a misdemeanor

[brodaiga]

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Hey guys, I've read a couple threads with people with alcohol violations. I am 20 right now and live in Georgia.

-When I was 19, in Florida, I recieved a possecession of alcohol. They said if I pled guilty and paid the fine it will not go on my record.

-In this past couple days I did something stupid and got a misdemeanor for false report of an accident. After talking to the policeman, he said we would work it out with my lawyer that it would not appear on my record.

My questions are,

1. would these have to be reported to secondary applications?

2. Would any kind of check by the med schools reveal these violations if I was told they would not be on my record?

3. I've read something about being under 21, and having your record sealed?

4. How can I check for sure that this is on my record?



Thanks for your help.

 

[Ramoray]

I think ur totaly fine, im pretty sure they just ask for felonies... i totaly wouldnt worry about it

 

[brodaiga]

hey, a fellow russian! Thanks for the reply, I know the AMCAS application only asks for felonies, but some med schools ask for misdemeanors on ther secondary apps, and I was just worried. From my reading on this board, I am still not sure wether something that is erased from my record should be reported? From everything I've read, it doesn't. For instance, my dad got a misdemanor for something 5 years ago, and the lawyer said, in his case it will clear for him in one year, I will check online if it did or not. I'm going to consult an attorney about these questions, but was wondering if anybody had any insight to my questions posted above?

 

[dynx]

I would make 100% sure that it would not be on my record before I ommited it from my application. If it is discovered later the repercussions could be dire. That said, if you lawyer says its off your record and the medical schools will never no unless you tell them, then I would not mention it. Just make damn sure that the information about it is not legally available to anybody but you.

 

[dynx]

I feel like a jacka** - KNOW not no. I'm an idiot

 

[PluckyDuk8]

Um, that's why there's a nice little edit function. Use it well 🙂

 

[ah1216]

i was in your situation last summer...stressing out about a misdemeanor. i did community service and paid a fine for alcohol possession, and it is still on my record. some secondary applications ask for any charges or convictions other than traffic violations. i was not convicted because of some first time offender plea or something...i really had no idea what was going on when i was in court. of course, i thought my life was over and that i would never get into medical school. so, if the application asks whether you've been charged, or if they ask for any convictions, you MUST report them. the consequences for being found out would be much worse. i'm not sure how if schools do actually do background checks, but i didn't want to risk it. it is possible to have your record sealed. you can do it once i've heard. but, some people recommended that i not do it because it may seem like you're hiding more than your misdemeanors really are. to check to see if something's on your record, you can call the clerk of the court in whatever county your misdemeanor occurred. i know this is long, but i know what kind of stress i went through when trying to figure out how to answer the secondary questions. to cheer you up, i've gotten into 2 schools where i did have to report the charges on the secondary, and i've had interviews at some top schools. hope this helps...let me know if there's anything else you have questions about

 

[brodaiga]

thanks for the input, I will also consult a lawyer about this issue because I remember reading when something is "expunged from your record" you are required by law to answer "no" to wether you have been convicted.

Another question though, in my post I said I had two misdemeanors, the first being more easily explained than the second. I was looking at the Dartmouth secondary application as a refrence and they ask: "have you ever been convicted of a criminal offense other than a minor traffic violation?" I guess If I answer yes, i can just mention the alcohol offense.

 

[brodaiga]

I just came upon this term:

13. What does "adjudication" mean?

Adjudication is an agreement between the defendant and the courts to clear the charge from the docket. For this to occur, the defendant has agreed to complete some sort of arrangement, such as a fine, community service, etc. If the defendant fails to hold up their end of the agreement, then he or she will be convicted of the charge and sentenced accordingly. That conviction will come up in our reports.

This would suggest that if the judge clears it, it means you were never convicted, and therefore there would be nothing to report?

 

[dr. deez]

call the school... you dont have to identify yourself or your app number. just ask them about your specific cases. then you will get a better sense for what to write or what to omit... writing things that are not required might make them dig for more or simply throw out your application. good luck!

 

[brodaiga]

thanks for the reply, but i have not applied yet, I am a junior in college, will be applying next year, i'm just trying to get this straight. One the one hand, I don't want to reveal something unecceasary that implicates me, and on the other I don't want to mistakenly lie on my application. I guess a lawyer should settle this. Thanks guys.

 

[logos]

Definatly talk to a lawer...I had a friend once who had several juvinile convictions, including a felony. His attorney told him just to say that he had never been convicted of anything on all of his college apps cuz there was no way that the schools could find out.

 

[gogiants]

so i am the only person in the world to ever get a misdemeanor for possession of a fake id that said i was 21 when i was only (oh my god!) 20. this is an embarrassing and stupid thing but legally there is a way to make it so that you can legally answer no on applications which ask whether you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or not. i really wish i could think of the form right now, you should contact the court to find out the name. there are some caveats, like i think you need to be off probation (if you were put on it) for the misdemeanor you were found guilty of and i think you need to have no other charges pending. it was really easy though, after this form is approved by the court you can legally say no you have not been convicted of a misdemeanor on almost any form (some state licensures you have to say so).

 

[gogiants]

o.k., let me amend my previous response. my little legal problems were in california where they have such a form (1203.4). my advice would be to look up this form on the internet and bring it to a lawyer and ask if there is anything similar to this in the state you got in trouble in.