Help!!!!

[theunc31]

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a

 

[jlee9531]

no, your dream is not gone...
but what exactly is a drinking ticket? you weren't driving were you?

 

[Medikit]

So you have a DUI?

 

[theunc31]

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[constructor]

that doesn't go on your amcas app and no one will ever know it unless you tell them.

 

[theunc31]

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[jlee9531]

regardless if they find out or not, this offense is nothing serious.
and if less than a misdemeanor or felony then you dont have to worry about it.

 

[txguy]

What's lower than a misdemeanor or felony? Do you get grounded?

Anyway, if it is lower, I agree, nobody will know and it will not impact your application for admission.

Good luck and keep truckin' 😀

-tx

 

[Bubchik]

You got a ticket, right? Just pay it...It is not a fellony to walk with a drink, but to drive with it.

 

[Medikit]

Vermont will want to see it though

 

[the other Dr.]

Your offense is likely an infraction, not even a misdemeanor. If you are given the opportunity to do communty service or take a class to get the citation off of your record, by all means do it, because MANY secondaries will ask if you either:

Have charges pending against you

-or-

Have ever been convicted of a criminal offense other than a traffic violation

So if this makes it on to your record, you could always gamble that it is a minor offense and might not show up in a background check and choose to not disclose it on your secondaries, but if it does turn up at any point in the future (i.e. 1st year background check, or when applying for license) you would be screwed for not disclosing it in the first place.

My advice: do EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO to keep it off your record. Plead not guilty and hope the cop doesn't show for the trial. If the cop is there, try to arrange for a way to get it off of your record as quickly as possible. If your school has a student legal services department or if your family has a lawyer, I would recommend using them for counsel on this matter. This is bad timing for you, since these things often take months to resolve, but worst case scenario is you have to disclose a pretty meaningless infraction on your apps, and probably no one on an adcom will care.

This was a pretty hot topic a few weeks back... try searching old threads for more advice.

 

[bigbassinbob]

You got a ticket, right? Just pay it...It is not a fellony to walk with a drink, but to drive with it.

It's not a felony to drink and drive, it's a misdemeanor. And of course it's not going to go on your AMCAS application, you only have to report felony charges there.

 

[adamj61]

Depends on the state...

To the OP, you should see my sheet of infractions. No one cares, except vermont apparantly...and maybe Iowa.

 

[theunc31]

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[the other Dr.]

well it's only a local defense, so I don't think it's going on my record, which is key. also, the cop was pretty cool and told me that I could probably be able to plea bargain and not go to court or anything for the simple fact that I have a clean record. I'm about 90% sure that I won't apply to either Vermont or Iowa so I should be clear in that department. also, I don't think that it is a huge deal to be drinking. if I was caught with pot or something I'd think differently. Oh well, thanks for the replies everybody and I welcome more if anyone wants to throw in their 2 cents.

Which schools are you applying to? Many secondaries ask you about crimes. The most common way of asking is, "Have you EVER committed a crime other than a minor traffic violation." So you would need to put it down since it is a crime to drink under 21. I put my ticket down for roughly half of my applications, just to be honest even though it doesn't show up on a criminal search. I know that it is filed away at a local court, but you will be asked again when you apply for your medical license.

 

[IndyZX]

What's lower than a misdemeanor or felony? Do you get grounded?

🙂

 

[the other Dr.]

well it's only a local defense, so I don't think it's going on my record, which is key. also, the cop was pretty cool and told me that I could probably be able to plea bargain and not go to court or anything for the simple fact that I have a clean record. I'm about 90% sure that I won't apply to either Vermont or Iowa so I should be clear in that department. also, I don't think that it is a huge deal to be drinking. if I was caught with pot or something I'd think differently. Oh well, thanks for the replies everybody and I welcome more if anyone wants to throw in their 2 cents.

Also, to clarify plea bargaining, it still gives you a conviction on your record. The way it works is, you appear, plead guilty or not guilty, and if you plead guilty they will give you a fine, etc., and whatever opportunity you will have to get it removed from your record. If you plead not guilty, you get a court date, and the cop either shows up and they find you guilty, or he doesn't and they can't convict you and you walk without a record. The only way to be sure you wouldn't have a record is if the cop tears up the ticket. Otherwise you're subject to normal legal proceedings. Vermont and Iowa aren't the only schools that will ask you to disclose the infraction, but it's up to you if you want to try to hide it. Look back at other threads to read about what happened to students who did not disclose their records and were caught after getting into med school.

Seriously, it's not a big deal to have a drinking offense like this on your record, but it would be a big deal if your honesty is questioned years down the road. Seek legal counsel if you can. Don't base your decision solely on the opinions expressed in this thread.

 

[theunc31]

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[theunc31]

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[the other Dr.]

I don't want to be intrusive other doctor, but was your ticket for a similar offense?

I'll PM you.

 

[theunc31]

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