavior at that time indicated in terms of what he needed to learn to become a more responsible, mature adult. He's still not there, but is getting there, and I am becoming proud to say that it is a slow, genuine change.</p>
<p>The common app asks "Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, or other crime?" The common app portion for the secondary school to complete also asks this question. This is not an unusual question to find on college apps.</p>
<p>There is a big difference between being charged with something and being convicted. You need to hire a lawyer and defend yourself. Depending upon the circumstances you may find that you will be able to plead down to a charge less than a misdemeanor, or get the benefit of some diversion program, or you may have some technical defense -- did they read you your Miranda rights before you "confessed"? Any of these could mean you would not be convicted and therefore would not need to address it or even mention it in your applications. Do not treat this as if it is a foregone conclusion, get some legal help.</p>
<p>The key word is "convicted". At this time, you are accused of something that can result in a misdemeanor. You need to talk to a lawyer as to what the probable result of this will be. RIght now you are innocent of the charge, legally. Until the case is resolved, you are not guilty of anything.</p>