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am i screwed?
- Thread starter Jstone123
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You didn't have 2 dollars in your car, even in coins, so you broke the law all in the process of getting a LOR? I hope I'm not feeding any creatures that live under bridges, but I guess anything can happen.
What matters more is if you get a misdemeanor on your record. It's my impression that many states have forgiveness/first offense programs, or other reasons, where they will not put a misdemeanor on your official record if you don't do anything again for x amount of time.
If it does get on your record, you have to tell the schools. For now, double and triple check there isn't anything you can do that can prevent that from happening.
What matters more is if you get a misdemeanor on your record. It's my impression that many states have forgiveness/first offense programs, or other reasons, where they will not put a misdemeanor on your official record if you don't do anything again for x amount of time.
If it does get on your record, you have to tell the schools. For now, double and triple check there isn't anything you can do that can prevent that from happening.
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I think the bigger issue than the types of offenses you commit is that you felt that you were more important than the laws at hand and therefore broke them.
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You showed some poor judgment along the way both in rushing around on short notice when you already had an appointment 3 weeks hence and parking without realizing it was a fee for service parking lot and running out the door without any cash and running off without paying. Now you are paying a big price in the anxiety you've got.
A summary offense is given for a "petty crime" that doesn't even rise to the level of a misdeameanor. I'm not sure if it must be reported to admissions committees and if reported if it would trash your chances of being admitted.
Some might be harsh & say "it shows poor judgment" and others might say, "I can see how it happens, let's cut him some slack".
Some part of this story about parking and not knowing that it cost money doesn't sound right to me....
It isn't so much getting the ticket that will kill your chances, it is that the whole story has you coming off like an immature kid who needs to learn to make better choices. Sorry if that sounds harsh. You've made bad choices in the past and haven't fixed them when you've been told to, like failing to take your full name off of an earlier post. (just click edit and then use the delete button to clear the letters and then repost). Yeeesh!
A summary offense is given for a "petty crime" that doesn't even rise to the level of a misdeameanor. I'm not sure if it must be reported to admissions committees and if reported if it would trash your chances of being admitted.
Some might be harsh & say "it shows poor judgment" and others might say, "I can see how it happens, let's cut him some slack".
Some part of this story about parking and not knowing that it cost money doesn't sound right to me....
It isn't so much getting the ticket that will kill your chances, it is that the whole story has you coming off like an immature kid who needs to learn to make better choices. Sorry if that sounds harsh. You've made bad choices in the past and haven't fixed them when you've been told to, like failing to take your full name off of an earlier post. (just click edit and then use the delete button to clear the letters and then repost). Yeeesh!
O
OncoticPressure
Your going to look foolish calling every school and telling them this. You THOUGHT wrong and made a mistake. You did commit "theft of services". They had a service, parking. You stole that service, making it theft. You're really displaying quite a bit of immaturity at this point. First find out what the offense is and if it will go on you record. Then go from there.
i would say it was an impulsive premed student decision. you surely did not think they would report it and the $10 tip does not speak well of you either. I would say if it is not a misdemeanor you do not have to tell the adcom unless they ask specifically if you ever broken any law. It should not screw you up as long as you are honest and clear about it.
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I am always amazed at the ability of premeds to scold and look down upon their peers for even the most minor of mistakes.
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Seriously, let's be real here. It was over two dollars. He even explained that he would come back with the money plus a tip, but the parking nazi didn't cut him any slack. God, you guys act like your **** don't stink.
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I agree with Perrotfish. Yes, the OP made a mistake. Yes, he doesn't come off as too bright considering what happened, but I think the majority of us (no matter how intelligent) have done something dumb before. With that being said though, I am curious as to why you didn't have any money, in any form (cash/card), on you at all. It was not a good idea to drive off without paying when clearly it was a pay to park garage, however like some have said, I would suggest you find out if this shows up on your record and if you can get the charges dropped. If not, then you are going to have to own up to your mistake and explain to the schools what happened (hopefully your explanation will be better thought out that the one you gave us).
As a side note, I'm just curious, what would you have done if you weren't in a hurry? You still didn't have the money on you to pay. I'm not sure what one is to do in such a situation in general. The only thing I can think of is to offer your information (name/address) and ask them to mail you a bill or something.
As a side note, I'm just curious, what would you have done if you weren't in a hurry? You still didn't have the money on you to pay. I'm not sure what one is to do in such a situation in general. The only thing I can think of is to offer your information (name/address) and ask them to mail you a bill or something.
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and you already do...
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I would let it go.
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OncoticPressure
Thank you oh wise pre-med.
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You need to watch Inside Man to really know how to pull these things off ..lol.
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A while ago we had a thread about "things we hate", or something to that effect... mine was "people who incorrectly believe that their job is important to society." I tried to explain it, but people didn't really get it.
THIS PARKING LADY is what I am talking about. She wants to believe that her job is important (when in reality, she could be replaced by a trained monkey or a computer at any time), so she literally denies a kid in desperate need a favor to falsely project an image of authority. Anything to feel needed in the world, I guess.
THIS PARKING LADY is what I am talking about. She wants to believe that her job is important (when in reality, she could be replaced by a trained monkey or a computer at any time), so she literally denies a kid in desperate need a favor to falsely project an image of authority. Anything to feel needed in the world, I guess.
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Agreed
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That job is important to the parking lady. It is what stands between home & homelessness. She has a responsibility to her employer to do her job. Even if she wanted to do a favor, she may have to reconcile her register with some kind of mechanical counter that determines the number of vehicles that exit the lot. Doing someone a favor could be interpreted as stealing from her employer. You know so little of the world that you misinterprete the importance of someone's job for their very survival to some grandious idea of "important to society".
Yeesh!
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LizzyM beat me to the punch...this is such an arrogant attitude.
Every job is important, which is why it exists. Some people don't have opportunities like graduating from college, or catching a break and getting one of your so-called "important" jobs. She wakes up in the morning, puts in a hard-day's work, and is able to put food on the table as a result. She probably sees dozens of people a week who "don't have money" and "need a favor". She doesn't know them, and has no reason to trust that they are honest and will return with the money. When they don't, she's left paying for it herself, or quite possibly getting fired for not doing her job. It's her responsibility to collect the money, why should she ignore this responsibility because someone didn't have the foresight to get money to pay for a service they used?
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I feel like there's a difference between "every job being important" and taking it seriously (which I agree with!) and really using a position of authority (even a small amount of authority) to exert power over another to an extent that seems excessive.
I've seen it elsewhere in other positions. When you encounter those particular people on a regular basis, you realize who those people are, and avoid or walk on eggshells accordingly (see the DMV, lol). I'm not saying that the OP had the right to blow her off and bomb out of the lot, but I can see how this can turn from something minorly stupid (even understandable) into a huge ordeal.
That being said, OP is still in the wrong, but I get it and I don't think he deserves to be burned at the stake like he was caught cheating on a test, that he was taking while driving, under the influence of alcohol... and prescription drugs.
I've seen it elsewhere in other positions. When you encounter those particular people on a regular basis, you realize who those people are, and avoid or walk on eggshells accordingly (see the DMV, lol). I'm not saying that the OP had the right to blow her off and bomb out of the lot, but I can see how this can turn from something minorly stupid (even understandable) into a huge ordeal.
That being said, OP is still in the wrong, but I get it and I don't think he deserves to be burned at the stake like he was caught cheating on a test, that he was taking while driving, under the influence of alcohol... and prescription drugs.
Damn you and your MSAR data lol. Its been a while
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See the wording of the schools you applied to. I have never heard of anyone having to report non-felony/non-misdemeanor offenses.
If you do have to report it, it will hurt your chances. If it was me in admissions, I'd laugh and cut you some slack. The fact that you probably already wet your panties over the possibility of not being a doctor over this would be enough punishment in my eyes. However, the word is filled with self-righteous little pricks, which are usually those in admissions.
If you do have to report it, it will hurt your chances. If it was me in admissions, I'd laugh and cut you some slack. The fact that you probably already wet your panties over the possibility of not being a doctor over this would be enough punishment in my eyes. However, the word is filled with self-righteous little pricks, which are usually those in admissions.
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I agree with this...this lady was on a serious power trip, haha.
Anyways, I think many people would have done the same thing in your situation---I really doubt it will affect your chances of admission, and if it does, well that is just dumb.
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anyone who feels anything other than sympathy for the OP and disgust for the c-word of a parking lady needs to shut their mouths.
IT WAS $2 AND HE WANTED TO BE ON TIME FOR AN IMPORTANT MEETING.
Hats off to the OP for getting things done. Everyone on their moral high horse can dutifully dunk their faces in a used toilet.
IT WAS $2 AND HE WANTED TO BE ON TIME FOR AN IMPORTANT MEETING.
Hats off to the OP for getting things done. Everyone on their moral high horse can dutifully dunk their faces in a used toilet.
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Not to be the self-righteous b*tch in the adcom office but this is the problem with the entitlement attitude we see in some applicants. "My 'important' meeting (which was scheduled on the spur of the moment to replace a scheduled meeting 3 weeks in the future) is more important than a trivial dollar amount I am expected to pay for a service I used. Cut me some slack because my need to talk to someone about a letter of recommendation is more important than your need to do your job for your employer which is to collect 2 bucks from me. Cut me some slack because I don't have any cash on me and I'm ill-prepared to meet my responsibility to pay for parking services. I'm an important person and you are on your high horse refusing to trust me not to cheat your employer out of $2."
That said, this does not rise to the level of something that needs to be reported to any admissions office. However, the attitude about the whole situation speaks volumes.
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Wow, within the last two minutes I've read 2 awesome quotes by you. You sir, are a genius
The intelligent thing to do would be to write down your plate number, phone number and leave your drivers license until you returned with the 2 dollars.
It's also incredibly myopic to assume the parking attendant was on a power trip. If she is off one or two cars, there is a good chance she can get reprimanded.
I work in a pharmacy and I hear sob stories all the time, patients asking for money off or a different price. If I do that even once, I'm out of a job, so maybe I too come off as someone on a power trip.
Try to get some perspective. Props to you for returning with the money though.
It's also incredibly myopic to assume the parking attendant was on a power trip. If she is off one or two cars, there is a good chance she can get reprimanded.
I work in a pharmacy and I hear sob stories all the time, patients asking for money off or a different price. If I do that even once, I'm out of a job, so maybe I too come off as someone on a power trip.
Try to get some perspective. Props to you for returning with the money though.
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What's so "important" about that meeting? He was going to ask someone for a letter of recommendation, not racing home because he left his baby hanging out by a pool full of floaty toys. Why in the world should the parking attendant give a **** about someone's LOR?
It's not about being on a moral high horse. It's about not being so utterly self-centered as to think your meeting is so important that perfect strangers should bend the rules for you and risk getting hammered by their employer.
Not to mention, I have never parked in a paid-parking lot where it wasn't absolutely obvious that there was a fee. The OP had to drive through a gate, pass a parking attendant booth, and likely a sign or two which listed fees. If you continue to move forward and park there knowing you have no money to pay for it, what would you expect would happen? Just assume you get some sap who lets you out for free while everyone else has to pay?
It's commendable that the OP was honest and did return, but there's no reason for the lady to expect that would be the case.
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