Medical School Criminal/Background Check

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[IlDestriero]

When applying to med schools, at what point do they conduct a criminal/background check on you? Is it once you apply? Once you're accepted? If I have a record expunged before the background check is completed, will I then appear to have a clean record?

There was a thread about a student who had his residency offer rescinded and who was permanently banned from the match because he was not honest on his application about an arrest which was pleaded down to something else. Be very careful about what is asked and what you omit.

 

[Barcu]

When applying to med schools, at what point do they conduct a criminal/background check on you? Is it once you apply? Once you're accepted? If I have a record expunged before the background check is completed, will I then appear to have a clean record?

Background checks will be conducted in January of the app season at the earliest if you get an acceptance before then. After January, it will be conducted after your first acceptance.

I cannot comment on what will show up. I suggest a lawyer because as the OP above me mentioned, you don't want to be wrong.

 

[dank204]

Speaking of background checks, do they also check your credit?

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

There was a thread about a student who had his residency offer rescinded and who was permanently banned from the match because he was not honest on his application about an arrest which was pleaded down to something else. Be very careful about what is asked and what you omit.

Wouldn't the fact that this person plead to a lesser offense (but still had a record) be different than having an arrest that was expunged? If something is expunged I would think that it will not show up, this includes charges/convictions (whether or not they stuck) and arrests.

 

[IlDestriero]

I honestly don't remember what the match paperwork asked, or know what it asks now, but if the question is "Have you ever been arrested for a felony?". And you were, but plea bargained to a lesser charge, or went to court and were found innocent, the answer is still yes. You can than explain the answer. Something done as a minor that was sealed may or may not have to be reported. That's where a discussion with an attorney would be useful.
In the case of the person I mentioned, it seems that the PD overreacted, and the match folks didn't buy his explanation of why he answered the way he did. He admitted to not discussing his situation with an experienced attorney.
You can still get a residency outside the match. He'll probably be fine eventually.

 

[RedRaider19]

When applying to med schools, at what point do they conduct a criminal/background check on you? Is it once you apply? Once you're accepted? If I have a record expunged before the background check is completed, will I then appear to have a clean record?

For most of the Texas schools it seems they do the background check once you are accepted. I paid the $35 to have mine done earlier this month. Does anyone else enjoy reading the details of those things? They searched like 15 different terrorist listings, Intepol, and some other sketchy sounding agencies. Apparently my great art heist in Europe will be on there....

 

[bagelbird]

When applying to med schools, at what point do they conduct a criminal/background check on you? Is it once you apply? Once you're accepted? If I have a record expunged before the background check is completed, will I then appear to have a clean record?

The primary application says to exclude misdemeanors that have been expunged. Secondaries often ask if you have ever been convicted of anything. I am not sure if this means you have to disclose expunged records on the secondaries.

Once you have applied (submitted primaries) you can run your own Certiphi background check to see for yourself if expunged records come up. (I believe they don't.) If something does come up, you will know what the schools will be seeing and you can take steps to address that in your secondaries.

Starting around January, schools run their own background checks after you have been accepted or waitlisted. Not all schools run background checks -- that information is listed in the MSAR.

 

[SurfWaxAmerica]

If it has been expunged, you can legally say no and deny and they will never see it. It's like it never happened if its been expunged. Expungements will only show up when you apply for government jobs.

 

[tripwm]

Speaking of background checks, do they also check your credit?

Yes. My background check had to have a dispute open because the credit report pulled up my dad (same first/last name, different middle initial) since I don't have credit (always been self-employed, so I signed all my earnings and scholarships to my parents). I really should get something in my name, or I'll just give my mom my money for forever more!