AMCAS question

[Nvr Ending Jrny]

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hey. I was wondering if anyone could tell me exactly what the AMCAS says about misdemeanors/criminal offenses.

I was recently convicted for two traffic violations: reckless driving and leaving the scene of damaged property. Both are behind me now and I have learned from my mistakes. They are considered class 2 misdemeanors I believe but since they are not criminal I was trying to find out if I would have to list them and explain myself. Any help would be appreciated. Does anyone think these two charges could be somethign that may prevent me from getting into a US med school? Could this be one of those things that comes back to haunt me in the future?

PS- I don't need a lecture on what I have done...This was months ago and I am passed it and whether or not it's believable, I am a totally different person in terms of maturity.

 

[drlexygoat]

I would def. give AMCAS a call or email and ask them. You don't want to get the wrong information and find out later that it really came back to bite you.

 

[Bones2008]

Doesn't AMCAS specify that traffic violations don't count? Maybe they mean speeding tickets and the like.

 

[Nvr Ending Jrny]

does anyone remember what their application said? or have a copy of an old amcas to check? even if u can't answer my question about what the AMCAS specifically says can u all tell me your opinion on whether or not these two charges will affect me?

I can just about say to a certainity that reckless is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things since i plan on not even getting a speeding ticket from here on out (only had one before this), but it's the leaving the scene of damaged property that i know may come up in the future.

what do you all think?

 

[myID]

You can try looking at http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/amcas2004.htm
There is a downloadable copy of the 2004 instruction book at this site. I am sure that their definition of misdemeanors/criminal offences hasn't changed for the 2005 application cycle. Also, all of the secondaries that I received asked the question again. Some were more specific than others. I hope this helps. Good luck with your applications.

 

[Nvr Ending Jrny]

thanks for that website. i read it and it's pretty clear that the AMCAS only asks about felonies, which is good to know. I guess my question is then how many secondaries ask about misdemeanors? also do they ever distinguish between criminal misdemenaors and traffic misdemenanors?

i guess no one will remember the answer to those questions, but once again does anyone have an opinion on how this will affect my chances of getting into med school (leaving the scene of damaged property, and reckless driving---both traffic misdemeanors). I'm not just looking for an a nswer that will make me feel better. I'm just looking for a honest answer. Thanks

 

[Sherif]

Call the school and ask them. You will get faster and honest answers

 

[subtle1epiphany]

depends on the school, many just ask for felonies, but U Vermont asked for any traffic (moving) violation. i had to cough up my two year old speeding ticket (<15mph over).
call the school to check and make sure you tell the truth all the time

 

[Alexander99]

I talked to one guy who was applying this current cycle and he had a problem similar to yours. He was convicted of a misdemeanor as a freshman and told me had was forced to "check the box" as he put it whenever a school's secondary asked whether he had been convicted of a criminal offense. I think when they ask about criminal offenses, you have to include misdemeanors. If they specifically say felonies, you don't have to say anything. He said it takes 3 years to clear at which point he won't have to worry about this.

You mentioned though that you were convicted relatively recently. The question for the adcoms then, and understandably so, is how have you changed since then? If the events occurred really recently, it's going to be an uphill battle convincing them that you've seen the errors of your ways. Realistically, it may be the case that you'll have to live up to your actions and suffer the consequences, at least for a while. Not meant to discourage you but I'm telling it like it is.

 

[Nvr Ending Jrny]

i appreciate your bluntness alexander. If the question states "criminal" offenses then I can check the box "no", because although these are misdemeanors they are still considered traffic violations. I had to go to traffic court for this, not criminal court. I have checked and double checked with my lawyer about this.

Also, about your friend who said after 3 years he won't have to do it anymore I don't think your friend is telling you the truth or he doesn't know the truth himself. According to my lawyer even if you are CHARGED (and not convicteD) of anything that is on your record forever. The only way to get it expunged is a very length process and that is if you are acquitted. If you are charged and convicted it is federal law that it stays on your record forever.

 

[Alexander99]

Originally posted by Nvr Ending Jrny
i appreciate your bluntness alexander. If the question states "criminal" offenses then I can check the box "no", because although these are misdemeanors they are still considered traffic violations. I had to go to traffic court for this, not criminal court. I have checked and double checked with my lawyer about this.

Also, about your friend who said after 3 years he won't have to do it anymore I don't think your friend is telling you the truth or he doesn't know the truth himself. According to my lawyer even if you are CHARGED (and not convicteD) of anything that is on your record forever. The only way to get it expunged is a very length process and that is if you are acquitted. If you are charged and convicted it is federal law that it stays on your record forever.

You're right. I failed to see that his misdemeanor conviction (he actually did something non-traffic related) would probably be different from traffic misdemeanors. Then again, I think some schools specify criminal offenses excluding minor traffic violations in which case I think your misdemeanor would need to be mentioned.

The fact that if you are simply charged with something staying on your record forever seems to not make sense. Afterall, if you are acquitted, doesn't that basically mean that the charges were unfounded and you're innocent? If what you say is true, theoretically couldn't someone who's living a straight and narrow life have false charges be brought against them a couple times just by sheer bad luck? If so, doesn't that mean he technically has a criminal record for something that was no fault of his or her own?

 

[Nvr Ending Jrny]

being convicted and being charged are two completely different things. if you get charged for something and are acquitted your record will always show that you were charged and acquitted. no one can deny employment or anything because of that.

i know what you're thinking: if someone is innocent then why is it on the record?

well it's on the record mainly just to show that u were charged and acquitted, but if u want your record expunged after an acquittal it is possible but pretty difficult. each state has more then 2 or 3 reporting agencies and it takes time for each of them to communicaet with each other and get your record expunged.

 

[RuseMD]

Actually, the process in the state that I was charged with is just filling out an expungement paper and waiting about 2 years or less if they file a nolles proseque. It's really not that tough of an issue to deal with. My concern is if you were charged for things and were subsequently not convicted, had it expunged, then are you under obligation to say yes or no to the question of were you ever charged or found guilty of a felony or misdemeaner.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

I am pretty sure you have to check the Box. You might as well go ahead anyways, what if you get accepted and then they get word of your Misdemeanors and revoke your acceptance?? that would suck

 

[aaj117]

I just looked at my AMCAS and it had a separate question about felonies and misdemeanors. like first it asked if there were any felonies, then it asked to explain, then it asked about misdemeanors and then to explain. I don't know about classes of misdemeanors, but i would expect that you probably have to report this.

 

[Obnoxious Dad]

Remember that an offense has to be a CRIMINAL act to be a misdemeanor. Some issues that you might have faced in the past are merely civil offenses and NOT misdemeanors.

The key in answering this question is to see how the state in which an incident occurred classifies the incident. If it is not criminal, it ain't a misdemeanor. If need be ask a lawyer. 🙂