ERAS/interviews and misdemeanors.

[Yellowtuna]

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I know this topic has been covered briefly, but with the new changes to ERAS I'm looking for some insight.
1.) Do you elaborate on misdemeanors on ERAS or just select Yes I have been convicted of a misdemeanor and then explain it in your interviews.
2.) How will misdemeanors affect residency interviews and placement?
a.) I have 2 minor consumptions when I was 18 (2004) (both blew under 0.01 - literally had one beer and was busted walking home from a graduation party / riding in a car that got pulled over freshmen year of college after having 1 beer)
b.) I have a disorderly conduct - brawling/fighting petty misdemeanor when I was 21 (2007). One of my friends was jumped by 3 guys outside of a bar when we were walking home, I tried to break up the fight and got jumped by 2 more guys...the cops arrested everyone involved and didn't listen (or look at my bloody/bruised face). The lawyer told me it was the same as a parking ticket (young and dumb I believed her) and accepted the charge.

I am now 27 and will be 28 when I apply...and have 0 incidents since. Any advice/insight would be much appreciated. I am going to attempt to get as much expunged as I can and will obviously not lie about the infractions.

Any program directors/people associated with resident selection would greatly appreciated.

 

[IMPD]

I know this topic has been covered briefly, but with the new changes to ERAS I'm looking for some insight.
1.) Do you elaborate on misdemeanors on ERAS or just select Yes I have been convicted of a misdemeanor and then explain it in your interviews.
2.) How will misdemeanors affect residency interviews and placement?
a.) I have 2 minor consumptions when I was 18 (2004) (both blew under 0.01 - literally had one beer and was busted walking home from a graduation party / riding in a car that got pulled over freshmen year of college after having 1 beer)
b.) I have a disorderly conduct - brawling/fighting petty misdemeanor when I was 21 (2007). One of my friends was jumped by 3 guys outside of a bar when we were walking home, I tried to break up the fight and got jumped by 2 more guys...the cops arrested everyone involved and didn't listen (or look at my bloody/bruised face). The lawyer told me it was the same as a parking ticket (young and dumb I believed her) and accepted the charge.

I am now 27 and will be 28 when I apply...and have 0 incidents since. Any advice/insight would be much appreciated. I am going to attempt to get as much expunged as I can and will obviously not lie about the infractions.

Any program directors/people associated with resident selection would greatly appreciated.

Explain. There is a box there for it, use it. If you don't, you leave it to the PD's imagination, which I can promise you will not be so benign.

The two strikes will hurt you, I am being honest with you on this. Your interview *must* convey not just in fact, but in tone and manner, that this **** is behind you.

 

[Yellowtuna]

Thank you for the response. Should I elaborate on ERAS that these are behind me or wait until the interview. Also, how much are these going to hurt me? They were almost 9 years ago for the minor consumptions and 7 for the disorderly conduct; basically am I going to lose interviews over these? I just thought they were such minor infractions and it was so long ago, most PDs would dismiss them and not account it to a character flaw.
Thank you again for taking the time to reply.

 

[IMPD]

Thank you for the response. Should I elaborate on ERAS that these are behind me or wait until the interview. Also, how much are these going to hurt me? They were almost 9 years ago for the minor consumptions and 7 for the disorderly conduct; basically am I going to lose interviews over these? I just thought they were such minor infractions and it was so long ago, most PDs would dismiss them and not account it to a character flaw.
Thank you again for taking the time to reply.

We often obsess over "how" to phrase difficult things. The most important thing is to say *something* so you're situation gets noticed and possibly changed. Simple. Short. To the point. The PD doesn't have a lot of time and if your initial email gets attention you will be asked for more details.

 

[laricb]

I know this topic has been covered briefly, but with the new changes to ERAS I'm looking for some insight.
1.) Do you elaborate on misdemeanors on ERAS or just select Yes I have been convicted of a misdemeanor and then explain it in your interviews.
2.) How will misdemeanors affect residency interviews and placement?
a.) I have 2 minor consumptions when I was 18 (2004) (both blew under 0.01 - literally had one beer and was busted walking home from a graduation party / riding in a car that got pulled over freshmen year of college after having 1 beer)
b.) I have a disorderly conduct - brawling/fighting petty misdemeanor when I was 21 (2007). One of my friends was jumped by 3 guys outside of a bar when we were walking home, I tried to break up the fight and got jumped by 2 more guys...the cops arrested everyone involved and didn't listen (or look at my bloody/bruised face). The lawyer told me it was the same as a parking ticket (young and dumb I believed her) and accepted the charge.

I am now 27 and will be 28 when I apply...and have 0 incidents since. Any advice/insight would be much appreciated. I am going to attempt to get as much expunged as I can and will obviously not lie about the infractions.

Any program directors/people associated with resident selection would greatly appreciated.

I believe they don't check beyond 7 yrs and your med school had no problem with it

 

[Yellowtuna]

My med school did have a problem with it, which is why I am concerned about residency.. During medical school we directly interact with patients but basically play doctor with a safety net of attendings and residents underneath us... in residency peoples lives are on the tips of our scalpels and pens...I imagine PDs are much more likely to concern themselves with a brief period of poor choices, even if it was a decade ago and were only small infractions. Especially when 10 other candidates all wanting the same position have similar scores and no misdemeanors.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

I believe they don't check beyond 7 yrs and your med school had no problem with it

This is just so wrong I don't know where to start. Leaving anything off your application will be catastrophic when it's discovered, and it will be found.

To the OP: It's probably not as bad as you imagine. These are in the distant past. You simply state what they were, don't make excuses, and state that you've learned from these mistakes. Some programs may reject you becuase of it -- and there's absolutely nothing you can do about that. Many programs will simply not care. The more competitive the field/programs you're applying to, the more this may be an issue.

When you're interviewed by a program, it may not come up at all. They may accept your explanation, and move on.

 

[Yellowtuna]

This is just so wrong I don't know where to start. Leaving anything off your application will be catastrophic when it's discovered, and it will be found.

Thank you, I know and I don't plan on hiding anything.

To the OP: It's probably not as bad as you imagine. These are in the distant past. You simply state what they were, don't make excuses, and state that you've learned from these mistakes. Some programs may reject you becuase of it -- and there's absolutely nothing you can do about that. Many programs will simply not care. The more competitive the field/programs you're applying to, the more this may be an issue.[/QUOTE]

I am applying to mid-low tier university based and some community IM programs next year: 226 on step 1 (taken during the middle of the semester d/t timing mistake between myself/university). I have no allusions about my score or past, I just want an IM residency that will train me to become a great physician and give me the opportunity to pursue a fellowship if I work hard enough.

Thank you for the replys.

 

[drcrispmd]

Do not lie on your application. Explain what they were. If you put no, they will show up on a background check before residency starts. You may be terminated if your ERAS answers do not match your background check.

 

[gutonc]

Thank you, I know and I don't plan on hiding anything.

This is absolutely the right thing to do. My fellowship program last year didn't rank 2 applicants. One of them was because he omitted legal issues from his application (that were mentioned by his PD LOR). When asked about it during the interview his response was "I didn't think it mattered".

 

[Yellowtuna]

This is absolutely the right thing to do. My fellowship program last year didn't rank 2 applicants. One of them was because he omitted legal issues from his application (that were mentioned by his PD LOR). When asked about it during the interview his response was "I didn't think it mattered".

Thanks, I know it matters, I just don't want my career to be severely limited because I had a couple of beers before I turned 21 or tried to stop my friend from getting his head smashed into the concrete. I won't lie about them, I don't think they are a reflection of who I am, nor are they serious charges I just understand that from a PDs view its difficult to judge someone on paper. I am going to do some away rotations at programs I am interested in to plant a great impression before application season. Would it be a good idea to mention the infractions to PDs during rotations..maybe in a "heads up, but also asking advice" type of conversation after getting to know them better?

 

[Trogghunter]

I had a misdemeanor from 4 years ago come up...it was a civil violation, so I technically didn't have to report it, but I did. The interviewer and I had a laugh about it because it was stupid/funny, I have proven that it was in my past, and I emphasized that I am an honest person by including a civil citation. Just write it in the box and if someone brings it up at interview, then talk about it. Don't tell letter writers about it, don't talk about it unless asked. It won't be an issue.