amcas conduct violation question

[hwork]

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In the Institutional action section of the AMCAS application it asks if you were ever the recipient of any institutional action for unacceptable academic performance or conduct violation. What exactly does it mean by conduct violation? Does this include non-academic relatively minor disciplinary action such as alcohol violations and computer misuse? These do not appear on transcripts and according to my school are only kept in the judicial office records and released to no one other then university officials and others permitted by law. Should minor violations like these be included in the application? Would schools I apply to find out if I don't include them even though my school says they don’t release these records?

 

[xSTALLiONx]

In the Institutional action section of the AMCAS application it asks if you were ever the recipient of any institutional action for unacceptable academic performance or conduct violation. What exactly does it mean by conduct violation? Does this include non-academic relatively minor disciplinary action such as alcohol violations and computer misuse? These do not appear on transcripts and according to my school are only kept in the judicial office records and released to no one other then university officials and others permitted by law. Should minor violations like these be included in the application? Would schools I apply to find out if I don't include them even though my school says they don’t release these records?

ask your school if AMCAS is allowed to see them...

if not, lie.. honesty is overrated

 

[hwork]

Anyone else ever have to deal with this issue? Did small non academic violations ever come up in interviews or secondary applications?

 

[stargirl50]

i had an alcohol violation that i reported on amcas last year. i'm not sure if schools can find out about this stuff otherwise, but i have a feeling if they somehow find out and see that you haven't disclosed it where they ask you to you're pretty much screwed. in my case, i was able to spin my experience into a positive (how i learned from my mistakes)... i applied to 4 schools, got interviews at 3, and was accepted at my top choice. good luck and pm me if you have any questions.

 

[LizzyM]

I'd estimate that about 1% of the applicants check the "violation" box. Most are minor violations related to alcohol on campus. They tend to be treated just like any other application. (it doesnt' make much difference unless the explanation makes it sound like the applicant is a whiney brat who didn't learn from his experience and blames others for his troubles.)

Funny thing, last year I had two applicants from the same school, both had violations and based on the information provided, it appeared they were both in the same dorm & describing the same incident. One showed maturity, one did not. Guess who got the interview?

The violations that get a much more careful look by the adcom are expulsions, cheating, and serious criminal convictions (manslaughter, DUI).

 

[aamartin81]

The violations that get a much more careful look by the adcom are expulsions, cheating, and serious criminal convictions (manslaughter, DUI).

For anyone reading this who has a DUI, it is not a criminal conviction, it is a traffic conviction. I have no experience with adcoms, but just as this poster has written, it is probably looked over more carefully than an alcohol violation (just wanted to clarify its classification). I would report any violations openly, I think people are more concerned with patterns of abuse and honesty than an isolated event.

Good luck,

Adam

 

[idq1i]

DUI/DWI is a misdemeanor (which could be charged as a felony). A misdemeanor is in fact a criminal conviction

 

[ChuckRock]

Ask your school. I asked mine about a minor alchohol violation and they emphatically told me not to mention it. They told me they don't even keep long term records (i.e. after the semester is over) for fear of hurting students in the future for small mistakes.

 

[liverotcod]

DUI/DWI is a misdemeanor (which could be charged as a felony). A misdemeanor is in fact a criminal conviction

Actually, that depends on the state. Some states actually record all traffic stops as Class C misdemeanors. But for some states, Adam is right. I know (from personal experience 😉 ) that Wisconsin treats first-time DUIs as non-criminal civil forfeitures.

 

[aamartin81]

Not to stray further off topic, but a second DUI in a five year period (may vary state to state) is a felony. The first conviction is a traffic misdemeanor. Many states do not distinguish between a DUI and a DWI, though both are classified under traffic violations. This is the case for the south eastern states including the DC area. I won't speak about other parts of the country, though I imagine the classifications would be similar.

Either way, it is a serious point of concern that should be addressed properly.

Good luck,

Adam

 

[kankshi]

A friend of mine got cited for smoking pot, and she didn't mention it on her app. Our school refused to support her, and she had to withdraw her app. So I would definitely ask your school.

 

[rkhull]

I'm in trouble then. I failed out of school and was denied registration during my first shot at college. It was like 8 years ago, will that kill my shot?

Do I actually have a chance at school?

 

[dsherida]

I would list it just to be sure that you you can explain it too in case they find out. If they find out, they aren't going to give you the time of day to explain the incident and why you didn't list it. I had alcohol incident and all schools I interviewed at asked me about the violation and when I told them, they said don't worry we didn't see it as a problem at all. I think you need to list it and then put a positive spin on it, such as "I have not been in trouble since which points to my learning from this stupid mistake". I would list it and just live up to it. Everyone makes mistakes and all of your interviewers have been through college, so they understand what it was like...unless they are total dooshbags!
Good Luck!!!

 

[beanbean]

One minor violation is not a big deal, so just be honest. Red flags are when there is a pattern of violations, serious violations that warrant explusion/suspension, and as mentioned above situations in which the applicant's attitude is a lack of maturity. With regards to criminal issues....this has been discussed in many threads. Do a search and you will find quite a bit of info from others who have been through the process of med school admission and state licensure. In addition, the longer the amount of time that has passed since your indiscretion, the more likely it will not be an issue.

 

[Scrub MD]

I think the conduct violation refers to a violation at the school. I got a careless driving (no alcohol involved) in high school (6 years ago). Is there a place to put this? It may have been removed from my record, how do I find out?

 

[ytesfaye]

does academic warning for probation count as a violation? for a semester, didnt loose scholarship or anything it was a warning..
what about actual academic probation? I dont see anything listed on the transcript