background check advice

[whitesheep12]

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Hi, so I know there are many threads like this with specific cases, but I just need a little advice on mine.

Three years ago some friends and I were swimming in the local river and jumping from a small bridge into the water. To make a long story short, the bridge was a railroad track and the cops happened to drive by, saw us on the train tracks, and gave us all misdemeanors for "railroad trespassing" (apparently railroad tracks are private property and walking on or standing within 10 feet of them can be considered trespassing). We were charged, but not convicted, as the charges were dropped after we completed a railroad safety course.

Med apps and secondaries only asked for convictions, so I did not disclose this in my app. But, I just got my background check back, and this shows up as a misdemeanor charge of "Railroad - trespass on tracks/building" that was dismissed.

My question: Do I need to contact the school that I was accepted at to explain?

I know you typically don't have to explain charges that have been dropped, but when the admissions people see a charge of "trespassing", will they get concerned?

Thanks in advance for your help, kind friends.

 

[ChymeofPassion]

Hi, so I know there are many threads like this with specific cases, but I just need a little advice on mine.

Three years ago some friends and I were swimming in the local river and jumping from a small bridge into the water. To make a long story short, the bridge was a railroad track and the cops happened to drive by, saw us on the train tracks, and gave us all misdemeanors for "railroad trespassing" (apparently railroad tracks are private property and walking on or standing within 10 feet of them can be considered trespassing). We were charged, but not convicted, as the charges were dropped after we completed a railroad safety course.

Med apps and secondaries only asked for convictions, so I did not disclose this in my app. But, I just got my background check back, and this shows up as a misdemeanor charge of "Railroad - trespass on tracks/building" which was dismissed.

My question: Do I need to contact the school that I was accepted at to explain?

I know you typically don't have to explain charges that have been dropped, but when the admissions people see a charge of "trespassing", will they get concerned?

Thanks in advance for your help, kind friends.

Top kek

 

[LizzyM]

If a school asks, you have a very reasonable explanation right here, pretty much in your own words (I took out a couple of informal terms and replaced with more formal ones):

Three years ago some friends and I were swimming in the local river and jumping from a small bridge into the water. The bridge was a railroad track and the police happened to drive by, saw us on the train tracks, and charged us with misdemeanors for "railroad trespassing" (apparently railroad tracks are private property and walking on or standing within 10 feet of them can be considered trespassing). We were charged, but not convicted, as the charges were dropped after we completed a railroad safety course.

I would not expect any school to have reservations about your admission based on this event. This isn't something that would make anyone say, "We wouldn't want someone who did this in our academic community."

 

[whitesheep12]

Totally makes sense. Thank you both! I had a little bit of a premed freakout moment there for a second. Thanks for talking me down from the ledge (hehhh bridge puns) 🤣

 

[whitesheep12]

Just to add to @LizzyM, the Grand Dame of SDN, the worst that could be is the dean asks for a letter (as above) so they have it on file for possible future administrative review upon accreditation (yes everything in medicine, including education, revolves around paperwork)

Wow thank you, I feel so reassured with all these SDN greats chiming in!

 

[FindersFee5]

If a school asks, you have a very reasonable explanation right here, pretty much in your own words (I took out a couple of informal terms and replaced with more formal ones):

Three years ago some friends and I were swimming in the local river and jumping from a small bridge into the water. The bridge was a railroad track and the police happened to drive by, saw us on the train tracks, and charged us with misdemeanors for "railroad trespassing" (apparently railroad tracks are private property and walking on or standing within 10 feet of them can be considered trespassing). We were charged, but not convicted, as the charges were dropped after we completed a railroad safety course.

I would not expect any school to have reservations about your admission based on this event. This isn't something that would make anyone say, "We wouldn't want someone who did this in our academic community."

Honestly, this might make me like somebody a little more. Shows they have a little bit of a life outside medicine and enjoyable pursuits. It is somewhat risky behavior too, but I think the fact that they atoned for that with the railroad safety course speaks well for them.

 

[whitesheep12]

Honestly, this might make me like somebody a little more. Shows they have a little bit of a life outside medicine and enjoyable pursuits. It is somewhat risky behavior too, but I think the fact that they atoned for that with the railroad safety course speaks well for them.

Yeah I'll admit it was not the best idea looking back. But man that safety class was intense. It was actually quite interesting too, they brought in conductors to talk about how traumatic it is to hit people that are on the tracks and don't see the train coming. It takes trains so long to actually come to a stop that conductors are essentially powerless in those scenarios. I had never really thought about it from that perspective before and how awful it would be for them.

 

[libertyyne]

1. Take it easy, this doesnt seem like a huge deal.
2. The AMCAS application asks about convictions not dropped charges.
3. Talk to a lawyer, I doubt the dropped charges can be expunged but it is worth a shot to avoid headache.
4. Some schools have secondaries where they ask if you have been charged with a crime, you will have to disclose this information here.
5. Top Kek.