Effect of a class A Misdemeanor?

[jessicasaski]

I got a class A misdemeanor for deadly conduct when I was 17(3 years ago). Since 17 considered adult in Texas, I was charged as an adult. I am thinking about getting this expunged. Will med schools still be able to see the record after the expungement? If I don't get it expunged, will it affect my chances of getting admitted into med school?

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[LuciusVorenus]

I got a class A misdemeanor for deadly conduct when I was 17(3 years ago). Since 17 considered adult in Texas, I was charged as an adult. I am thinking about getting this expunged. Will med schools still be able to see the record after the expungement? If I don't get it expunged, will it affect my chances of getting admitted into med school?

Even if you get it expunged, you are still required to inform all the schools you apply to. It's not worth the risk of getting an acceptance taken away once your background check comes back.

As for whether it affects your chances of admission, it's hard to say without knowing what the crime was. Some marks on your record (for example domestic abuse or academic dishonesty) really hurt you, others (being written up for drinking in a dry dorm) not so much.

You have to make sure you let the schools know how you grew as a result of this experience.

 

[jessicasaski]

would getting into a pretty big fight with your parents be considered a major crime? the deadly conduct charge came from being in a moving car.

 

[LuciusVorenus]

would getting into a pretty big fight with your parents be considered a major crime? the deadly conduct charge came from being in a moving car.

It depends on how the fight went. Was it physical? Did you try to run someone over? You have to remember that when applying you get a paragraph to explain the crime and what you learned from it. That's the most important part.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Even if you get it expunged, you are still required to inform all the schools you apply to. It's not worth the risk of getting an acceptance taken away once your background check comes back.

As for whether it affects your chances of admission, it's hard to say without knowing what the crime was. Some marks on your record (for example domestic abuse or academic dishonesty) really hurt you, others (being written up for drinking in a dry dorm) not so much.

You have to make sure you let the schools know how you grew as a result of this experience.

False. If you have a record that's expunged, you do not tell the school. Even if it comes up in their background check, they can't use it against you. The law and application permits you to apply as if you had no record.

 

[LuciusVorenus]

False. If you have a record that's expunged, you do not tell the school. Even if it comes up in their background check, they can't use it against you. The law and application permits you to apply as if you had no record.

I've only heard of that being the case for California, Oregon and Illinois. The OP should probably get a lawyer then. At the very least run a background check on yourself.

 

[Judoka1113]

On AMCAS application it explicitly states that if the charge was expunged you don't have to disclose it.

 

[sector9]

On AMCAS application it explicitly states that if the charge was expunged you don't have to disclose it.

The 2011 AMCAS application said this:

Have you ever been convicted of, or pleaded guilty or no contest to, a Misdemeanor crime, excluding 1) any offense for which you were adjudicated as a juvenile, 2) any convictions which have been expunged or sealed by a court, or 3) any misdemeanor convictions for which any probation has been completed and the case dismissed by the court (in states where applicable)?
Before responding, click the "Help" button and review the instructions labeled "Misdemeanor". You will find important information about your responsibility to notify medical schools if your answer to this question changes after submission, as well as state-specific notifications that have been mandated for inclusion alongside our question You need NOT disclose any instance where you:

• were arrested, but not charged;
• were arrested and charged, but the charges were dropped;
• were arrested and charged, but found not guilty by a judge or jury;
• were arrested and found guilty by a judge or jury, but the conviction was overturned on appeal; or
• received an executive pardon.

jessicasaski, are you talking about AMCAS or TMDSAS?

For reference, TMDSAS says the following:

You will indicate whether you are currently under charge or have you ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, or have you ever received a felony or misdemeanor deferred adjudication.
You need NOT disclose information about any of the following:

• you were arrested but not charged
• you were arrested and charged, but the charges were dropped
• you were arrested and charged, but found not guilty by a judge or jury
• you were arrested and found guilty by a judge or jury, but the conviction was overturned on appeal
• you received an executive pardon
• a juvenile or criminal record that has been sealed or expunged. Failure to disclose information that is not in fact expunged or sealed may result in the applicant being denied admission
• minor traffic violations

 

[boobelle]

I've only heard of that being the case for California, Oregon and Illinois. The OP should probably get a lawyer then. At the very least run a background check on yourself.

Definitely state specific. I just went through the licensing process for residency, and for the state I'll be in (not CA) the application specifically stated you needed to include expunged offenses:

"Have you ever been convicted of a violation, plead Nolo Contedere, or entered a plea bargain to any federal, state or local statute, or ordinance, or are any formal charges pending; including use of illicit substances or operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (Please include any offenses which have been expunged from your record)?"

This is relevant since the main reason schools ask this is because they need to know you can pass the background check to rotate at hospitals during medical school and ultimately to be hired by a hospital or licensed as a physician. (Also, I had been under the impression that while you can have a conviction expunged it doesn't erase the arrest record, etc...?) Who knows whether the OP's history would be enough for a licensing board to block the application or a hospital to decline a hire, but it's something the OP should also be aware of...

As always with legal issues, OP, consult a lawyer rather than SDN.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Definitely state specific. I just went through the licensing process for residency, and for the state I'll be in (not CA) the application specifically stated you needed to include expunged offenses:

"Have you ever been convicted of a violation, plead Nolo Contedere, or entered a plea bargain to any federal, state or local statute, or ordinance, or are any formal charges pending; including use of illicit substances or operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (Please include any offenses which have been expunged from your record)?"

This is relevant since the main reason schools ask this is because they need to know you can pass the background check to rotate at hospitals during medical school and ultimately to be hired by a hospital or licensed as a physician. (Also, I had been under the impression that while you can have a conviction expunged it doesn't erase the arrest record, etc...?) Who knows whether the OP's history would be enough for a licensing board to block the application or a hospital to decline a hire, but it's something the OP should also be aware of...

As always with legal issues, OP, consult a lawyer rather than SDN.

This is completely different than the topic at hand. We are speaking about applications and not about going in front of a licensing board. The two processes are not the same one.

Sector9, both clearly state that an expunged record is not to be disclosed.

 

[sector9]

Sector9, both clearly state that an expunged record is not to be disclosed.

I agree that an expunged record is not disclosed for AMCAS or TMDSAS

 

[boobelle]

This is completely different than the topic at hand. We are speaking about applications and not about going in front of a licensing board. The two processes are not the same one.

Right, but you and the OP want to actually work as doctors, right?

As I already said, it IS relevant because that is the REASON WHY medical schools perform a background check...it's not just for their own entertainment. If you can't pass one, it will prevent you from being able to rotate through most hospitals (i.e. be unable to complete your third and fourth year of medical school) and also prevent you from being licensed. If a school knows from the outset that an applicant would be unable to finish half of medical school or work as a physician, why on earth would they bother to accept the applicant?

My school had a student who got into some minor trouble during the preclinical years and never told the school...the school found out when the hospitals banned the student from working in them after discovering the offense on a background check, and now the student is screwed. It prompted an email to the entire student body with the above explanation of the rationale behind the medical school background check.