Made a mistake on IA section of AMCAS. Need advice

[medicine2923]

I essentially made an error similar to others on sdn with slightly different timing and circumstances, and I need advice. I am currently on a wait list at two schools, and my error occurred to me while updating AMCAS for the 2017 cycle.

I was written up as a freshman for possession of alcohol in the dorms. I failed to include this on my 2016 AMCAS application because it never occurred to me that I'd been the recipient of an IA. The only sanctions were a reflection paper and ECHUG (online alcohol survey and feedback tool). The matter was resolved by my residence hall, and I wasn't aware of any involvement by the office of student conduct, so in my mind I never categorized it as an IA, but more of an informal reprimand. I thought it was an easy 'No" answer and I moved on. I include this information only to describe why I made the error. I didn't forget entirely per se, nor did I willfully falsify my application. When filling out the IA section on my 2016 AMCAS, the incident just didn't even come to mind.

I've since contacted the office of student conduct which verified they had record of the incident. I have already contacted the admissions offices of both schools I am wait listed at to rectify the issue and basically described the IA as well as why it wasn't initially reported (failure to fully understand what constitutes an IA, failure to read simple instructions/perform due diligence).

My concern now is that if I end up needing to reapply, my first application includes no IA's and my second application will include one, and this discrepancy (not necessarily the IA) will be a red flag.
Is this discrepancy something I should address in AMCAS this next cycle (e.g. "not only do I have an IA but I also failed to report it initially")?
How will this discrepancy be viewed by adcoms next cycle? Is this something adcoms would be able to view?
In summary what else do I need to do to be as up front and transparent as possible, other than include the IA on my next app and notify the two schools I am wait listed at?

If @Goro or @LizzyM or individuals familiar with adcoms would share their thoughts and advice, or anyone for that matter, I would appreciate it.

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[ChrisMack390]

Apply to different schools. Honestly this time.

 

[medicine2923]

Apply to different schools. Honestly this time.

I will be applying to other schools with the IA included. I also intend to apply to the schools that I applied to this cycle. I'd like to know how to best address the discrepancy between the two applications for those schools.

 

[JustaDO]

Discrepancies raise more eyebrows when they make you look better : you volunteered at X for 3 years, next year's application, you put down 7 years.

If it makes you looks worse, ie having a IA vs not, eyebrows won't be raised as much as long as you address it under institutional actions, ie "I misinterpreted the actions my school took, so I fill in the blank..."

 

[laughingfrog]

housing sanctions are not IAs if they were resolved within the housing. check No and move on

 

[medicine2923]

housing sanctions are not IAs if they were resolved within the housing. check No and move on

The office of student conduct at my university told me that it was indeed a reportable IA that should be disclosed.

 

[TheZaLord]

When I was an RA alcohol violation reports were forwarded up to the dean so they had record.
So, even though it's housing there is not institutional separation (for alcohol, drug, assault type things).
So they'll show up on record and should be reported.
I think just minor things like noise and messy rooms, etc were kept in house.
It sucks but what can you do?


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[medicine2923]

I'm considering just adding a brief "misinterpreted the actions taken by my university/what constitutes an IA in my initial application" and not making a big fuss about it, in the hopes that the new schools I'm applying to as well as the schools I am reapplying to don't jump to the incorrect conclusion that I willfully falsified my first AMCAS application.

 

[itsogre]

No this isn't a major issue. Admissions offices are very familiar with alcohol violations in undergrad and understand that they are handled very differently by different schools and dorms. It's not a big deal at a imo.

 

[itsogre]

I'm considering just adding a brief "misinterpreted the actions taken by my university/what constitutes an IA in my initial application" and not making a big fuss about it, in the hopes that the new schools I'm applying to as well as the schools I am reapplying to don't jump to the incorrect conclusion that I willfully falsified my first AMCAS application.

This is fine and not a red flag. Completely understandable.

 

[Crayola227]

now I feel grateful I went to a university that didn't require one to live in their dorms, but you could still live close enough to spit

I used to be sad I didn't get the dorm experience, now I'm just grateful I got to be treated like a normal adult, when I was uh, a normal adult