Alcohol Violation Effects

[saxophone4]

Hi everybody,

I'm a sophomore in college right now and an intended pre-med. When I first entered college my older sister gave me her expired ID, "just in case" I ever needed it for anything. I never used it to buy alcohol for a really long time because I just would not feel comfortable doing that, but my now ex-boyfriend and his friends came up for a weekend and they wanted me to buy beer for them. They did a great job convincing me and even though I really didn't want to do it I ended up doing it.

The fact that I'm posting this should already tell you that I got caught for it, and now I'm facing a misdemeanor charge and my university wants to open a disciplinary record on me. Luckily my attorney will get this wiped off my police record, but I'm not so sure about my school record. I am sincerely remorseful for what happened and I wish I had just gone with my gut and not have done it, but I guess I have to take responsibility for it anyway. I just don't want it to affect my chances of getting into med school, though.

Do any med students or other people with similar experiences know how much this will affect me? Thanks for your help!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[creamsicle]

I know exactly how you feel right now because I was in a similar situation myself when I was a freshman...like this --> about my med school apps. I was put on disciplinary probation at my university for getting drunk at a university event and had to check the "Institutional Action" checkbox on the AMCAS application and explain (you will have to too when you apply).

But, I don't think that you should be worried...I am applying right now and it has very minimally affected my success (I've been on >10 interviews and have 2 acceptances at the moment). I will say though that some schools care more than other about this kind of smudge on your record (two that were kind of big ones for me were BU and Tufts...both Boston, dunno if there's a correlation...) but most will see that it was a one time event and that you have stayed out of trouble since. You will have to explain the situation in interviews though, so when you address it, make sure that you don't blame others but just be honest, say it was a mistake, and that you learned from it/stayed out of trouble since.

You'll be fine, so don't stress out .

 

[Monica Lewinsky]

I think you'll be fine, especially if its just listed as some sort of "underage alcohol violation" instead of "Use of Someone Else's ID"

In AMCAS where you have to explain things in your record, just be vague while still being honest that something happened. School see tons of alcohol violations and are usually understanding, especially if the incident was isolated in your record.

 

[ElCaminoReal]

I think you'll be fine, especially if its just listed as some sort of "underage alcohol violation" instead of "Use of Someone Else's ID"

In AMCAS where you have to explain things in your record, just be vague while still being honest that something happened. School see tons of alcohol violations and are usually understanding, especially if the incident was isolated in your record.

I had a charge of Minor in Possession of alcohol 3 years ago (I was 20, 2 months away from turning 21 at the time). I had a lawyer, did community service, and was told that the charges were dropped. Thus, I did not check the box on the secondaries that asks if you have ever been convicted, etc. However, after running the background check on myself, I have found out that this has been classified as a Misdeameanor I and plead as "Nolle Prosequi" or do not pursue by the courts. I am not sure what this means, and as I have already attended several interviews and have checked the "no" box on all secondaries, am not sure what to do. Should I call the schools, wait it out, or what?

Any advice that you or anyone else has regarding my situation would be greatly appreciated!

 

[wawawa]

I received two alcohol violations while I was an undergrad. My interviewers have brought it up occasionally during interviews. If you have a conduct violation, just describe the event your AMCAS and during your interview be up front when they ask about it. Tell them that it was a mistake and that you have learned from it. I been accepted, so trust me it is not the end of the world!

As far as getting a lawyer for a MIP, I think that you should deal with it like a responsible young adult instead of hiding behind a hired professional. Lawyers are very expensive! Judges see MIPs every day (they are usually not the most complex of cases) and I think that a judge would rather see you represent yourself and offer sincere apology for the event. Ask the judge for a deferred sentence, so that later you won't have to check the box for being convicted of a crime. Judges often grant this request, in exchange for community service or an alcohol course.

 

[wawawa]

Camino - I'd say don't make an issue if it isn't one. If the schools haven't brought it up, why should you?

 

[dragonfly99]

I don't think that a single alcohol violation, etc. would keep you out of med school. The college record will not be that big of a deal I wouldn't think, as long as you are honest about it. Everyone knows that 20 year old people drink. And most people don't care. Using someone else's ID is a bad plan, but many of us have done it at one time (I used one to get into a casino when I was 19...luckily was not caught). What you want to avoid is any criminal charges on your record (even a "no contest" rather than guilty plea is not so good). These could cause headaches for you years in the future when you try to get your medical license (i.e. during or after a medical residency). I would worry much more about that than your college record of an "alcohol violation" which really doesn't mean diddly unless there are repeated offenses or something.

For elcamino, I wouldn't bring it up with the schools now, but I would be honest from here on out...that would include checking the "yes" box on any relevant future applications. Also, this will likely come up when you apply for a medical license years in the future, if it is still on your criminal record. You may want to get a lawyer to explore the option of getting this actually removed/expunged from your record. I don't think you would get refused a medical license due to this, but it might delay your license and cause you some problems in the future...it would be best to get it off your record if that's even possible.

 

[thiems]

I got both a Minor in Possession and a Transporting an Open Container (separate incidents) tickets before I applied and it didn't affect me and the ADCOMs never brought it up. Go talk to your District Attorney and tell him your situation and see about probation or getting it expunged from your record. Don't put anything down if you don't have to and don't bring it up if you aren't asked about it.

In the grand scheme of things it really isn't that big of a deal. So what, you and 90% of all other college kids drink. Some get caught and some don't.

 

[JaggerPlate]

I had a charge of Minor in Possession of alcohol 3 years ago (I was 20, 2 months away from turning 21 at the time). I had a lawyer, did community service, and was told that the charges were dropped. Thus, I did not check the box on the secondaries that asks if you have ever been convicted, etc. However, after running the background check on myself, I have found out that this has been classified as a Misdeameanor I and plead as "Nolle Prosequi" or do not pursue by the courts. I am not sure what this means, and as I have already attended several interviews and have checked the "no" box on all secondaries, am not sure what to do. Should I call the schools, wait it out, or what?

Any advice that you or anyone else has regarding my situation would be greatly appreciated!

If you were honest, it doesn't seem like anything could be held against you. AMCAS says do not report charges that were dropped ... so if the charges were dropped and then a cbc shows the charges were dropped, you aren't lying, you simply answered what you were asked and didn't give information that wasn't asked for. I'm not sure how an ADCOM would see this ... but it seems like you answered honestly and could easily explain yourself. However, I think doing community service means the charges weren't technically dropped. When charges are dropped, I'm pretty sure in the eyes of the law you can't be punished for it. I think you should contact the lawyer who originally helped you. Despite what others are saying about lawyers in the thread ... legal matters should be handled by legal professionals.

 

[thirdyearmed84]

I had a couple of incidents in college in which I got in trouble with the law. One thing you may want to consider is to get a lawyer (knowing one helps) to expunge the incident from your record. If the charges were dropped (or the charges were dismissed by a judge, as in my case), you can have the incident expunged from your record, and it is like it never happened. After it was expunged, I made sure that my criminal record was clear by going to the police station and requesting a copy of my criminal record. The only down side to this is that the lawyer fee can run $300+ (I am lucky my aunt is a lawyer, and was once a college student). But it is a small investment to make in your future.

 

[HeatherMD]

man if I had one of these alcohol arrests (and WOW at the number of you do) and an interviewer brought it up, I would just ask right back, WHY CAN'T WE BE MORE LIKE EUROPE?!

21 is super-unfair. Shame on you, America.