destroyed disciplinary record - still report?

[aspiring20]

i have a minor IA (alcohol/noise level issue) that i have to report on the AMCAS. however, my school destroys all disciplinary records (except suspensions and up) within x number of years after graduation.

assuming i get into med school, this record will be long gone by the time residency application comes along. do they ask for minor disciplinary issues in undergrad when it comes to residency and licensure? keep in mind that i have zero criminal issues (no arrest/whatever), and my record has nothing to do with drugs/cheating/fighting/any criminal behavior.

i have to deal with this for med apps, there's no way around it. but i really dont want a traffic-violation "institutional action" haunt me for the rest of my life.

thanks

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[K31]

There is nowhere on ERAS (the Electronic Residency Application System) to report undergraduate institutional records. You can see the ERAS questions for yourself here.

 

[aspiring20]

There is nowhere on ERAS (the Electronic Residency Application System) to report undergraduate institutional records. You can see the ERAS questions for yourself here.

thanks!

but what does the "is there's anything blah blah" that might affect your hospital privilege question? is it implying that you need to disclose EVERYTHING?

 

[LizzyM]

thanks!

but what does the "is there's anything blah blah" that might affect your hospital privilege question? is it implying that you need to disclose EVERYTHING?

They mean anything like active psychiatric problems, heavy out-of-control drinking, etc.

 

[aspiring20]

They mean anything like active psychiatric problems, heavy out-of-control drinking, etc.

thanks for the response.

so are minor undergrad IAs (without any criminal attachments) pretty much non-existent after getting into med school?

 

[Planes2Doc]

thanks for the response.

so are minor undergrad IAs (without any criminal attachments) pretty much non-existent after getting into med school?

I would assume so. Sort of like high school IAs become non-existent after getting into college.

 

[aspiring20]

I would assume so. Sort of like high school IAs become non-existent after getting into college.

cool. and btw, nice new profile pic

 

[Planes2Doc]

cool. and btw, nice new profile pic

Bonjour.

Of course everything on the internet is true. 😉

 

[aspiring20]

Bonjour.

Of course everything on the internet is true. 😉

haha

 

[aspiring20]

sorry for bumping this thread.

i just looked at the disciplinary policies of many LACs and universities, and virtually ALL of them destroy a student's disciplinary record right after graduation. for some schools, only serious violations involving suspensions or expulsions are permanently kept by the institutions.

my alma mater (a ranked LAC) keeps a record of ALL disciplinary infractions (including warnings for noise violations) for at least 3-5 years after graduation. i think this is gravely unjust and doing the students a disservice. i think the intention of my alma mater is to make it as difficult as possible for its graduates to go on to medical school; there's no other explanation for a disciplinary policy that's so contrary to those of just about every other school.

 

[redshadow]

i have a minor IA (alcohol/noise level issue) that i have to report on the AMCAS. however, my school destroys all disciplinary records (except suspensions and up) within x number of years after graduation.

assuming i get into med school, this record will be long gone by the time residency application comes along. do they ask for minor disciplinary issues in undergrad when it comes to residency and licensure? keep in mind that i have zero criminal issues (no arrest/whatever), and my record has nothing to do with drugs/cheating/fighting/any criminal behavior.

i have to deal with this for med apps, there's no way around it. but i really dont want a traffic-violation "institutional action" haunt me for the rest of my life.

thanks

I'm pretty sure that infractions like alcohol/noise aren't required to be reported. They're not actually misdemeanors or anything like that (unless you did get charged with a misdemeanor).


Also, it's not a death sentence if you can explain that the situation was a one-time thing that that you handled it like an adult. I had an "alcohol violation" on my undergrad "file" that was really a cop giving me a ticket for having a beer can on the sidewalk, instead of 3 feet to the right on the grass (ridiculous in and of itself. I wish I still had a copy of the letter where the school security told me that they were working with local PD regarding ordinance violations, and they had filed complaints against me for Illegal consumption of alcohol, Illegal possession with intent to sell controlled substances, and Ordinance violation. I was 24 at the time, so there was nothing "illegal" about me having a beer.)

Explained that I complied with everything, went to my school informal hearings and explained my case (and even they LOL'd at the letter from the security company), and handled the situation like an adult. Went to court, did the community service the next day, and went on my way without any infractions further.


As long as you don't let your infraction paint you as someone who routinely has problems, I can't see it being that damaging.

 

[theseeker4]

sorry for bumping this thread.

i just looked at the disciplinary policies of many LACs and universities, and virtually ALL of them destroy a student's disciplinary record right after graduation. for some schools, only serious violations involving suspensions or expulsions are permanently kept by the institutions.

my alma mater (a ranked LAC) keeps a record of ALL disciplinary infractions (including warnings for noise violations) for at least 3-5 years after graduation. i think this is gravely unjust and doing the students a disservice. i think the intention of my alma mater is to make it as difficult as possible for its graduates to go on to medical school; there's no other explanation for a disciplinary policy that's so contrary to those of just about every other school.

How does this policy make it any more difficult for students to go to medical school? Unless the applicant is going to lie on their application, whether the school keeps a record or not won't affect the applicant's chances. If someone wants to lie about an IA, sorry, I have no sympathy that someone's school is making it more difficult for them to do so.

Also, really? What could your school possibly gain by trying to prevent its graduates from getting into med school? The more students from a particular school are successful at gaining admission to graduate schools, the better talent they can attract, the more funding and tuition, etc. Your idea of their "intention" makes absolutely no sense.

A very minor disciplinary IA earlier in your career won't be the difference between you gaining admission and not, unless you already have a lot of other issues with your application. If that is the case, your problems go well beyond your school's IA record keeping policy........

 

[theseeker4]

I'm pretty sure that infractions like alcohol/noise aren't required to be reported. They're not actually misdemeanors or anything like that (unless you did get charged with a misdemeanor).


Also, it's not a death sentence if you can explain that the situation was a one-time thing that that you handled it like an adult. I had an "alcohol violation" on my undergrad "file" that was really a cop giving me a ticket for having a beer can on the sidewalk, instead of 3 feet to the right on the grass (ridiculous in and of itself. I wish I still had a copy of the letter where the school security told me that they were working with local PD regarding ordinance violations, and they had filed complaints against me for Illegal consumption of alcohol, Illegal possession with intent to sell controlled substances, and Ordinance violation. I was 24 at the time, so there was nothing "illegal" about me having a beer.)

Explained that I complied with everything, went to my school informal hearings and explained my case (and even they LOL'd at the letter from the security company), and handled the situation like an adult. Went to court, did the community service the next day, and went on my way without any infractions further.


As long as you don't let your infraction paint you as someone who routinely has problems, I can't see it being that damaging.

Actually, if the IA is an official institutional action, I am pretty sure it DOES have to be reported. Asking about criminal background is separate from asking about IAs, and both are expected to be reported. I am sure plenty of people lie and don't report these things, but some of them get caught and lose any chance at medical school in the process.

 

[aspiring20]

How does this policy make it any more difficult for students to go to medical school? Unless the applicant is going to lie on their application, whether the school keeps a record or not won't affect the applicant's chances. If someone wants to lie about an IA, sorry, I have no sympathy that someone's school is making it more difficult for them to do so.

Also, really? What could your school possibly gain by trying to prevent its graduates from getting into med school? The more students from a particular school are successful at gaining admission to graduate schools, the better talent they can attract, the more funding and tuition, etc. Your idea of their "intention" makes absolutely no sense.

A very minor disciplinary IA earlier in your career won't be the difference between you gaining admission and not, unless you already have a lot of other issues with your application. If that is the case, your problems go well beyond your school's IA record keeping policy........

other than my IA, my app is more or less set. i am sitting on a 3.6/3.3 c/s GPA and a 35 MCAT. i also have strong and varied ECs.

but because of my record, i am willing to apply to DO schools and an overwhelming number of MD schools. i am thinking about 40 MD and 10 DO. at this point, i just want to get in and forget my shameful undergrad experience.

 

[911 Turbo]

other than my IA, my app is more or less set. i am sitting on a 3.6/3.3 c/s GPA and a 35 MCAT. i also have strong and varied ECs.

but because of my record, i am willing to apply to DO schools and an overwhelming number of MD schools. i am thinking about 40 MD and 10 DO. at this point, i just want to get in and forget my shameful undergrad experience.

40 MD 10 DO


40 MD 10 DO


40 MD 10 DO


40 MD 10 DO

 

[aspiring20]

40 MD 10 DO


40 MD 10 DO


40 MD 10 DO

40 MD 10 DO

your point?

 

[LizzyM]

40 MD 10 DO


40 MD 10 DO


40 MD 10 DO

40 MD 10 DO

The point is that the exhaustion you will feel in preparing 51 applications (AMCAS plus 50 secondaries) will be profound and the last of them may be late and/or poorly executed. Then you have the (nice) problem of getting interviews and feeling obligated to attend every one until you get an offer. That can get expensive and exhausting as you go from one to another (if you are so lucky). Another fly in the ointment is that the DO schools don't fool around, they'll ask for a non-refundable deposit of > $1K to hold your seat. If you don't yet have an MD offer, you'll have to decide whether to pay the $1K or keep the $1K in your pocket with the expectation that you'll get an MD offer (do you feel lucky?)

 

[wiloghby]

The point is that the exhaustion you will feel in preparing 51 applications (AMCAS plus 50 secondaries) will be profound and the last of them may be late and/or poorly executed. Then you have the (nice) problem of getting interviews and feeling obligated to attend every one until you get an offer. That can get expensive and exhausting as you go from one to another (if you are so lucky). Another fly in the ointment is that the DO schools don't fool around, they'll ask for a non-refundable deposit of > $1K to hold your seat. If you don't yet have an MD offer, you'll have to decide whether to pay the $1K or keep the $1K in your pocket with the expectation that you'll get an MD offer (do you feel lucky?)

Not trying to derail this thread, but I am absolutely astonished that some DO schools require >$1000 to hold a seat that they won't refund to you!! I always thought all acceptance deposits were refundable. Does anyone know if there are MD schools which have non-refundable deposits? This is assuming, of course, that one withdraws before 5/15.

 

[nemo123]

Not trying to derail this thread, but I am absolutely astonished that some DO schools require >$1000 to hold a seat that they won't refund to you!! I always thought all acceptance deposits were refundable. Does anyone know if there are MD schools which have non-refundable deposits? This is assuming, of course, that one withdraws before 5/15.

I read that there's one MD school that won't return your deposit to you if you withdraw... I think it was Drexel? But generally all of them do. And yeah, supposedly, you need to pay lots of money to DO schools to reserve a spot.