Criminal Record

[woodbine14]

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Hello Everyone,

Well let's just say it's been an interesting last few years. And all of me choices certainly weren't ideal. A few years ago I pled guilty to 2 counts of harassment and one of 4th degree burglary. All are misdemeanors. The whole thing was really stupid. However, I did learn a lot. I never threatened or tried to hurt anyone.

I'm 30 years old. It's been my dream to go to be a doctor for a long time. My undergrad. GPA is solid. I think I have a pretty good shot at getting decent MCAT scores. I work at a state health department. I volunteer and have research experience from a few years ago.

Do I have a chance now?

(I'm afraid I may have given away my dream for nothing) 🙁

 

[CodeBlu]

Hello Everyone,

Well let's just say it's been an interesting last few years. And all of me choices certainly weren't ideal. A few years ago I pled guilty to 2 counts of harassment and one of 4th degree burglary. All are misdemeanors. The whole thing was really stupid. However, I did learn a lot. I never threatened or tried to hurt anyone.

I'm 30 years old. It's been my dream to go to be a doctor for a long time. My undergrad. GPA is solid. I think I have a pretty good shot at getting decent MCAT scores. I work at a state health department. I volunteer and have research experience from a few years ago.

Do I have a chance now?

(I'm afraid I may have given away my dream for nothing) 🙁

I am no adcom, but I wouldn't say your chances are completely shot. Depends on the situation etc. Maybe elaborate? See if you can them expunged?

 

[woodbine14]

Completely lost my mind. Sent this girl I used to talk to many emails. "Please call me," etc... Went to house and kicked open the door when she didn't call.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Yeah, you should forget going to medical school. Having a guy that harasses someone and knocks down their doors is too violent and unstable to take. Also, if this happened within the last 5 years, consider yourself completely toast. You don't even have the teenager excuse.

 

[CopaceticOne]

OP - Many schools require background checks now. I don't think the majority of people on SDN can comment how these specific convictions would affect your apparent eligibility to matriculate. The fact that they aren't felonies is your silver lining in this situation. My suggestion would be to contact any school you'd think about applying to and ask them about their specific policy.

 

[235788]

Yeah, you should forget going to medical school. Having a guy that harasses someone and knocks down their doors is too violent and unstable to take. Also, if this happened within the last 5 years, consider yourself completely toast. You don't even have the teenager excuse.

Don't listen to this OP. I think if you did it a while ago you do have a shot. You can still go caribbean, they'll take felons.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Don't listen to this OP. I think if you did it a while ago you do have a shot. You can still go caribbean, they'll take felons.

Wrong. I've seen people here with criminal records that do deserve to go to med school. Their mistakes are years away and happened as a result of youthful stupidity. In this case, we are talking about an adult man committing crimes of harassment and violence. As for the Caribbean, it's not only that they have better options (the big 4), but this guy may never get a medical license approved or a residency program taking a chance with him.

 

[woodbine14]

Don't listen to this OP. I think if you did it a while ago you do have a shot. You can still go caribbean, they'll take felons.

Thanks! I'm thinking my experience gives me a different perspective. One that might allow me to really make a difference in lives of others that are going through difficult times.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Thanks! I'm thinking my experience gives me a different perspective. One that might allow me to really make a difference in lives of others that are going through difficult times.

This is the last reply I will do to this because I don't want to give the impression that my opinion is personal. All I'll say is be careful between hearing what you want to hear and what reality is.

 

[woodbine14]

OP - Many schools require background checks now. I don't think the majority of people on SDN can comment how these specific convictions would affect your apparent eligibility to matriculate. The fact that they aren't felonies is your silver lining in this situation. My suggestion would be to contact any school you'd think about applying to and ask them about their specific policy.

Thanks! I'll give it a try.

 

[Whatyousay]

Completely lost my mind. Sent this girl I used to talk to many emails. "Please call me," etc... Went to house and kicked open the door when she didn't call.

That's only a misdemeanor? Did you make a plea bargain?

 

[damndinosaur]

This is the last reply I will do to this because I don't want to give the impression that my opinion is personal. All I'll say is be careful between hearing what you want to hear and what reality is.

honestly IMO your unique situation will make you jump off the page (even if it's negative, it'll get the adcom more interested in your app)

definitely talk about it in your PS, mention what happened, why, how you learned from it, even mention that it showed you a different side of life & it has opened your mind to other people and their situations (something like that, you know what im talking about lol)

but more importantly, dont let some anonymous kid on a forum dissuade you from pursuing something. if you want to be a doctor, go for it. if you have good stats and ECs, and can show that you really learned from your experience, i think you have a great shot

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Completely lost my mind. Sent this girl I used to talk to many emails. "Please call me," etc... Went to house and kicked open the door when she didn't call.

$h1t, son, to be honest, I don't know that I'd want you as my doctor knowing that.

 

[LegendaryPunk]

It's very easy to judge when standing on the sidelines, with the spotlight on somebody else. Chances are most doctors (most people in general) aren't paradigms of virtue either. Some people are able to grow-up and learn life lessons without making serious mistakes; others aren't so lucky. As somebody in the latter category, I like to think that we gain a unique perspective on life. We get the honest opportunity to show that we can really change; that we can truly learn from out mistakes. Obviously my opinion is biased though 😀

Granted, those with acts of violent behavior are probably in the minority. The OP certainly hasn't done himself any favors.

OP, even though there are lots of knowledgable and helpful people here, I would seek out advice from somewhere more reliable than an Internet forum (anonymously contact some schools, talk to a lawyer etc.)

Good luck!

 

[FrkyBgStok]

OP you have no chance. the people that say you do are either being sarcastic or blowing smoke. as i once read by LizzyM (an adcom on the site), "as long as there are more applicants than spots, there is no reason to give you a chance." you can try but i would start to look in to other careers.

 

[Lil Mick]

Send me a pm if you want to talk more about it. I applied with some stuff that showed up on my record (not the same as yours but not something you'd want on your record, either) and have some insight into the process 🙂

 

[kautionwirez]

Completely lost my mind. Sent this girl I used to talk to many emails. "Please call me," etc... Went to house and kicked open the door when she didn't call.

Would I want to have you as my doctor for my *future daughter*?

I would not. But then again, there are doctors who probably had worse problems than you but have hidden it deep within their closets.

Are you still this person? Will you show compassion and care for your patients?

Will you have problems with patients that may be attractive to you?

Please consider those questions before applying.

 

[woodbine14]

honestly IMO your unique situation will make you jump off the page (even if it's negative, it'll get the adcom more interested in your app)

definitely talk about it in your PS, mention what happened, why, how you learned from it, even mention that it showed you a different side of life & it has opened your mind to other people and their situations (something like that, you know what im talking about lol)

but more importantly, dont let some anonymous kid on a forum dissuade you from pursuing something. if you want to be a doctor, go for it. if you have good stats and ECs, and can show that you really learned from your experience, i think you have a great shot

Thanks!

 

[SeminoleVesicle]

Yeah, you should forget going to medical school. Having a guy that harasses someone and knocks down their doors is too violent and unstable to take. Also, if this happened within the last 5 years, consider yourself completely toast. You don't even have the teenager excuse.

This guy is just another person on SDN who thinks they know what they're talking about, but is grossly unqualified (not to say I am any more qualified myself). Talk to a pre-med advisor or contact the schools yourself, and do everything you can to convince schools that you've learned from the experience. The fact that these are misdemeanors, are indeed your silver lining.

 

[jvesco22]

Earth to some of you posters giving this guy encouragement...He kicked down a woman's door because she didn't answer a PHONE CALL. Are you serious?

If a guy did that to my sister/daughter/etc...he'd be dead (no e-thug).

Stop acting like this guy is a changed man. Only an f'd up person would do that kind of thing to a woman. I'd bet this guy has spousal abuse on his rap sheet as well...

And as someone mentioned before, this isn't some "I was 16 and did stupid stuff" kind of thing. The guy was/is a grown man doing these things. You're in an uphill battle.

 

[TriagePreMed]

This guy is just another person on SDN who thinks they know what they're talking about, but is grossly unqualified (not to say I am any more qualified myself). Talk to a pre-med advisor or contact the schools yourself, and do everything you can to convince schools that you've learned from the experience. The fact that these are misdemeanors, are indeed your silver lining.

While it is true that I'm not "qualified," I'm also not "grossly unqualified." I've spent a lot of time doing research on the med school path and spoken to people in admissions about different scenarios. I've attended multiple conferences where Q&A has given direct answers to questions.

Anyone that comes to this forum expecting professional advice is delusional.

 

[SeminoleVesicle]

Anyone that comes to this forum expecting professional advice is delusional.

I'll agree with you in that respect. My fault, "grossly" was probably not the right word to use.

 

[LegendaryPunk]

Earth to some of you posters giving this guy encouragement...He kicked down a woman's door because she didn't answer a PHONE CALL. Are you serious?

If a guy did that to my sister/daughter/etc...he'd be dead (no e-thug).

Stop acting like this guy is a changed man. Only an f'd up person would do that kind of thing to a woman. I'd bet this guy has spousal abuse on his rap sheet as well...

And as someone mentioned before, this isn't some "I was 16 and did stupid stuff" kind of thing. The guy was/is a grown man doing these things. You're in an uphill battle.

Wonderful. So instead of a doctor with a violent background, we get one who stereotypes and creates assumptions. Neither sounds like a physician that I would want to spend time with.

Thanks!

You are in a very difficult situation - be wary of only listening / accepting the advice that you want to hear.

 

[fastfingers]

maybe consider applying like 6 years from now after you've done some super serious and awesome volunteering? your criminal background is pretty scary and is way to close to you now. although you say you've changed, it's hard for anybody to think you actually did.

maybe if you volunteered at some prison or something helping inmates change their perspection for like 6 years, med schools could think ur a changed man.

 

[jvesco22]

Wonderful. So instead of a doctor with a violent background, we get one who stereotypes and creates assumptions. Neither sounds like a physician that I would want to spend time with.

Hmmm, let's see...burglary, harassment, kicking down a woman's door because she didn't answer her phone...yeah let's just assume aside from these things, he's an all around great guy who'd never hurt a fly...

 

[TriagePreMed]

Wonderful. So instead of a doctor with a violent background, we get one who stereotypes and creates assumptions. Neither sounds like a physician that I would want to spend time with.

If not at violent acts that end up in criminal convictions, where do you draw the line of calling someone violent?

 

[V5RED]

I never threatened or tried to hurt anyone

Do you think that kicking in a girl's door and probably her not feel safe in her own home is not threatening or hurtful?

I believe in second chances(not that my opinion matters to anyone on an adcom), but you do need to accept how seriously wrong your actions were.

I have a horrible past from an incident 5.5 years ago, but I realize just how bad it was and feel remorseful every day for it. I also realize how lucky I am that it was not worse.

 

[LegendaryPunk]

If not at violent acts that end up in criminal convictions, where do you draw the line of calling someone violent?

Oh, I wasn't trying to argue that - he's already proven himself to be violent.

Hmmm, let's see...burglary, harassment, kicking down a woman's door because she didn't answer her phone...yeah let's just assume aside from these things, he's an all around great guy who'd never hurt a fly...

Again with the assuming. I never said anything about him being "an all around great guy." I also started my sentence with admitting that I think he's violent. I just meant it's unfair to fill in his past with whatever examples you can think of (i.e. also a wife-beater). Works the other way as well - don't assume somebody is an absolute angel because of a single good deed.

Morality issues of the argument aside, the only point I was trying to make is that we shouldn't draw conclusions from a single data point, and that a person's character is more than the sum of their parts.

I apologize for for coming across as hostile - this is what happens when you get on SDN after staying up all night studying for a Calc exam 🙄

 

[kittywampus]

Why do so many people on SDN post such negativity? People post questions like this on here so that someone who has the right answer can help them out, not so they can be harassed by a bunch of people who are not even helping to answer the question.

OP - Your best bet is getting in touch with the schools your interested in and asking their opinion. Also, find out the laws in the state your in regarding this. The biggest problem to me about criminal records is not getting into medical school. It's the potential to get in, go through medical school, and then find out you can't even get licensed to practice medicine. Jobs out there for you as a medical school graduate who can't practice medicine, yes, but the thought of that happening is scarier to me than not getting into medical school in the first place.

I've seen some states say that even misdemeanors of "moral turpitude" will be taken into account when deciding to initally liscense you. So the following with a grain of salt. My opinion is that if this is an isolated incidence and some time has passed, then you have a very good chance to make it happen. Best of Luck....

According to the Florida DOH: “Effective July 1, 2009, section 456.0635, Florida Statutes, provides that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant has been:

· Convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under chapter 409, chapter 817, chapter 893, 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970, or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application

And something else, just for s's and g's

http://articles.cnn.com/2000-11-02/...w-bush-kennebunkport-police?_s=PM:ALLPOLITICS

 

[JumpDiveDuck]

Call a lawyer and have the charges expunged. The schools have no way of looking into sealed records. I think because they are only misdemeanors they should be able to be sealed after 2 years of no repeat behavior.

 

[TheGloaming]

.

 

[hellocubed]

To the OP:
you know that this is a difficult situation. But PLEASE PLEASE take this into consideration.

I had a friend who received somewhat of a similar charge a few years ago (a poorly premeditated bar brawl, got screwed over). He tried for years to get into medical school, and you know what? He DIDN'T get it. All of a sudden he lost over 5 years of his life, completely wasted on something he didn't have more than a glimmer of a chance. By the time he found a different career, took the exams and applied to grad school, his youth was shot.


People here say you have a glimmer of a chance. THEY ARE RIGHT, you can get in.
But if you play the statistics, a glimmer of a chance is still quite slim.

The question is: are you ready to waste several years of your youth on a journey you may never complete? You are already 30 years of age, if you chase this you might be 36 with your dick in your hand. I believe it would be wiser to use the time to find a different career path and pursue it.

 

[Pattycake25]

maybe consider applying like 6 years from now after you've done some super serious and awesome volunteering? your criminal background is pretty scary and is way to close to you now. although you say you've changed, it's hard for anybody to think you actually did.

maybe if you volunteered at some prison or something helping inmates change their perspection for like 6 years, med schools could think ur a changed man.

Honestly, this seems like the only post in this thread that makes any sense, besides the ones that tell you bluntly that you are effed. I'm sorry, I really am, but even as hazy as I am about how adcoms process applications (I just learned some devastating information myself in another thread, courtesy of a former adcom member), I feel more than confident that this is the kind of offense that will, almost without a doubt, get your application tossed in the trash at record speed. You scared the crap out of a woman, both physically and emotionally. These are grievous acts for someone aspiring for a profession predicated on absolute compassion and intimate trust.

I would emphasize that even doing something like this, you'd only stand a chance if they read about the volunteer work first, OR found it after while looking over the rest of your application in stunned disbelief, AND in both cases felt incredibly open-minded to even give you the faintest chance, AND you nailed the everloving **** out of the interview (I mean, changed their whole perspective on life, nailed). Basically, an incredibly dedicated commitment, for just the tiniest hope. Only you know if medical practice is worth that much to you, but if it's not, walk away now. Even if it is, investigate what will happen when the time for licensure comes (don't forget to add the several years you would be spending in school when considering laws like the aforementioned).

 

[docmayer]

I don't know your whole situation exactly, but I can say that just because you had it out with your ex or whoever, got pissed, and kicked the door does not mean you are a bad person, or a felon IMO. Anyone who has ever been in a relationship that has gone bad knows its not something fun to deal with and you do think/say stupid things, it is not abnormal. I don't really know where I am going with this, but I guess I just mean to say that I personally wouldn't make a big deal of it, but in reality it's probably going to work against you for medical school

Good luck though!!

 

[sejin8642]

From what I heard, after the Craigslist Serial killer incident, many med schools are now seriously evaluating the criminal records for admission.

 

[TriagePreMed]

I don't know your whole situation exactly, but I can say that just because you had it out with your ex or whoever, got pissed, and kicked the door does not mean you are a bad person, or a felon IMO. Anyone who has ever been in a relationship that has gone bad knows its not something fun to deal with and you do think/say stupid things, it is not abnormal. I don't really know where I am going with this, but I guess I just mean to say that I personally wouldn't make a big deal of it, but in reality it's probably going to work against you for medical school

Good luck though!!

If you don't know how to control your emotions, medical school is not for you. I've been in many relationships and not once have harassed someone and much less broken down their door, neither has the majority of people. He's not a felon because he didn't get a felony. Being a bad person or not is not for me to judge. However, the OP wanted people to comment on his chances. I say none.