AMCAS Institutional Action/Social Probation

[kuzy]

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Hello Everyone!
So I'm a non-trad preparing to apply this cycle and I have a question about entering an Institutional Action on AMCAS. I was caught drinking in the dorms with my sports team before school started when I was a young and dumb Freshman in 2011 and was placed on social probation for the Fall semester. I paid a fine and took an online alcohol ed course.

This incident does not appear as an IA on my transcript, so I called my school's disciplinary office to see if it would still be classified as one. They said that they are obligated to provide a former student's disciplinary record when asked (ie seems like it would count as an IA), but that record gets expunged after 7 years...so this fall.

Should I list this as an institutional action on AMCAS even if this incident does not appear on my transcript and will no longer be on the record this fall?

Thanks!

Also please don't quote this so I can delete it for anonymity

 

[LoveBeingHuman:)]

Being upfront about it probably won’t significantly harm you. Chances are, a good majority of the ADCOM at the schools you’re applying to drank while underage.

@LizzyM Can confirm

Not claiming it and then having AMCAS find out about it will harm you.

 

[Catalystik]

There is no reason to fear reporting the incident as it won't negatively impact your application cycle, assuming your explanation is appropriate.

Institutional Action: If you were ever the recipient of any institutional action by any college or medical school for unacceptable academic performance or conduct violation, you must answer Yes, even if such action did not interrupt your enrollment or require you to withdraw. Furthermore, select Yes even if the action does not appear on, or has been deleted or expunged from, your official transcripts as a consequence of institutional policy or personal petition. Failure to provide an accurate answer to the question about institutional action or, if applicable, failure to complete the form provided by the school will result in an investigation. Medical schools require you to answer the question accurately and provide all relevant information. Medical schools understand that many individuals learn from the past and emerge stronger as a result. Full disclosure will enable medical schools to evaluate the information more effectively within the context of your application. If you become the subject of an institutional action after certifying and submitting the AMCAS application, you must inform your designated medical school(s) within 10 business days of the date of the occurrence. From: https://aamc-orange.global.ssl.fast...b-d574221bf6e3/2019-amcas-applicant-guide.pdf

 

[kuzy]

Being upfront about it probably won’t significantly harm you. Chances are, a good majority of the ADCOM at the schools you’re applying to drank while underage.

@LizzyM Can confirm

Not claiming it and then having AMCAS find out about it will harm you.

There is no reason to fear reporting the incident as it won't negatively impact your application cycle, assuming your explanation is appropriate.

Institutional Action: If you were ever the recipient of any institutional action by any college or medical school for unacceptable academic performance or conduct violation, you must answer Yes, even if such action did not interrupt your enrollment or require you to withdraw. Furthermore, select Yes even if the action does not appear on, or has been deleted or expunged from, your official transcripts as a consequence of institutional policy or personal petition. Failure to provide an accurate answer to the question about institutional action or, if applicable, failure to complete the form provided by the school will result in an investigation. Medical schools require you to answer the question accurately and provide all relevant information. Medical schools understand that many individuals learn from the past and emerge stronger as a result. Full disclosure will enable medical schools to evaluate the information more effectively within the context of your application. If you become the subject of an institutional action after certifying and submitting the AMCAS application, you must inform your designated medical school(s) within 10 business days of the date of the occurrence. From: https://aamc-orange.global.ssl.fast...b-d574221bf6e3/2019-amcas-applicant-guide.pdf

Thanks for the replies! I figured the best way to go about it would be to report it just to be safe. Even though the incident was so long ago, does checking the IA box on AMCAS in and of itself affect my chances?

When giving the explanation, do I need to provide the exact date and specifics of what happened or just a general explanation/disciplinary action? Also, should I mention that this will be removed from my record in the fall or not even go into all that?

 

[Catalystik]

1) Even though the incident was so long ago, does checking the IA box on AMCAS in and of itself affect my chances?

2) When giving the explanation, do I need to provide the exact date and specifics of what happened or just a general explanation/disciplinary action?

3) Also, should I mention that this will be removed from my record in the fall or not even go into all that?

1) No.

2) The application suggests they'd like a precise date, but general timeframe (like August 2011 or fall 2011) is probably fine if you don't recall, specifics of the IA, consequences, and some introspective comments (take responsibility, tell what you learned, etc.). They give you 1325 characters to explain.

3) No.

 

[kuzy]

1) No.

2) The application suggests they'd like a precise date, but general timeframe (like August 2011 or fall 2011) is probably fine if you don't recall, specifics of the IA, consequences, and some introspective comments (take responsibility, tell what you learned, etc.). They give you 1325 characters to explain.

3) No.

Gotcha, thanks!

 

[LizzyM]

Being upfront about it probably won’t significantly harm you. Chances are, a good majority of the ADCOM at the schools you’re applying to drank while underage.

@LizzyM Can confirm

Yes, I can confirm that at least one adcom member (moi) drank in college.... and the drinking age was 18.

Being upfront about this IA won't hurt you and can actually help to humanize you.

 

[Goro]

Hello Everyone!
So I'm a non-trad preparing to apply this cycle and I have a question about entering an Institutional Action on AMCAS. I was caught drinking in the dorms with my sports team before school started when I was a young and dumb Freshman in 2011 and was placed on social probation for the Fall semester. I paid a fine and took an online alcohol ed course.

This incident does not appear as an IA on my transcript, so I called my school's disciplinary office to see if it would still be classified as one. They said that they are obligated to provide a former student's disciplinary record when asked (ie seems like it would count as an IA), but that record gets expunged after 7 years...so this fall.

Should I list this as an institutional action on AMCAS even if this incident does not appear on my transcript and will no longer be on the record this fall?

Thanks!

Also please don't quote this so I can delete it for anonymity

We were all young and stupid once, just be honest and own it. You'll be fine.