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addendum?
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 4:06 pm
by bigvol
I received a possession of mj charge towards the end of senior year of high school. I then completed a diversion program and paid a $1,000 "administrative fee" to ward off prosecution. There isn't really a justifiable reason for the arrest, other than I was stupid then but have since improved. Should I even bother with an addendum? If not, I plan on briefly addressing it in my personal statement as an obstacle that I overcame, etc.
I have a 3.6/162 and am applying to a few t25 schools, but more in the t50 range. I have URM status as well as good softs.
Re: addendum?
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 4:08 pm
by rinkrat19
bigvol wrote:I received a possession of mj charge towards the end of senior year of high school. I then completed a diversion program and paid a $1,000 "administrative fee" to ward off prosecution. There isn't really a justifiable reason for the arrest, other than I was stupid then but have since improved. Should I even bother with an addendum? If not, I plan on briefly addressing it in my personal statement as an obstacle that I overcame, etc.
I have a 3.6/162 and am applying to a few t25 schools, but more in the t50 range. I have URM status as well as good softs.
I don't think it's much of an obstacle to overcome for a PS topic. It should be an addendum. I did this stupid thing, I jumped through all their hoops, the hoops were effective at correcting my path and I haven't done anything stupid since.
Re: addendum?
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 4:36 pm
by rinkrat19
It will have a neglible effect on your chances. It was one fairly minor offense, 4+ years ago by the time you enter law school, and there's been no reoffense. If it had happened three times over the past 5 years, or you showed a pattern of escalation (possession=>intent to distribute=>something harder than pot or something) it'd probably hurt you.
Re: addendum?
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 4:38 pm
by bigvol
Thanks a lot. I'm also curious about any negative impact that it could have on my chances. I've read that offenses that question one's integrity/honesty are more serious than "party" offenses, but I'm still apprehensive about it.
Re: addendum?
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 4:38 pm
by bigvol
First time poster, still trying to figure this out. Thanks again.
Re: addendum?
Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 3:46 pm
by bp shinners
If everyone who had a possession charge was barred from law school, we would have a crisis in this country of not having enough lawyers. Write the addendum, but don't worry about it.
Re: addendum?
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 3:32 pm
by jdmonkey
You will be forced by the wording of some C&F questions to make this an addendum. Don't put this in your personal statement!The PS is about selling yourself. Why you want to be a lawyer etc. Don't dignify this incident in your PS: it is way too minor.
Re: addendum?
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:14 pm
by Ti Malice
bigvol wrote:If not, I plan on briefly addressing it in my personal statement as an obstacle that I overcame, etc.
As others have said, don't do this. Don't do anything remotely like this.
The C&F section of your app will usually require you to add detail about this after you disclose it.
Re: addendum?
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:19 pm
by hephaestus
Ti Malice wrote:bigvol wrote:If not, I plan on briefly addressing it in my personal statement as an obstacle that I overcame, etc.
As others have said, don't do this. Don't do anything remotely like this.
The C&F section of your app will usually require you to add detail about this after you disclose it.
Yeah this. Don't mention it in a ps.
Re: addendum?
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:44 pm
by Nova
SWIM had 3 weed convictions on their record and it didn’t seem to affect their cycle. They ended up attending a T20 on a 105k scholarship.
Only disclose the incident as a response to the C&F questions. Be super brief. The addendum should not be longer than a paragraph. Youll be fine.
Re: addendum?
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 7:30 pm
by Rory19
I agree with everyone that posted above. Phrase your addendum briefly, like I imagine one would write an explanation for your bar ethics review. On June 2, 2002 I was cited for xyz infraction. I completed xyz and paid the fine. The End. No life lesson or apology.