true1,
I was placed on disciplinary probation during my second year for an incident that occurred late during my first year. I think it was the primary reason why I had so much difficulty getting accepted (especially to a UC) despite good numbers.
By the way, is the person in question (you don't have to tell me if it was you or someone else) still in school? I say this because my school destroyed my files after I graduated. Like traditional applicants, I applied while I was still in school and, thus, still had my probation on record. Therefore, I had to check "yes" on the box.
After getting rejected to med school the first time around, I went to judicial affairs to see if my probation had anything to do with it...they said maybe...but they also said I should have waited until after I graduated to apply. Had I applied after graduation, I could have checked "no" because by that time, my records would have been destroyed.
The second (& third time) I applied, I had already graduated from college, but since I had checked "yes" the first time, I had to be consistent and check "yes" the second & third time (despite the fact that my records had already been destroyed).
Find out about the school's policy regarding disciplinary probation (specifcially, whether or not records are destroyed after graduation). In the event that records are destroyed upon graduation, I say wait. Otherwise, you'll have no choice but to check "yes".
One of the very few (emphasis on few) good things about the online AMCAS is that it has a separate space for explaining disciplinary/academic probation. AMCAS-e & the paper application (the ones I used the first two times I applied) required that you incorporate such an explanation into the personal statement. I had a very difficult time incorporating such a thing into my otherwise decent personal statement. Basically, in turned my decent personal statement into horse dung.
Of course, the nature of my disciplinary action may have been the primary culprit...eh, who knows.
Another thing that helps is possibly getting a letter from someone in judical affairs (preferably the chairperson). The director for judical affairs at my school took pity on me and wrote me a strong letter of rec explaining how much I've grown since my first year...stating that they (med schools) should look beyond my freshman year mistakes and focus on the positives that resulted from this...or something like that.
Well, I'd say more, but I haven't had a bowel movement in 19 days
, and I believe I'm about to finally "break thru" after so long.
-The SaucyAZN Sensation
p.s. - I am SO kidding about my bowel movments...it's actually been 21 days! <img border="0" alt="[Pity]" title="" src="graemlins/pity.gif" />
p.p.s. - Good luck & knock on wood!
