Reckless Driving ticket - Say goodbye to gradschool plans?

[cytochrome]

I got a ticket for reckless driving for going 110 in a 60mph zone, silly I know.

I have no criminal record and I'm a good student! 4.0 GPA, studying math and physics, published papers, great research and internships, overseas REUs.

Reckless driving is a misdemeanor so I'll have to put it on my application. Should I say goodbye to graduate school? Or just shoot low now?

 

[Drakkith]

Why would you need to put a misdemeanor on your application?

 

[cytochrome]

I thought applications ask for misdemeanors?

 

[Angry Citizen]

At worst, it'll ask if you've ever been arrested. I doubt you were arrested for reckless driving. Generally they only care if you're a felon.

 

[cytochrome]

Nope wasn't arrested, just given a court date to go talk about it according to the cop. Still a misdemeanor though

 

[Jorriss]

110 mph. Nice.


(my applications, iirc, asked for felonies, that is all)

 

[MarneMath]

I really think they only ask you to list felony, but assume they do ask you for a misdemeanor. I'm positive you will not be the first person in the history of graduate school to get accepted with one.

 

[LogicX]

I could have sworn I remembered reading in the applications I looked at to list "non-misdemeanor" offenses.

 

[deluks917]

I have never heard of misdemeanors mattering in grad school application. Especially not traffic violations.

 

[Drakkith]

I think it's highly unlikely that they will ask you to list misdemeanors.

 

[AlephZero]

Nope wasn't arrested, just given a court date to go talkabout it according to the cop. Still a misdemeanor though

I don't know enough about the US system to understand the definition of a misdemeanor and a felony, but that "go talkabout it" sounds a bit vague.

FWIW under UK court sentencing guidelines, 110 in a 60 area is above the cut-off limit for a fixed penalty speeding ticket and you would be charged with "careless or reckless driving", with an "average" sentence of 3 months in jail and a 1 to 2 year driving ban after you were relesed. But you wouldn't be arrested unless the police had reason to think you would abscond, or the driving offence was connected with some other criminal activity.