Misdemeanors

[whitesoxfan2000]

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Hi, I've been arrested for underage drinking twice. Do medical schools ask if you have been arrested for a misdemeanor? If so, can they determine through a background check if you have been arrested for a misdemeanor? If they can, what is the likelihood of a medical school running a background check?
Thanks

 

[Laura JC]

Some school secondaries ask about misdemeanors, others don't. Whatever you do, if they ask, DON'T LIE! Not only do you risk losing a chance at a particular school if they catch you, but they can report it to AMCAS that you have lied, and you can kiss med. school goodbye.

 

[otter]

How long ago were your offenses? Background checks will most likely turn up convictions. Some schools mandate background checks as part of the admissions process (like UWashington). Others will require it at some point before you start your third-year rotations.

On the AMCAS, I can't remember whether/not they only ask about felony convictions or all convictions (other than minor traffic violations). Like Laura said, do NOT lie. Your offenses are misdemeanors and they're pretty benign ones, too. I think it'd be awfully unreasonable for med schools to hold this too much against you, especially if they happened a while ago. Let's face it - the only difference between you and 70% of college underclassmen is that you got caught and they didn't.

 

[Laura JC]

AMCAS does not ask about misdemeanors. The DO primary app. DOES. About half of the MD secondaries I filled out asked about misdemeanors, the others just asked about felonies and/or drug convictions.

 

[Doctora Foxy]

Here's a link to a similar thread that lists some schools that ask for any prior convictions other than felonies (as well as schools that don't ask):

<a href="http://forums.studentdoctor.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=012178" target="_blank">http://forums.studentdoctor.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=012178</a>