Institutional Action Section

[blimpodoul]

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Hey guys, I had question regarding the institutional action section of amcas. My incident, which involved getting caught smoking weed, happened in 2008, my freshman year, and lead to non-academic probational sanctions which are now off my transcript. Some med students/pre meds I have talked to suggested that I dont put anything into the IA section since there may be no way of a school finding out. Thanks again for reading, I know there are a lot posts on this type of thread, but I just wanted some thoughts into my specific situation. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Papa Doc]

If you don't put it chances are they will never know. But then again if you do put it I don't believe it will hurt you at all and most people on sdn will tell you to be honest.

 

[el_duderino]

Hey guys, I had question regarding the institutional action section of amcas. My incident, which involved getting caught smoking weed, happened in 2008, my freshman year, and lead to non-academic probational sanctions which are now off my transcript. Some med students/pre meds I have talked to suggested that I dont put anything into the IA section since there may be no way of a school finding out. Thanks again for reading, I know there are a lot posts on this type of thread, but I just wanted some thoughts into my specific situation. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

The prompt is unambiguous:

"Were you ever the recipient of any institutional action by any college or medical school for unacceptable academic performance or conduct violation, even though such action may not have interrupted your enrollment or required you to withdraw? You must answer "Yes" even if the action does not appear on or has been deleted or expunged from your official transcripts due to institutional policy or personal petition."

You can answer no, but you would literally be lying on your application. You may get away with it....... or you may not.

 

[theseeker4]

The prompt is unambiguous:

"Were you ever the recipient of any institutional action by any college or medical school for unacceptable academic performance or conduct violation, even though such action may not have interrupted your enrollment or required you to withdraw? You must answer "Yes" even if the action does not appear on or has been deleted or expunged from your official transcripts due to institutional policy or personal petition."

You can answer no, but you would literally be lying on your application. You may get away with it....... or you may not.

Yeah, I wouldn't lie about it and take the risk, however small, that someone finds out later and boots you from medical school.

 

[tomfools123]

"The truth shall set you free....."

 

[LizzyM]

You are electronically signing your name to the application stating that everything on the application is true. You are asking us if you should omit something that is true from the application because no one will ever know. Is this how you plan to practice medicine as well? It tells us far more about your character than the fact that you got caught smoking pot 6 years ago.

A little pot smoking won't get your application tossed but if there is ever a question about the veracity of your application... it becomes obvious that you lied when you attested that it was complete and true.

 

[blimpodoul]

Thanks guys. How serious do you think my offense is?

 

[blimpodoul]

You are electronically signing your name to the application stating that everything on the application is true. You are asking us if you should omit something that is true from the application because no one will ever know. Is this how you plan to practice medicine as well? It tells us far more about your character than the fact that you got caught smoking pot 6 years ago.

A little pot smoking won't get your application tossed but if there is ever a question about the veracity of your application... it becomes obvious that you lied when you attested that it was complete and true.

I do apologize for this sense of immorality. If I may ask, how serious do you think my offense is, and would you be able to offer any advice on how I should approach my written explanation of this cirucumstance?

 

[LizzyM]

All you need to do is check the box and give the bare facts of the incident, what the sanction was, and what you learned or some statement of remorse (but not that you are sorry you got caught, LOL). Example: "As a college freshman, I written up by the resident assistant (or campus police or whatever) for smoking marijuana on campus (or be more specific such as in my dorm, in my room, in a friends room, at a party, or whatever. ) After a hearing, NoTell University placed me on probation from [date] to [date] (or during Spring and Fall terms [year] or whatever it is) and required me to attend a class on drug abuse prevention. This was a wake-up call for me and forced me to examine my priorities and change my behavior.

Most adcoms attended college in the 60s-80s and most of us are familiar (ahem) with marijuana. We'd be hypocrites if were were to make a blanket condemnation of every applicant who ever touched weed.

 

[blimpodoul]

Thanks LizzyM, really appreciate your insight and responses! Hopefully my publication can offset this...haha

 

[Goro]

It will be asked about in secondaries, and if you are ever caught lying on an app, that's the end of your medical career.

Keep in mind that this is a very minor infraction, and given that marijuana is now legal in several states, it won't be an issue.

Hey guys, I had question regarding the institutional action section of amcas. My incident, which involved getting caught smoking weed, happened in 2008, my freshman year, and lead to non-academic probational sanctions which are now off my transcript. Some med students/pre meds I have talked to suggested that I dont put anything into the IA section since there may be no way of a school finding out. Thanks again for reading, I know there are a lot posts on this type of thread, but I just wanted some thoughts into my specific situation. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[FindMeOnTheLinks]

Instead of starting a new thread, I thought I would post here. Helpful members of the SDN community, do you think this is a good way of explaining institutional action on my application? Do I need to include more specifics of what happened or is this enough?

"
05/2012
Level 2 Alcohol Violation - " Possession of, hosting, or consuming alcohol while underage." (from Luther College Student Handbook)

02/13
Level 2 Alcohol Violation - " Possession of, hosting, or consuming alcohol while underage." (from Luther College Student Handbook)

I take full responsibility for my actions and have grown in my maturity and understanding of consequences after reflecting on these mistakes. I have come to realize that there is no such thing as being "in the wrong place at the wrong time," because I am always in control of the situations I put myself in. I have also learned that in order to be successful in life, I must put myself in situations that are positive and conducive to productivity."

 

[LizzyM]

What you did is a little vague. In May 2012, when I was 19, Luther College sanctioned me for holding a cup of beer at a party. In February 2013, I was 20, Luther College sanctioned me for having a a bottle of champagne in my dorm refrigerator.
What the sanction was is not described but should be.
I like this sentence for a closer, " I have come to realize that there is no such thing as being "in the wrong place at the wrong time," because I am always in control of the situations I put myself in. I must put myself in situations that are positive and respectful of school rules and local laws."

These shouldn't derail your application.
Cheers!

 

[FindMeOnTheLinks]

What you did is a little vague. In May 2012, when I was 19, Luther College sanctioned me for holding a cup of beer at a party. In February 2013, I was 20, Luther College sanctioned me for having a a bottle of champagne in my dorm refrigerator.
What the sanction was is not described but should be.
I like this sentence for a closer, " I have come to realize that there is no such thing as being "in the wrong place at the wrong time," because I am always in control of the situations I put myself in. I must put myself in situations that are positive and respectful of school rules and local laws."

These shouldn't derail your application.
Cheers!

Thanks so much! You really are the best 🙂

 

[smpbound]

hmmm. So getting caught w/ a joint? It's not on your record? Yet, you're still going to write in your applications? Good for you, being honest and all, but know this. You're already putting yourself at a disadvantage to the thousands of other applicants that checkmark 'no.'

 

[el_duderino]

hmmm. So getting caught w/ a joint? It's not on your record? Yet, you're still going to write in your applications? Good for you, being honest and all, but know this. You're already putting yourself at a disadvantage to the thousands of other applicants that checkmark 'no.'

We have two adcoms in this thread saying it won't be an issue.

I'd go with that.

 

[smpbound]

It will be asked about in secondaries, and if you are ever caught lying on an app, that's the end of your medical career.

Keep in mind that this is a very minor infraction, and given that marijuana is now legal in several states, it won't be an issue.

Two states is several? And Marijuana is technically still illegal in every state, because federal law still considers it a Class I illegal drug. Smoking weed isn't something I would be proud of.

 

[smpbound]

We have two adcoms in this thread saying it won't be an issue.

I'd go with that.

So if it's not an issue, why add it?

 

[el_duderino]

So if it's not an issue, why add it?

Because AMCAS requires it.

 

[stupid9234]

Two states is several? And Marijuana is technically still illegal in every state, because federal law still considers it a Class I illegal drug. Smoking weed isn't something I would be proud of.

Do you drink?

 

[smpbound]

Because AMCAS requires it.

Oh really, I didn't know that. Ok, do as AMCAS says.