honest answer please

[danny]

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I have a friend who was interested in applying to DO school in a year or two. This person has a 3.5 and a 28 MCAT. Plenty of research and volunteer work. Someone who really strives to become an osteopathic physician. There is however one glaring problem. In college, he was given a DWI which is considered a misdemeanor. I know this person and it was a one-time terrible mistake. He hasn't stopped working hard in school and actually does even more volunteer work now. I keep telling him to keep going foward and that there is a chance for addmission to DO school. It was one isolated mistake (albeit a serious one). I would appreciate any opinions on the matter. Is this something that would cause his otherwise relatively competitive application to be disregarded? I truly hope not. Shattered dreams are hard to deal with. In other words is he wasting his time? Honesty please. After all, I don't want him to fool himself, plus he has no idea I'm laying this out in the open.
Sincerely, Danny Attanasio

 

[justwannabadoc]

First, I would suggest that you let your friend know about this site and have him post some messages here. Second, how long has it been since his DWI? If it was within the past few years, I think it might be a good idea to wait. Personally, if I was on an admissions committee, I would question his maturity if the DWI happened realatively recently. With more time, I might give him the benefit of the doubt and believe that he had truly realized his errors. I don't think that he should give up on his dreams of becoming a doctor. However, he should definately be prepared to explain his mistake and should be able to show that it was a turning point in his life. You seem to suggest this when you point to his volunteer work. DO schools are more forgiving than MD schools of mistakes potential students have made. If your friend can indeed show that he has become wiser and more responsible, then he should be all right.

 

[DO 2 be]

To be frank, I don't know. You might wanna call anonymously to some school's admission office, talk to the Director and see what he/she has to say. KCOM's # is 800-626-5266 x2237. Director of Admissions = Lori Haxton. HTH.

[This message has been edited by DO 2 be (edited 02-15-99).]

 

[JONM]

If

[This message has been edited by JONM (edited 02-15-99).]

 

[NickCVM]

Question # 17 on the AACOMAS application. I quote "Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony?"
--Nicolas--
WesternU '03

 

[Deb]

Danny,

I spoke with the admissions depts at two different schools and what
they had to say was encouraging (their responses were very similar).
A misdemeaner conviction will NOT prevent someone from gaining admission
to medical school. Their attitudes were that even pre-meds make mistakes
and as long as it was only a one time error in judgement, and the applicant
has sufficiently proven that it will never happen again, they are willing
to overlook it. However, the applicant MUST answer the question honestly,
and document the episode. Also, I'm sure it goes without saying that their
record must be otherwise sterling. When the time comes for him to apply,
he should contact the programs he's interested in and honestly discuss the
situation with admissions directors.

By the way, I also learned that this forgiving attitude does NOT extend to
felony convictions. Apparently, federal law prohibits someone with a felony
conviction from obtaining a medical license. Your friend should thank his
lucky stars that it was a DWI instead of a DUI. Hope this info helps.

[This message has been edited by Deb (edited 02-15-99).]

 

[JONM]

I'm

[This message has been edited by JONM (edited 02-15-99).]

 

[prefontaine]

Well said, Jon! Didn't know you were so articulate.

 

[JONM]

x

[This message has been edited by JONM (edited 02-16-99).]

 

[prefontaine]

Oh poor Jonny Matthews, are your panties in a crimp again??? Sounds like you need anger therapy or perhaps just a wedgectomy! And if you ever get into DO school, you will find out how brutally honest I have been. You should think about lightening up...sounds like your sphincters have sphincters.

 

[UHS2002]

That is the way JONM !!!!!
The people replying to the original message (other than you) did a marvelous job. The fact that you subscribe to the "if you can get away with it, don't tell" philosophy will hopefully endear you to some P&G committee in the future, that is, if you ever make it that far.

 

[Deb]

JONM

Just to correct the info you provided, although some states don't
differentiate between DWI and DUI, for those that do, DUI is the
more serious offense. Secondly, in general, most traffic tickets
are classified as "infractions" NOT "misdemeaners", therefore they
need not be reported. And no, I'm not a lawyer, I just have a friend
who is, and she also tells me there is NEVER a good or legal reason
for falsifying this kind of info. Finally, if such a falsification
were ever discovered, it would be grounds for immediate dismissal.

Danny,

Please tell your friend to just be open and honest, and I'm sure
everything will work out.

[This message has been edited by Deb (edited 02-16-99).]

 

[JONM]

I agree Danny. Tell your friend to be open and honest. He should not delay applying to medical school. Everyone makes mistakes.

I'm not sure what language you all understand, but I did not suggest that anyone falsify information. In a matter such as this, it is best to get legal advice on whether or not you are required to report a misdemeanor. That is not being dishonest. It is a way in which this guy can protect himself from unneccesary scrutiny.

[This message has been edited by JONM (edited 02-16-99).]

[This message has been edited by JONM (edited 02-16-99).]

 

[macey]

Danny,
When I interviewed at COMP in October, I met a guy in my interview group who had an interesting interview there. During the interview, he was asked why his grades were so low his freshman year and he answered because he was 18, on his own for the first time, and partied too much. The committee then asked him if he has a drinking problem to which he replied, "If having a few beers with my friends on occasion is considered a drinking problem, then I guess I have one." He was accepted at COMP and I think the admissions committee appreciated his candor. Tell your friend good luck and be honest.

 

[cliff]

Interesting problem.

I think that interviews are granted too much on #s (GPA & MCAT) which your friend has. The personal statement is where he/she is going to make it or break it. Here are 2 strategies.

1st- Ignore this and invite a question regarding it during an interview.

2nd- It has been a long path for most of us getting into school. Along the way we have all gone through different valleys and hills. His problem is just one of these valleys. I would say something along the lines that he has learnt from a situation .... which I hope is very true. The only thing to note is that this situation requires brutal honesty.

I do not think this negates your friend from becoming a good physician. Goodness me; I was close to getting caught more than once myself in my younger years.

 

[hopefulDO]

Does anyone know if the crime that was committed makes a difference? Suppose someone got a misdemeaner for something like domestic violence. Wouldn't the nature of the crime have an impact on one's changes on being accepted by a school? (even if it is a misdemeaner)

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

It obviously plays some factor in the decision making process, otherwise, they wouldn't ask.

 

[PublicEnemy]

props for posting on a thread that died 6.5 years ago.

 

[hopefulDO]

props for posting on a thread that died 6.5 years ago.

LOL, well at least it shows that I searched for what has been previously discussed before asking my question.

 

[espbeliever]

LOL, well at least it shows that I searched for what has been previously discussed before asking my question.

hey man, cant win on here, if you dont search, then ur wrong, if you do youre wrong! hhaha

 

[smellycat22]

hey man, cant win on here, if you dont search, then ur wrong, if you do youre wrong! hhaha

Does anyone know when SDN started? It would be neat to revive the oldest thread...

 

[jjmcentee@hotma]

A better question would be what actually happened?, Did our potential applicant wait?, have problems?, give up? Get in?

I think that would actually help anyone who is stuck with a similar problem.

Does anyone know?