Hello everyone,
For this past Fall semester I got caught violating covid regulation for my college. my school has given me an option to be removed from spring housing while still paying $8000 of room and board or to return but have a disciplinary record. I just got caught bringing a couple of my friends into my suite that did not belong to my residential hall but were still on campus students. I know that if i have a disciplinary record, I would have to disclose this on my application to med schools. However, do you think that this violation would be seen as a minor violation or as a major violation by med schools.
I'm going to give you a slightly different response and tone from those who have previously posted.
First, to my knowledge, an IA ACTUALLY has to show up on your transcripts for it to be reportable to AMCAs. It's kind of like the same thing for misdemeanors. They ask you to report things such as speeding tickets which can be a misdemeanor but are almost never listed on any background check whatsoever as long as you complete the required tasks. I have also seen PLENTY of advice on this sight about not reporting something as an IA in instances where someone was given some sort of choice "Either you do x for your punishment, or y but don't worry, it wont show up on record unless you fail to comply," because it is not truly an IA.
I say all that to say this; the reasons AMCAs has the rule that "you put anything down, no matter what" is because if you say it doesn't exist, and then your transcript does or your background check does, then thats it. You're done. They consider that a gross misrepresentation and a lie.
But I have never, not on this site, not on reddit, and not in real life, EVER heard of someone not self-reporting something that does not show up in any official document whatsoever, and then later having their career ruined over it. Not a single time. Not saying it cannot happen, but I would say extremely, utterly rare. However, that choice is on what to do is on you.
Second, you need to realize what you did was a poor lapse of judgement, and then own that hardcore. It does not really matter why you did it or how you got caught or who reported it. It was a bad decision. I know you say you own that, but in this thread, it does not appear that way. Just for future references in your professional career; when something like this happens, make sure there is no question on whether or not you own that mistake cause it will make a difference in outcomes.
Third, I would say pay the $8,000 fine, and move on. Do not take the risk of having an actual disciplinary action on your record. However, you definitely need to ENSURE that paying the fine will 100% result in no disciplinary action being put on your record, because otherwise, all of that would be a moot point.
Fourth, having an IA is tough. It makes your chances of medical school even smaller in an already tough pool. Having an IA where it was a willful decision to violate rules related to a pandemic, is that much more worse. Especially like stated earlier in that you will never know what kind of person, what they believe, and what their relationship is to covid (believe in it, dont believe in it, lost someone to it) is.
Fifth, and finally; yes, having a true IA on your record is 100% going to negatively impact your chances of medical school. How hard, minor or major? No one truly knows, which is why some of these people - including myself - are telling you to eat the $8,000. You don't want to miss out on a career because of this one thing that someone sitting on a committee somewhere decides that the choice was everything they needed to know about you. If you do take the IA option, then ensuring that you clearly communicate that you were at-fault, own that decision, and explain the exact circumstances like stated above, then you have a chance. If you eat the $8,000, then there is nothing to discuss anyway.
For future choices, make sure the choice you are making isnt putting you back down this route.