Conduct Violations???

[eatmj2]

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I finished my TMDSAS application about a week ago, and the question about disciplinary action taken on conduct violations has been festering in my mind.

So far, I have never had any conduct violations, but my school is extremely strict, and who knows what will happen next year.

Is a conduct violation an eliminator for med school? If not, what kind of affect would a conduct violation such as getting written up for having a "messy room" or having your girlfriend in your dorm room past dorm hours have? Also, what constitutes "Action?" Is getting written up an action? Is a written warning an action?

I would hate to have to check "yes" on that question next year (if I dont get in this year 🙁 ) and have my medical school application discarded on account of overzealous enforcement of conduct.

 

[wowzer]

im not going to say that conduct violations kills or are completely ignored by adcoms. Some schools say it will jsut make consideration more difficult.
I have a situation where I had a misunderstanding of timecards my first semester of freshmen year. Not to freak you out, because you obviously haven't done anything, but I'm the first person in this forum (taht I know of) that has been rejected presecondary from UPitt and Vanderbilt with a 35/3.8. I'm considering withdrawing my apps nad have been told to find another career focus. I will be talking to each school later this week to find out what happened, but I am pretty sure this is the cause.

so, just try to keep everything in control

 

[anystream]

I'm not sure how it works exactly, but I've noticed most secondaries ask you to explain your conduct violation if you have one. I'm pretty sure that a "messy room" really won't keep you out of med school. I think they are more worried about cheating or something of that nature. What is a time card violation, wowzer?

anyway, I was wondering why you are worrying about this preemptively..?

 

[rpkall]

So far, I have never had any conduct violations, but my school is extremely strict, and who knows what will happen next year. . . .

ahaha! Why don't you know about next year? Don't you have some kind of control over what happens? 😉

Are you currently being investigated for something?

 

[NapeSpikes]

What?? That's conduct violation?! Like drinking in the dorm and things? No way! I figured it was cheating on tests and plagiarizing. I've gotten written up before for minor dorm stuff a whole eight years ago, and I didn't put it on my apps. I bet half the applicants to med school have minor dorm violations.

 

[jamesrd]

I think I probably have a booze violation from '99 (I'm a postbaccer). I say probably because I got written up, but they never contacted me about it. I'll contact my school to clear that up prior to submitting amcas, but I digress.

I don't think anything minor (booze, curfew, esp. messy room, seriously, do you go to a military school?) will be much of a hindrance, as long as it only happens once. I'm sure they're far more interested in things that are indicative of serious character flaws in something as serious as medicine like theft or cheating/plagiarism.

To sum up, if a messy room is looming large in your mind as a potential dealbreaker, you're going to be absolutely fine.

 

[SitraAchra]

I'm afraid that having your girlfriend in your dorm after-hours does constitute "Action."

 

[Tigerstang]

While of course the following piece of info does not represent a scientific study, as it is is only one example, it might help:

I have a friend who graduated from my alma matter (Princeton) with a 3.8/35 (or 36, i can't remember). He had SIGNIFICANT disciplinary action. Not just one, but several. All were alcohol-related violations that ranged from destruction of campus property, theft, and fights. He got the point where he has now given up booze entirely (and is thankfully doing well).

He was rejected from all but one school he applied to, but the one he got into was pretty damn good. There's no question that a lot of his rejections came as a result of the disciplinary action he received. Nevertheless, even though he didn't have his pick of schools - and he certainly should have given his stats - he still got into medical school.

Thus, I guess my point is, while disciplinary action certainly doesn't help and definitely does hurt, you still have a chance to get into medical school despite it. Best of luck to those of you facing this dilemma.

 

[eatmj2]

well, hopefully that kind of action wont keep me from going to medical school.

Im not under investigation or anything, but I never really thought it was that big of a deal before. Now im wondering about it, and im getting paranoid. Its impossible for anybody to follow all the rules, all the time.

I figured that they only meant infractions such as drugs/alcohol/violence, but I wouldn't want to not put anything and then have them find out that I was written up for something like keeping a messy room, or getting caught making out w/my girlfriend (I mean, who doesn't do those things at least sometimes?)

 

[Reimat]

well, hopefully that kind of action wont keep me from going to medical school.

Im not under investigation or anything, but I never really thought it was that big of a deal before. Now im wondering about it, and im getting paranoid. Its impossible for anybody to follow all the rules, all the time.

I figured that they only meant infractions such as drugs/alcohol/violence, but I wouldn't want to not put anything and then have them find out that I was written up for something like keeping a messy room, or getting caught making out w/my girlfriend (I mean, who doesn't do those things at least sometimes?)

What school do you go to? I suspect it's a super strict school if you can get written up for making out with a girlfriend. I mean, it's freaking college! The time in people's young lives where they do crazy stuff like keep a messy room and make out with girls among other things 😉

 

[eatmj2]

thats what makes me wonder, cuz im sure medical school dont have rules like that, so would they even care if you broke that kind of rule?

 

[Reimat]

Yea, I suspect if you did get written up and had to explain it to a committee it wouldn't be such a big deal.

 

[rpkall]

Dude!

If making out with your girlfriend and keeping a messy room are the only things you're worried about, you're fine.

These things are NOT "infractions" at 99% of the colleges in this country, and the only med school that would care whether you're this kind of sinner is Loma Linda. 😉

I personally feel that you should use your best judgment when it comes to including things on AMCAS. If things are included on your official transcript, that's one thing (and if it's something stupid like not folding your socks in the footlocker, fight it), but good lord, don't go saying "I'm a disciplinary problem" on AMCAS if nothing's included in your permanent record from the school. Don't sabotage yourself because you're paranoid.

And if you're doing something that's wrong, and you're afraid to get caught (like making meth out of decongestants in your dorm room)--just STOP IT. lol I personally think it's a little weird that you're worried you'll "break the rules" in the future--why can't you live by the rules for one more year? You picked your college, presumably, and you were "okay" with these rules when you sent in your application. Right? If med school is important enough to you, you'll play it straight and make it your priority to have a clean disciplinary record.

You can do it! 👍

Good luck, anyways!

 

[joe05]

Dude!

If making out with your girlfriend and keeping a messy room are the only things you're worried about, you're fine.

These things are NOT "infractions" at 99% of the colleges in this country, and the only med school that would care whether you're this kind of sinner is Loma Linda. 😉

I personally feel that you should use your best judgment when it comes to including things on AMCAS. If things are included on your official transcript, that's one thing (and if it's something stupid like not folding your socks in the footlocker, fight it), but good lord, don't go saying "I'm a disciplinary problem" on AMCAS if nothing's included in your permanent record from the school. Don't sabotage yourself because you're paranoid.

And if you're doing something that's wrong, and you're afraid to get caught (like making meth out of decongestants in your dorm room)--just STOP IT. lol I personally think it's a little weird that you're worried you'll "break the rules" in the future--why can't you live by the rules for one more year? You picked your college, presumably, and you were "okay" with these rules when you sent in your application. Right? If med school is important enough to you, you'll play it straight and make it your priority to have a clean disciplinary record.

You can do it! 👍

Good luck, anyways!

Alrighty, sooo this is a bigger deal, I got an intoxicated in public(was having an argument, cop happened to be there and was a bastard) last yr, but I dont know how long it will be till its off my record...Do you think med schools would simply write me off? Or not? I am applying this year, and the offense is a misdemeanor (20 dollar fine, like a reckless driving ticket)...so yeah any thoughts would be appreciated, thanks...

 

[rpkall]

If it's on your record now, you should mention it and give an explanation if AMCAS requires it (I can't remember the exact wording on the app, but read it carefully and follow the rules). Write something crafty about how it was a mistake, etc, etc, and hopefully it won't have a bearing on you getting an interview at some schools, depending on your stats.

Sometimes, though, (and this is probably more likely) it will have a bearing--and schools you thought were in your reach academically--similar stats to yours--might be out of reach. I would make sure to apply to a few safeties, and write good essays for them ("So, why do you want to come to State Medical University, specifically..") so they don't feel like they're on your list just because you feel 'screwed' or whatever.

This is what it comes down to: why should a school pick you over someone else who has the same stats, and no disciplinary problems? Why should they choose the wildcard, instead of the straight-shooter who they KNOW won't be any problem over the four years of med school? You have to find a place where you're "wanted" enough for the adcom to overlook it; that's why I said apply to safeties, and be realistic about your chances now.

The most important part, I think, is to write a good explanation. Don't make it seem like you have anger issues or drinking issues, but at least show that you've thought about it, you realize that you can't deal with situations in your life by losing control, and that it's been a real turning point in your life for self-awareness.

And most importantly, don't let it happen again. Physicians, arguably more than anyone else, need to know how to pick their battles and walk away when they need to walk away.

Good luck.

 

[ShyRem]

Alrighty, sooo this is a bigger deal, I got an intoxicated in public(was having an argument, cop happened to be there and was a bastard) last yr, but I dont know how long it will be till its off my record...Do you think med schools would simply write me off? Or not? I am applying this year, and the offense is a misdemeanor (20 dollar fine, like a reckless driving ticket)...so yeah any thoughts would be appreciated, thanks...

I definitely would NOT refer to the cop as a "bastard" in my explanation.

And, BTW: most cops aren't "bastards" unless you deserve it. Rarely (in my experience never) will you get a ticket for just arguing in public when drunk as long as you calm down when you're told to. You get a ticket for public intoxication when your "argument" is a bit more than that and you tell the cop to go to h$ll when he tells you to take it somewhere else. Trust me on this and stop drinking so much.