Got an II to my top school; should I withdraw?

[zircon]

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Hey guys, long time lurker, first time poster. I have a dilemma that I can’t figure out and after a lot of forum searching I can’t find anything that’s similar to my issue.

Awhile back I got an II from one of my top schools, and the interview is in about a month. I looked over my secondary in preparation when I noticed a big error. There was a question asking you to list any time you’ve been in front of any kind of “judicial committee” whether you were found guilty or not. That included honor council hearings, and I did have an honor council hearing once over suspected cheating but I was found not guilty. So obviously that goes there.

Here’s the problem: It’s not there. I’m guessing that what happened is that when I copy and pasted it from my word document to the secondary I didn’t have all of it highlighted and it left off the paragraph about the hearing. This is what I get for not reading over everything closely before submitting.

I figure I have two options at this point:

1) Email or call the school and tell them what’s missing from that section and hope for the best

2) Withdraw the app

I’m leaning toward option 1 because it would really suck to withdraw the app from this school after getting an invite. However, I’m thinking this is a pretty big omission and it certainly doesn’t help that the thing that got omitted happens to relate to an accusation of dishonesty. What I’m worried about is if there could be repercussions with other schools/AAMC over this if the school decides to view it as an intentional omission. Is that even a possibility? That’s pretty much the whole reason I’m considering withdrawing entirely instead of trying to explain the situation. That and I figure I’m probably not going to get to keep that interview no matter what I choose, and at least withdrawing avoids the awkwardness of calling up a school and explaining this to them.

What do you guys suggest?

Also, before anyone suggests it, keeping this a secret and interviewing anyway isn’t an option. While I know my undergrad doesn’t have any record of the hearing and I can’t see any way the med school could find out about it, I’m not going to even consider attending a school on false pretenses. Either I get in with them knowing about this, or I don’t get in.

 

[Jepstein30]

Contact the school via e-mail and explain what happened. Reaffirm your interest in the school. Stress that this was a mistaken omission and you were found not guilty. The wording in this email is extremely important so take your time with it and maybe even get someone to look it over. You want to come across as someone who truly made a mistake in omitting it (as you did) rather than someone who has a guilty conscience. Make sure you focus on the not guilty part as well.

No sense to withdraw. If they don't like what you did, let them take the interview from you. That's the worst case scenario here so why bother automatically taking that? They won't care enough to try and sabotage you from attending other schools.

I highly doubt they will take the interview from you for coming clean about something that you were found not guilty over.. and that if it were not for you they'd never find out. Personally, I'd find that admirable but I'm no ADCOM.

 

[pietachok]

I think you should just email them and let them know of the mistake. Since you were found not guilty, I do not think it will be a big deal.

 

[Catalystik]

I think you should just email them and let them know of the mistake. Since you were found not guilty, I do not think it will be a big deal.

Agreed.

 

[BlackBox]

Contact the school via e-mail and explain what happened. Reaffirm your interest in the school. Stress that this was a mistaken omission and you were found not guilty. The wording in this email is extremely important so take your time with it and maybe even get someone to look it over. You want to come across as someone who truly made a mistake in omitting it (as you did) rather than someone who has a guilty conscience. Make sure you focus on the not guilty part as well.

No sense to withdraw. If they don't like what you did, let them take the interview from you. That's the worst case scenario here so why bother automatically taking that? They won't care enough to try and sabotage you from attending other schools.

I highly doubt they will take the interview from you for coming clean about something that you were found not guilty over.. and that if it were not for you they'd never find out. Personally, I'd find that admirable but I'm no ADCOM.

Don't try to make excuses. Be plain about it: "I mistakenly omitted it, but I feel a moral and ethical obligation to make you aware of it."

The email should be no more than 5 or 6 lines. Anything more comes off as too apologetic. Remember, you're sorry for the omission, not the situation- you were not guilty.

 

[Ismet]

Don't try to make excuses. Be plain about it: "I mistakenly omitted it, but I feel a moral and ethical obligation to make you aware of it."

The email should be no more than 5 or 6 lines. Anything more comes off as too apologetic. Remember, you're sorry for the omission, not the situation- you were not guilty.

Leave out the "moral and ethical obligation" bit. Completely unnecessary, and it comes off as trying to clear your conscience after purposefully omitting it.

Just say that you forgot to include the information on the secondary. Don't make random excuses. The less you say, the better.

 

[Doodledog]

Leave out the "moral and ethical obligation" bit. Completely unnecessary, and it comes off as trying to clear your conscience after purposefully omitting it.

Just say that you forgot to include the information on the secondary. Don't make random excuses. The less you say, the better.

This is correct and my advice.

Dear Dean of Admissions:

I am excited to be able to interview at your school on .....

As I was preparing for the interview and reviewing my application, I became aware that I had omitted a judicial hearing while I was at college. Listing such events is required on your secondary and I unintentionally failed to do so and am correcting this omission with this email. In this hearing, I was accused of......The result of the hearing was that I was found not guilty and all charges were dropped. I am sorry for this omission and take full responsibility for it.

Sincerely,

 

[DoctorWhoo]

this is correct and my advice.

Dear dean of admissions:

i am excited to be able to interview at your school on .....

as i was preparing for the interview and reviewing my application, i became aware that i had omitted a judicial hearing while i was at college. Listing such events is required on your secondary and i unintentionally failed to do so and am correcting this omission with this email. In this hearing, i was accused of......the result of the hearing was that i was found not guilty and all charges were dropped. I am sorry for this omission and take full responsibility for it.

Sincerely,

qft

 

[BlackBox]

This is correct and my advice.

Dear Dean of Admissions:

I am excited to be able to interview at your school on .....

As I was preparing for the interview and reviewing my application, I became aware that I had omitted a judicial hearing while I was at college. Listing such events is required on your secondary and I unintentionally failed to do so and am correcting this omission with this email. In this hearing, I was accused of......The result of the hearing was that I was found not guilty and all charges were dropped. I am sorry for this omission and take full responsibility for it.

Sincerely,

Perfect