Criminal Record 4.0 GPA/526 MCAT + URM

[nephronc]

When I was 18 years of age, I was arrested for disorderly in public, obstruction of justice and assault on police. I had never been in trouble before this event. Short story: I was parked in my car in a Walmart parking lot, waiting for a friend. The police came up to my car and asked what I was doing, and then proceeded to state that they smelt drugs. They subsequently escorted me from my car, and tore my car apart. After that they strip searched me. No drugs were ever found. When the cop was about to check my cavity, I began shouting expletives and tensed up. They subsequently tackled me to the ground and charged me of the aforementioned charges. I come from nothing, so I didn't have enough money to pay an attorney. I sat in jail for 3 months, waiting for a trial date. I was denied bail twice. After getting my trial set for 4 months after my original 3 months, I begged for a plea deal, as I saw my life wasting away. They agreed to not prosecute (nolle prosquei) the assault, as there was absolutely no evidence, so long as I plead guilty to the disorderly and obstruction. I know this plea deal was horrible, but I did not want to spend another 4+ months in jail, and I had a state appointed representation.

Since then, I have had the assault charge expunged. This charge is not on my record, or any background checks that I have run (I have run the certiphi background check). I know this will show up on my licensing background check, but no medical school applications have me declare a charge that was a) expunged and b) never convicted of. Do I have a chance at getting into a MD medical school?

Stats:
Gender: Male
URM Status: African American
GPA: cGPA 4.0, sGPA 4.0
MCAT: 526
Major: Electrical Engineering
School: HPSY
Shadowing: 200+ Hours
Volunteering: 1000+ Hours at various institutions (hospice, physical rehabilitation, cancer center)
Research: 2 summers with 2 publications

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[deleted480308]

Roadside cavity search is not procedure in most depts....

This smells pretty fake

 

[nephronc]

Roadside cavity search is not procedure in most depts....

This smells pretty fake

When your car is registered under your brother, who is a convicted felon, the cops do whatever they please to find something illegal. You are obviously not from Houston, where this happens often. While they aren't going inside your rectum, the mere act of touching around that area is infuriating. I am just here for advice, so please only reply with helpful information.

 

[892002]

I honestly don’t have any advice for you, but I sincerely hope you have a successful cycle! I would be willing to help you in other ways if you need it (PS/Activities editing).

 

[LizzyM]

When I was 18 years of age, I was arrested for disorderly in public, obstruction of justice and assault on police. I had never been in trouble before this event. Short story: I was parked in my car in a Walmart parking lot, waiting for a friend. The police came up to my car and asked what I was doing, and then proceeded to state that they smelt drugs. They subsequently escorted me from my car, and tore my car apart. After that they strip searched me. No drugs were ever found. When the cop was about to check my cavity, I began shouting expletives and tensed up. They subsequently tackled me to the ground and charged me of the aforementioned charges. I come from nothing, so I didn't have enough money to pay an attorney. I sat in jail for 3 months, waiting for a trial date. I was denied bail twice. After getting my trial set for 4 months after my original 3 months, I begged for a plea deal, as I saw my life wasting away. They agreed to not prosecute (nolle prosquei) the assault, as there was absolutely no evidence, so long as I plead guilty to the disorderly and obstruction. I know this plea deal was horrible, but I did not want to spend another 4+ months in jail, and I had a state appointed representation.

Since then, I have had the assault charge expunged. This charge is not on my record, or any background checks that I have run (I have run the certiphi background check). I know this will show up on my licensing background check, but no medical school applications have me declare a charge that was a) expunged and b) never convicted of. Do I have a chance at getting into a MD medical school?

Stats:
Gender: Male
URM Status: African American
GPA: cGPA 4.0, sGPA 4.0
MCAT: 526
Major: Electrical Engineering
School: HPSY
Shadowing: 200+ Hours
Volunteering: 1000+ Hours at various institutions (hospice, physical rehabilitation, cancer center)
Research: 2 summers with 2 publications

If you are real, you are one of the rare birds.... In the 2013-2014 through 2015-2016 application cycles (3 cycles) there were 12 AA applicants with perfect scores and all 12 were admitted. If you are real (which I'm doubting) , you may have a good chance despite your criminal record. After all, you've gotten into a HPSY and various institutions with your record.

When your car is registered under your brother, who is a convicted felon, the cops do whatever they please to find something illegal. You are obviously not from Houston, where this happens often. While they aren't going inside your rectum, the mere act of touching around that area is infuriating. I am just here for advice, so please only reply with helpful information.

Are you applying in Texas? I have no idea how they'll take this in TX.

 

[Osminog]

5/10 fictional story. Try harder next time, please.

This is clearly someone trying to do a silly thought experiment ("Would an AA URM with perfect stats from HYPS and a degree in EE get into medical school with serious convictions?"), not a real situation.

 

[CyrusHabs7695]

If this were real, im going to go on a limb and say they wouldnt get in. Why would a school take someone charged with assaulting the police, despite perfect numbers. All the schools claim they are 'holistic', then police assault should be a part of that evaluation


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[Goro]

If this were real, im going to go on a limb and say they wouldnt get in. Why would a school take someone charged with assaulting the police, despite perfect numbers. All the schools claim they are 'holistic', then police assault should be a part of that evaluation


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

There are Adcoms who believe in redemption. IF the OPs story were, I'd gamble on him.

 

[Lucca]

Leave the troll hunting to the mods please. Give the Op the benefit of the doubt and keep the thread on topic.

Moving to WAMC

 

[nephronc]

5/10 fictional story. Try harder next time, please.

This is clearly someone trying to do a silly thought experiment ("Would an AA URM with perfect stats from HYPS and a degree in EE get into medical school with serious convictions?"), not a real situation.

If this were real, im going to go on a limb and say they wouldnt get in. Why would a school take someone charged with assaulting the police, despite perfect numbers. All the schools claim they are 'holistic', then police assault should be a part of that evaluation

Again, I'm only asking for constructive advice, whether it be positive or negative. Simply stating that you do not believe me is not conducive for a discussion on my medical school chances. I don't know what is hard to believe here. Is it the fact that I am a person of color, and have near perfect stats? Or is it the fact that I am a person of color, who was unfortunately targeted by the police? If you were raised in an area where POCs are treated fairly by police, and not systematically part of gang life and poverty, then more power to you. Unfortunately there are some of us who have been fighting just to make it out, whether it be from gangs, or severe poverty.

 

[nephronc]

If you are real, you are one of the rare birds.... In the 2013-2014 through 2015-2016 application cycles (3 cycles) there were 12 AA applicants with perfect scores and all 12 were admitted. If you are real (which I'm doubting) , you may have a good chance despite your criminal record. After all, you've gotten into a HPSY and various institutions with your record.




Are you applying in Texas? I have no idea how they'll take this in TX.

I was already attending my University when the events occurred. Because I was never convicted of anything other than disorderly and obstruction, the uni had no problem letting me back in under probation.

 

[kuzy]

Who the heck has a 4.0 at HPYS?

It's like the trolls aren't even trying anymore

 

[Osminog]

Who the heck has a 4.0 at HPYS?

It's like the trolls aren't even trying anymore

In electrical engineering, which is a field that is known for extreme grade deflation (average department-wide GPAs in the high 2s).

 

[siliso]

I think your chances are more than possible. The charges are misdemeanors without suggestion of moral turpitude or unsuitability for a position of public trust, and also significantly temporally separated from the present. Plus eminent qualifications in every other dimension. Wish you the best.

 

[7331poas]

Just to be clear with people calling BS, police can search a person to collect evidence as part of an arrest.

 

[deleted480308]

Just to be clear with people calling BS, police can search a person to collect evidence as part of an arrest.

Road side cavity searches are specifically prohibited by both policy and/or law in many jurisdictions

 

[7331poas]

Road side cavity searches are specifically prohibited by both policy and/or law in many jurisdictions

You need to review the Chimel rule if you believe that to be true. Also United States v. Robinson

 

[deleted480308]

You need to review the Chimel rule if you believe that to be true. Also United States v. Robinson

Which are about generic legal permission to search someone in custody for safety/evidence

This is different than a cavity search, and particularly a cavity search done road side

https://nccriminallaw.sog.unc.edu/the-battle-over-roadside-strip-searches/

 

[OchemOficionado]

Road side cavity searches are specifically prohibited by both policy and/or law in many jurisdictions

True. I don’t doubt that it still happens in this country though. Also, he didn’t say it actually occurred. Just that he thought it was about to occur and he tensed up and started cursing.

OP, it looks like the adcoms here say you have a great chance. Good for it!!

 

[Walter Raleigh]

5/10 fictional story. Try harder next time, please.

This is clearly someone trying to do a silly thought experiment ("Would an AA URM with perfect stats from HYPS and a degree in EE get into medical school with serious convictions?"), not a real situation.

One could also give our OP the benefit of the doubt. He is an African-American male. He may have genuinely encountered cops that were much less than scrupulously ethical, especially driving a car registered to a convicted felon. His story unfortunately sounds like it could have happened, with the bad luck to run into a cop like this.

 

[Walter Raleigh]

@md-2020 may be at least as good: internationally-ranked chess player, concert violinist, publications in big journals, and a stellar MCAT.