Critique my Character and Fitness addendum please?
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2015 3:09 am
First of all, thanks for taking the time to read this and offer advice or concerns, I do appreciate that. If this is not the right forum to post in, please correct me. The 2 addendum below are 100% truthful and I am really not hiding anything. Both addendum are regarding one single incident, but because the crime was committed on my university grounds, I need to write a secondary one regarding my suspension related to the incident.
Please note that the application asks for an addendum for each C+F question I answer "yes" to.
1.)The first question asks if I have ever been charged, arrested, or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, including expunged or sealed records, the facts of the incident and where the court hearings were held etc... this one really asks for everything.
On December 19, 2008 I was apprehended at the xxxxx University book store due to me shoplifting text books for classes. Since the books collectively exceeded $400 in wholesale value, I was taken to the police station and had charges filed against me for felony grand theft, penal code section 487 (a). It was my first and only time shoplifting and I was caught. Since I was a first time offender and had no prior criminal history, my charges were dismissed and I was then charged with misdemeanor trespassing, penal code section 602 (k). I graciously plead Nolo Contendere to the misdemeanor trespassing charge and agreed to complete 250 hours of community service for my offense. My whole court process took place at xxxxxxx Justice Center. I successfully completed all my community service time at the (community garden/park) where I did manual work on the garden and exposition grounds.
The entire experience 8 years ago was very sobering. My actions were absolutely deplorable, reckless, myopic and out of character that day. There is absolutely no excuse for my actions. There were a million other different and lawful ways I could have raised the money to buy those books and I still regret that decision to this day and take full responsibility for my action and its consequences. I do believe the experience forced me to be a better person in terms of appreciating what I have and the sanctity of the community and the role of law.
It is my understanding that this offense can be expunged and I am now in the process of doing so.
2.)The second question asks if I have ever been subject to any conduct or disciplinary action taken by an Education Institution.
My addendum:
Since the event described in my conviction addendum took place on XXXXX campus while I was a student, I was disciplined with a suspension of one academic year after review and punishment seen fit by the (insert college disciplinary committee) for my shoplifting offense. This disciplinary suspension took place during the 2009 – 2010 academic year. I returned to xxx the following school year.
My actions were terribly out of character, reckless and resulted in a sobering experience. During the one year suspension I performed 250 hours of community service set by the court and worked a job at a restaurant as a bar back where I continued to work after resuming school the following year. The disciplinary suspension enacted on me for my actions allowed me to really reflect on my terrible decision and resulting actions. I learned that year to appreciate the education I took for granted and as a result of this experience, I focused all of my efforts the following year on my education and made the dean’s list.
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Do you think this would really put my application to my number one school at risk? The school is a strong regional where I am above the 75% LSAT and right at the Median GPA and i am a MA URM. I have strong recs: 1) my boss who is an alum at the school and 2) my legal writing professor in college where I received the top grade that semester in his class. I have been out of college for three years and have held a job at a firm that entire time.
Thanks again.
Please note that the application asks for an addendum for each C+F question I answer "yes" to.
1.)The first question asks if I have ever been charged, arrested, or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, including expunged or sealed records, the facts of the incident and where the court hearings were held etc... this one really asks for everything.
On December 19, 2008 I was apprehended at the xxxxx University book store due to me shoplifting text books for classes. Since the books collectively exceeded $400 in wholesale value, I was taken to the police station and had charges filed against me for felony grand theft, penal code section 487 (a). It was my first and only time shoplifting and I was caught. Since I was a first time offender and had no prior criminal history, my charges were dismissed and I was then charged with misdemeanor trespassing, penal code section 602 (k). I graciously plead Nolo Contendere to the misdemeanor trespassing charge and agreed to complete 250 hours of community service for my offense. My whole court process took place at xxxxxxx Justice Center. I successfully completed all my community service time at the (community garden/park) where I did manual work on the garden and exposition grounds.
The entire experience 8 years ago was very sobering. My actions were absolutely deplorable, reckless, myopic and out of character that day. There is absolutely no excuse for my actions. There were a million other different and lawful ways I could have raised the money to buy those books and I still regret that decision to this day and take full responsibility for my action and its consequences. I do believe the experience forced me to be a better person in terms of appreciating what I have and the sanctity of the community and the role of law.
It is my understanding that this offense can be expunged and I am now in the process of doing so.
2.)The second question asks if I have ever been subject to any conduct or disciplinary action taken by an Education Institution.
My addendum:
Since the event described in my conviction addendum took place on XXXXX campus while I was a student, I was disciplined with a suspension of one academic year after review and punishment seen fit by the (insert college disciplinary committee) for my shoplifting offense. This disciplinary suspension took place during the 2009 – 2010 academic year. I returned to xxx the following school year.
My actions were terribly out of character, reckless and resulted in a sobering experience. During the one year suspension I performed 250 hours of community service set by the court and worked a job at a restaurant as a bar back where I continued to work after resuming school the following year. The disciplinary suspension enacted on me for my actions allowed me to really reflect on my terrible decision and resulting actions. I learned that year to appreciate the education I took for granted and as a result of this experience, I focused all of my efforts the following year on my education and made the dean’s list.
--------------------
Do you think this would really put my application to my number one school at risk? The school is a strong regional where I am above the 75% LSAT and right at the Median GPA and i am a MA URM. I have strong recs: 1) my boss who is an alum at the school and 2) my legal writing professor in college where I received the top grade that semester in his class. I have been out of college for three years and have held a job at a firm that entire time.
Thanks again.