Does anyone know specifically, what is asked about misdemeanors on secondaries?

[watchergub]

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[DrArete]

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[watchergub]

Anyone else? I know lots of you have submitted secondaries recently!

 

[Emerica]

Contact a lawyer.
Never reveal anything you don't have to.
Even if you have to take out a loan to pay for a good lawyer and a professional background check to see what comes out, it would be well worth it.

I agree. Contact a lawyer and run a background check on yourself and see exactly what shows up, and if nothing shows up then don't put it down.

 

[NickNaylor]

I just looked at a couple of my secondaries and they ask for convictions only, not whether you've been charged. Whether that's universal or not, who knows, but hopefully that'll give you some peace.

Best of luck!

 

[LizzyM]

1. 
   Pay to have a criminal background check done.
2. Explain the situation including your age at the time of the offense, the circumstances, and the outcome.
3. If you come clean, and the situation was minor and occurred when you were a kid, it is HIGHLY unlikely that it would be held against you.
4. If you fail to disclose something that comes to light later (the reason for doing the background check on yourself) there could be hell to pay, even if it would have been "no big deal" had you disclosed it yourself.

 

[dbeast]

I was trying to hang out with the cool girls and it was totally dumb thing to do.

It's never dumb when you're trying to hang out with the cool girls.

 

[SoundofSilver]

Obviously you won't have to put it down on the amcas since they specifically state to exclude dismissed, sealed, or expunged misdemeanors.

Secondly, most secondaries only ask about convictions. Very few will ask about charges or word their question in such a way that you would have to disclose.

Even if it were to come up on a background check after you're admitted (doesn't sound like it will), as long as you've answered all questions honestly, I don't think they could hold it against you.

Good luck. Sounds like you'll be fine.

 

[watchergub]

Thanks everyone. I will definitely order a background check and see what happens. I was just imagining the following going down and absolutely freaking out about the possibility.

Interviewer: So explain this record.
Me: Oh, I was kind of dared to steal something with friends.
Interviewer: What did you steal.
Me: A jockstrap...
[AWKWARD SILENCE]

 

[chinesebandits]

Thanks everyone. I will definitely order a background check and see what happens. I was just imagining the following going down and absolutely freaking out about the possibility.

Interviewer: So explain this record.
Me: Oh, I was kind of dared to steal something with friends.
Interviewer: What did you steal.
Me: A jockstrap...
[AWKWARD SILENCE]

ps, since it was not explicitly mentioned, you can order that background check from Certiphi screening, which is the same company that runs your check when you get accepted into medical school. That way you can see exactly what the schools will see. If it comes up on the check that you order, it is definitely in your best interest to just fess up with a brief explanation, including the bit about you being a minor and adjudication withheld. I only filled out one secondary for an early decision program, but it was clear in it's wording that you should put down yes for any convictions, regardless or minority status or expungement. Good luck!! You should be fine, just use good judgement.

 

[StephBee]

Your best bet is to talk to someone with more experience in this matter. IE a lawyer. If you find someone your family has maybe worked with in the past, you can usually get this done without paying a huge fee.

I was in a bit of a simular position. When I was 17, I got an MIP (Minor in posession of alcohol) for a bonfire party at a friends house. Alcohol classes for 8 hours blah blah.
I was told by the officers and class officials that once the class was done, it would never show up again unless I got another alcohol offense. Needless to say, I was skeptical. After all, how would they know about it if I did get another alcohol offense?
Anyway, as a part of my EMT training, I had to undergo a criminal background check and sure enough, they were right. Only thing that showed up was a speeding ticket.

Soo, you have two options. Call a lawyer or run your own background check (75-100$). Third option, although farfetched, is to call up a school and ask them! If you do decide that route, I suggest not calling a school you are actually going to apply to 😛 (you never know who remembers what...)

 

[Mr Hippopotamus]

This may be uselessly specific, but GW's secondary asks:
"Have you ever been convicted of, plead guilty, or plead no lo contendere (i.e. no contest, I do not wish to contend) to a criminal offense? Have you ever been arrested for a felony or misdemeanor?"
Then there is a yes/no box and five lines for you to explain yourself.

A lot of schools have their secondaries posted online, you should have a look at the ones you're thinking of applying to and see what they ask.

 

[watchergub]

This may be uselessly specific, but GW's secondary asks:
"Have you ever been arrested for a felony or misdemeanor?"
Then there is a yes/no box and five lines for you to explain yourself.

Ha. Actually this specificity was exactly what I was looking for. Well that's not good. According to what GW states, I'd have to disclose being arrested. Although maybe I should just not mention it if it doesn't actually show up on the background check.

Thanks. I have been looking around for schools' secondaries, but I could only find 2 online so far.

 

[LizzyM]

Ha. Actually this specificity was exactly what I was looking for. Well that's not good. According to what GW states, I'd have to disclose being arrested. Although maybe I should just not mention it if it doesn't actually show up on the background check.

Thanks. I have been looking around for schools' secondaries, but I could only find 2 online so far.

Having to report it does not necessarily mean that it is a deal breaker. It can be a test of your honesty. Sometimes this stuff surfaces on a background check and it is far better for it to be known in advance rather than to be a surprise. Read Charles Bosk's sociological study, Forgive and Remember to see how surgical teams deal with errors by trainees for a better understanding of where this is coming from.