I’m applying ED to an Ivy League school, I have the scores, GPA, and great ECs, and I want to go into criminal justice.
About two weeks ago, I got a ticket for aggravated speeding which in my state could get me stuck with a Class A misdemeanor. The school I’m applying ED to requires you to explain pending criminal charges (my court date is a few days after the app due date) and gives you up to 800 words.
How do I approach this?
Do I write a pretty essay connecting my interest in criminal justice reform and privilege to the experience, or do I just write the bare minimum trying to minimize the situation?
The above is about what I’d write too, but in more carefully couched terms and including a mea culpa. I would not go into the possible consequences of the ticket. Just that you have incurred one, and will be careful not to do this again. . I do not advise going into the details of the consequences. Less said , the better as long as regret and commitment not to do again expressed. I don’t think it’s going to hurt your app. A lot of people including AOs get speeding tickets.
I would consult with an attorney familiar with traffic violations in your area see if there is a process to make this go away by pleading to a lesser offense.
I assume you’re in Illinois where aggravated speeding (35+ MPH over the limit) is a class A misdemeanor. If you plead guilty to that charge, you likely will not go to jail, but you will have a criminal record. How fast were you driving? Even pleading down to 25 MPH would result in a Class B misdemeanor, also resulting in a criminal record.
If you’re that concerned then definitely hire a traffic attorney and see if you can get it down to 24, which is just a nasty speeding ticket, but no criminal record.
I know in North Carolina, going more than 15 mph over the speed limit is a misdemeanor (i.e., a permanent criminal record). That’s draconian in my opinion. OP, if this is your situation, I would explain exactly what you are accused of doing. Telling a college that criminal charges are pending against you sounds pretty bad. If you explain it’s for driving 70 mph in a 55 mph zone, that sounds a lot better.
Also, while trying to plead this thing down is a good idea, it won’t do OP any good with respect to his ED application. The deadline is only two days away.
yes, I’m in illinois, and unfortunately the officer put 35 on the ticket which puts me right in that Class A range. I have a lawyer, but he hasn’t responded to my requests for help with the application.