Hello everyone this is my first post,
My senior year of high school I received a reckless driving charge for going 81 in a 65 (very stupid) and was found guilty in court and was issued a $200 fine. I was 18 at the time and did not have the money for a lawyer. I live in Virginia and it is a class 1 misdemeanor. Fast forward, I am now a sophomore in community college with a 3.95 GPA going into my last semester. I also work full-time and have always taken a full course load in college with my work. I am also the president of the business club and an officer in the honor society.
I am finishing up applications and have disclosed my misdemeanor and explained the situation. I feel like as soon as the admissions office’s see my application they will throw it out. I am hoping to transfer to UVA’s business program where they only take about 30 transfers out of 200 applications every year.
Does anyone have any knowledge on my reckless’s impact on my possible admissions?
Thank you.
I honestly don’t know the answer to your question in a definitive manner. I can’t however imagine it will have an impact.
Few people could honestly say they have never driven 81 mph so I would not fear hypocrisy.
Congratulations on all your success through hard work and determination at CC. You sound like a great candidate. Best of luck!!
In my 20s, I was arrested in VA for being Drunk In Public. I had stepped out of the bar to see where my sister had gone - I thought she had ventured outside for some fresh air (she had actually gone to the restroom). A police officer was outside the bar, and I made the mistake of trying to ask him if he had seen someone who looked like my sister. I had three or four beers in me and had no intention of driving.
I spent the night in jail and had to pay a $50 fine. And, fun fun fun, I had to explain that arrest on all my graduate school applications, since it was a misdemeanor.
I got in everywhere I applied, including Harvard.
I have a strong feeling admissions committees can sometimes overlook something that they themselves have probably done (sped, drank too much and stepped outside, those kinds of things), if the student is honest, apologetic, and has an outstanding application.
Theft, assault, property damage - those kinds of things, not so much.
Thank you, that makes me feel much better. The application committee is very selective so hopefully they are understanding.
I couldn’t believe that driving less than 20 mph over the speed limit could possibly be a misdemeanor, but I looked it up and it’s true (anything over 80 mph is reckless driving regardless of the speed limit). That’s pretty draconian if you ask me. In NY (where I live), reckless driving is also a misdemeanor, but only truly reckless conduct such as driving at a high rate of speed in the wrong direction or running lights and stop signs while trying to evade the police would qualify. I will certainly keep this in mind the next time I’m driving through Va.