Institutional action

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There are always exceptions, but I would not count on getting in to medical school if you had institutional actions taken against you as an undergrad. You are already competing against many excellent people for a spot, and there are just too many great and qualified applicants who have not had action taken against them to leave any room for people like that. What was the infraction, out of curiosity, as I am sure the severity and type may make some difference.
 
Several people here have posted that they have had alcohol-related infractions and had no problems in the admissions process. A more serious discipinary infraction, or an academic dishonesty issue, is more likely to be a problem.
 
stinkycheese said:
Several people here have posted that they have had alcohol-related infractions and had no problems in the admissions process. A more serious discipinary infraction, or an academic dishonesty issue, is more likely to be a problem.


I thought "institutional action" was academic. Alcohol infractions, I thought, were a legal issue as in a MIP ticket or whatever. If it is a minor alcohol infraction, then I agree. Other than that, I defer to my original reply.
 
i can't see how a parking infraction will have any impact on your med school career. heh, if they really cared about that sort of thing then i never would have gotten in to school with my parking ticket record.
 
I agree that is a stupid reason to not get into med school. However, using a lost parking permit is sometimes considered theft and depending on the med school they might think it is a big deal. Just make sure to explain the situation well on AMCAS and hope for the best.
 
What exactly constitutes institutional action. I talked to over 10 people at my school and no one could tell me a good concise answer....
 
killerguppy said:
wouldn't institutional action just mean if the university had to take action against you?yea..and everyone..thanks for answering....alot of people told me to just tell the truth because hiding it is just wrong..and i'd feel really guilty about it...and though it is something..i read somewhere from a duke admissions committee member...that as long as you own up to what you do you should be ok..


but what constitutes taking action against you? ...a parking ticket? an official reprimand for allowing your girlfriend (Student of same school) to walk to your dorm unescorted (in a co-ed dorm)?
 
the way i see it my friend, is that if it doesn't show on your transcript...you don't even have to mention anything...it was between you and your school...its no ones business...🙂 i wish you the best of luck ...
 
phosphorylation said:
the way i see it my friend, is that if it doesn't show on your transcript...you don't even have to mention anything...it was between you and your school...its no ones business...🙂 i wish you the best of luck ...

Poor advice, and not true. AAMC specifically states that you must report institutional action for conduct violation/unacceptable academic performance whether or not it is on your transcript.

An institutional action would be some sort of discipline sanctioned by the university based on either conduct or academic problems as described above. I don't think something like a parking violation in itself would do it, but being put on disciplinary probation is, in its own right, an institutional action.

Similarly, when a student violate's a school's alcohol policy and is disciplined by the school, that's an institutional action.
 
killerguppy said:

That means you have to report it. Some schools will care, and some won't.
 
stinkycheese said:
Poor advice, and not true. AAMC specifically states that you must report institutional action for conduct violation/unacceptable academic performance whether or not it is on your transcript.

An institutional action would be some sort of discipline sanctioned by the university based on either conduct or academic problems as described above. I don't think something like a parking violation in itself would do it, but being put on disciplinary probation is, in its own right, an institutional action.

Similarly, when a student violate's a school's alcohol policy and is disciplined by the school, that's an institutional action.

ditto this. it's definetly going to cause more problems for you if you don't report it than if you do. some schools may not like it, some may ask you to explain it in the interview, but people get in to med school with less than perfect records. i don't think any one here can say exactly how all the schools you're applying to are going to handle it. just be upfront and be prepared to explain yourself.
 
Hey I talked to the director of admissions at a school about it and basically it doesn't have a huge effect on your application. They really want to see your explanation however. They want to see what you did to resolve the situation the best you could and also what you have learned from it. Everyone makes mistakes and who ever tells you it will keep you out of med school is completely wrong. How stupid would it be for a school to deny you admission for making a mistake when you were 18- as long as you didn't kill someone 🙂
 
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