Institutional action if university doesn't have record of it due to expiration

[Astronaut11]

Hey SDN.

Some medical schools require a Dean's letter if you have an institutional action. However, I can't obtain one because my institutional action expired (6-10 years is expiration) and the university threw out the record. It definitely was an institutional action. If a medical school were to call my university and ask if I had an institutional action, I don't think they could say yes because the record doesn't exist.

Therefore, if the university says I don't have a record of an institutional record, then what should I do in terms of disclosure? No current record exists.

If I say I have an institutional action, and they look into it, they won't find anything and I can't get a dean's letter because the record doesn't exist.

I also can't find out any specific dates or any specific punishments regarding my institutional accurate so I can't accurately write about it either.

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[JPmoleymole]

Might get some hate from some of the adcoms on here for saying this but, If theres no record, it doesnt exist

 

[Astronaut11]

Might get some hate from some of the adcoms on here for saying this but, If theres no record, it doesnt exist

One big issue is that I can't find out any specifics about the institutional action (like when it happened exactly, or what the exact punishment was, or any of that) because there is no record for me to look over and make sure its correct.

 

[Stellaartwa]

See If you can request some type of letter from your university affirming that you have no IAs/you were in good standing etc. Tell them some program needs it or something, idk. If you can get that, then you’re golden because if somehow someone does have an informal record (also, btw what? No.) you’ll have a reason to have not disclosed the IA.

 

[Stellaartwa]

I would actually probably agree with Gonnif’s second answer. Nothing will probably ever come from this but the consequences are so great, it’s probably not worth it to chance it. Whenever I’ve been dishonest, I’ve regretted it immensely because it causes me so much stress and anxiety.

 

[Astronaut11]

The risk is if anyone asked in the dean’s office or if someone kept their own informal files, it could come back and bite you badly. While the probability of the risk is low, the potential impact of the risk is high as is possibly ending a medical career before it starts

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What if I talked to the school and they themselves say they have no informal records either?

Then you state that in your IA blurb.

“During freshman year I was given an IA for WHATEVER over WHATEVER. I believe I recieved a formal warning. the school has discarded the records when this occurred a decade ago and I cant recall further details from so long ago,

What if the school needs a Dean's letter and one cannot be provided because the IA record does not exist?

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[LizzyM]

-What if you just told truth?
-What if the Deans’s letter simply says we have no record as after 5 years all records are purge?
-What if we stop worrying about what if and overthinking and answer what you know?

This. You can get a dean's letter. The letter will say that the school purges records after x years and has no record of any IAs on your part. If you've reported an IA and the school has no record of it, what do you think the medical school will do?? Most likely, they will admire you for your honesty and process your application/matriculation just as they do for all other applicants.

 

[Astronaut11]

-What if you just told truth?
-What if the Deans’s letter simply says we have no record as after 5 years all records are purge?
-What if we stop worrying about what if and overthinking and answer what you know?

This. You can get a dean's letter. The letter will say that the school purges records after x years and has no record of any IAs on your part. If you've reported an IA and the school has no record of it, what do you think the medical school will do?? Most likely, they will admire you for your honesty and process your application/matriculation just as they do for all other applicants.

All good advice. Of course, the obvious downside is less chance of acceptance.

I don't see anything wrong with calling the university and directly asking them "if a medical school calls and asks for an IA, what would you say to them".

If they say "we will tell the medical school we have none on record", formally and informally, then it would be truthful to say I have no IA's.

 

[LizzyM]

https://aamc-orange.global.ssl.fast...b-d574221bf6e3/2019-amcas-applicant-guide.pdf

page 19

Institutional Action
If you were ever the recipient of any institutional action by any college or medical school for unacceptable academic performance or conduct violation, you must answer Yes, even if such action did not interrupt your enrollment or require you to withdraw. Furthermore, select Yes even if the action does not appear on, or has been deleted or expunged from, your official transcripts as a consequence of institutional policy or personal petition. Failure to provide an accurate answer to the question about institutional action or, if applicable, failure to complete the form provided by the school will result in an investigation. Medical schools require you to answer the question accurately and provide all relevant information. Medical schools understand that many individuals learn from the past and emerge stronger as a result. Full disclosure will enable medical schools to evaluate the information more effectively within the context of your application.

 

[Astronaut11]

Furthermore, select Yes even if the action does not appear on, or has been deleted or expunged from, your official transcripts as a consequence of institutional policy or personal petition.

That is talking about expungement from the official transcript, not the expungement from the university record as a whole.

 

[khrisskhoras]

Hey SDN.

Some medical schools require a Dean's letter if you have an institutional action. However, I can't obtain one because my institutional action expired (6-10 years is expiration) and the university threw out the record. It definitely was an institutional action. If a medical school were to call my university and ask if I had an institutional action, I don't think they could say yes because the record doesn't exist.

Therefore, if the university says I don't have a record of an institutional record, then what should I do in terms of disclosure? No current record exists.

If I say I have an institutional action, and they look into it, they won't find anything and I can't get a dean's letter because the record doesn't exist.

I also can't find out any specific dates or any specific punishments regarding my institutional accurate so I can't accurately write about it either.

let sleeping dogs die.....

 

[LizzyM]

That is talking about expungement from the official transcript, not the expungement from the university record as a whole.

Where do you think that schools keep official records?

What was the IA?

 

[Astronaut11]

Where do you think that schools keep official records?

What was the IA?

I'll send you that message in private chat.

 

[LizzyM]

I'll send you that message in private chat.

Thanks. I've responded to you.