A quick update.
Today, I just received my final grades on our latest block of classes, and I did very well in all of them (I believe even good enough to receive honors - though that'll be determined later through a separate process). I spoke to someone who graduated from my medical school 2 years ago (currently an anesthesiology resident at a prestigious academic center) and basically told him about my situation and career aspirations (academic probation for failing two classes but want to go into anesthesiology eventually). He was very adamant that I petition my school and have them remove me from academic probation - he said that when it comes to applying for residencies, the deans at my school are obligated to mention any sort of probation on my MSPE, and this can hurt my chances at competitive programs. He also said that when it comes time to get my medical license, I will have to report any and all types of "probation", and that'll just create another hassle to deal with. Apparently he has some insight knowledge on the way our deans handle these matters, and according to him, it is possible that I can convince my dean to take me off probation - something that's against official university protocols.
So I have two big questions:
1) Should I make an appointment with my dean and somehow persuade him to take me off probation, especially since I did so well in my latest sequence of classes? The official policy is that I will remain on probation for the rest of the preclinical period (until the end of MS2), and that I will be taken off probation once clerkships start. However, I wonder if it is a good idea (assuming it is possible) to approach my dean right now and ask him to remove me from probation. The problem is that I can't hold any leadership positions in my medical school while I am on probation, and there are a lot of opportunities around campus where I want to get involved as a student leader. I've heard that those positions can make me more competitive, so I want to get off probation immediately and be able to hold some of these positions.
2) What's the official word on medical licensure? I understand that obviously we'll have to disclose criminal convictions and substance abuse issues, and perhaps professional violations as well. But will I really have to mention that I was placed on academic probation because I failed some classes during the first year of medical school? And even if I have to disclose that I was put on probation for failing some MS1 classes, will this in any way jeopardize my ability to get a license in any state? I've never even thought about this medical license issue (I don't think any MS1 thinks THAT far ahead) until my friend mentioned it to me, so now I am a bit worried.
What are your thoughts?