Pre-Med with a DWI

[anonymous1170819]

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So I recently got pulled over for dwi and will most likely be convicted of that. I have taken this as a serious wake up call and this along with the past year of my life have led me to change my career path into human medicine. In my state a DWI is classified as a traffic violation. I was wondering if DMV records were something that medical schools checked and whether anyone had any advice on how to explain this during interviews. I vented about how depressed I was in an earlier attempted post but my phone refreshed when I signed in and erased everything. Also, what experiences look favorable to medical schools? I am a screener for a hospital right now and am really interested in becoming a medical scribe but was wondering if there were other recommendations for experience in a clinical/medical setting. My grades also aren’t perfect but I am talking to an advisor about what to do about that.

 

[Goro]

So I recently got pulled over for dwi and will most likely be convicted of that. I have taken this as a serious wake up call and this along with the past year of my life have led me to change my career path into human medicine. In my state a DWI is classified as a traffic violation. I was wondering if DMV records were something that medical schools checked and whether anyone had any advice on how to explain this during interviews. I vented about how depressed I was in an earlier attempted post but my phone refreshed when I signed in and erased everything. Also, what experiences look favorable to medical schools? I am a screener for a hospital right now and am really interested in becoming a medical scribe but was wondering if there were other recommendations for experience in a clinical/medical setting. My grades also aren’t perfect but I am talking to an advisor about what to do about that.

How old are you?

 

[anonymous1170819]

1) If your DUI is a misdemeanor, it must be reported on the initial AMCAS application
2) A criminal background check will done if you get accepted and this may be on it
3) As for getting into medical school, I suggest you spend a large amount of time understanding the AMCAS and secondary application process as well as what additional activities are needed to show motivation, commitment, and achievement
4) Explaining this during interviews requires 2 answers. Simply due to numbers, each individual medical school must reject at least 80% (now more like 85%) of all application prior to interview invite. The second part of the that is you better be able to explain VERY BRIEFLY on the application as you may never get past that point if you dont. Frankly if you are a 20 year old and didnt know you cant go drinking and driving, it would be a large red flag on an application.

The dui is classified as a traffic violation in my state, so not a misdemeanor/felony. The cops and my lawyer told me I was lucky for this reason. And okay, I’ll look more into the application process. I have a lot of experience volunteering at animal rescues/sanctuaries and working at a veterinary clinic but not much else. Is there a specific area of the application to explain mistakes such as this? I know on the vet school apps they ask specifically about felonies/misdemeanors but I was advised to put no as it does not qualify as that in my state. I don’t really want to give admissions a sob story but rather a way I have learned from the mistake so I’m hoping that looks better. I’m 23, so I’m hoping that doing as much as possible to show I’ve turned it around will help my case. This will also be the first time I’ve done anything this stupid. I imagine I’ll have trouble getting in for at least a couple years but frankly this was the only career path I was thinking about that motivated me to getting out of my downward spiral.

 

[anonymous1170819]

How old are you?

23.

 

[Goro]

23.

You're old enough to have known better. You'd have a likely reject at my school.

 

[anonymous1170819]

Yeah, I figured that would often be the case but I’m hoping on either continuing education and then applying or just working/taking the MCAT and then applying. Also I’m hoping that if I straight up tell them about the DWI without them needing to look through a driving record (as they wouldn’t find it on a criminal background check so who knows how far I’d get through the application process without them knowing about) that they would be somewhat hopeful in that I’ve turned things around. I guess only time will tell.

 

[DoctorFate]

I'm confused why you're worried about this. Just don't report it. I'm not advising you to lie, you just literally have not committed a misdemeanor or felony. AMCAS does not ask you to report traffic violations. Why would you voluntarily report information that will only hurt you?
Just don't apply to med schools that require you to disclose traffic violations on secondaries. There are very few med schools that do (UVM, Cincinnati, etc.) so you won't really even need to limit your applications much.

Personally, I think this definitely should count against you and I don't think a DWI is an easily forgivable offense. But, legally speaking, the above advice is very clearly the correct path to follow.

 

[anonymous1170819]

I’m worried that if a school does find out about the dwi as a traffic violation it may look like I tried to hide it, which is not the case. It’s hard to believe I did something this stupid and just “lucked out” as my lawyer said.

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

Wisconsin is the only state in the nation that does this.

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

I’m worried that if a school does find out about the dwi as a traffic violation it may look like I tried to hide it, which is not the case. It’s hard to believe I did something this stupid and just “lucked out” as my lawyer said.

I’m almost certain it’s illegal for anybody to search your dmv record without consent or a subpoena. Medical schools do Certiphi checks and they don’t pull driving records

 

[DoctorFate]

I’m worried that if a school does find out about the dwi as a traffic violation it may look like I tried to hide it, which is not the case. It’s hard to believe I did something this stupid and just “lucked out” as my lawyer said.

Bro, the thing is, they literally didn't ask for it. Like what are you gonna say "No, I didnt commit a crime, but here's what I did do"

If they do find out, then just say you followed their rules, and reported exactly what was asked, as they stated.

 

[anonymous1170819]

Alright thank you for clarifying everything. Like I said, this is the first and only time something like this has/will happen so I was just wondering what to do.

 

[DoctorFate]

Alright thank you for clarifying everything. Like I said, this is the first and only time something like this has/will happen so I was just wondering what to do.

Also, do you live in Wisconsin or nah? I've seen several posts like this mostly from Wisconsin. idk why you need 3 DUIs in that state to get a misdemeanor, seems strange.

 

[anonymous1170819]

No, not Wisconsin. Jersey. Apparently there’s one or two other states that either don’t classify it as a crime at all or require more than one offense for it to classify. I think one is New York as well. I have no idea why this is the case.

 

[DoctorFate]

No, not Wisconsin. Jersey. Apparently there’s one or two other states that either don’t classify it as a crime at all or require more than one offense for it to classify. I think one is New York as well. I have no idea why this is the case.

Damn bro. You really did luck out. Most other states, and this would almost certainly be a game over, as the Adcoms said. Even worse, was a case I read by a guy that got caught DUI twice and then applied to med school that year itself, as it took 3 times to become a misdemeanor in his state.

 

[$martnbr0ke]

Damn bro. You really did luck out. Most other states, and this would almost certainly be a game over, as the Adcoms said. Even worse, was a case I read by a guy that got caught DUI twice and then applied to med school that year itself, as it took 3 times to become a misdemeanor in his state.

Out of curiosity.... did he get in?

 

[DoctorFate]

Out of curiosity.... did he get in?

I'm not sure, the point of the thread was to ask whether his DUIs would affect him, so he never followed up with admissions outcomes months later. However, his DUIs definitely didn't play a role in his admissions, regardless of whether or not he was admitted, as many comments (often bitterly) told him. He wasn't really regretful either and often mocked the people that criticized his behavior while gloating he was gonna get away with it (he later edited those mocking comments to be a lot more "thoughtful" and "apologetic". I'll see if I can find it.

 

[DoctorFate]

ah, found it: Should I report it? PLEASE HELP

 

[anonymous1170819]

I'm not sure, the point of the thread was to ask whether his DUIs would affect him, so he never followed up with admissions outcomes months later. However, his DUIs definitely didn't play a role in his admissions, regardless of whether or not he was admitted, as many comments (often bitterly) told him. He wasn't really regretful either and often mocked the people that criticized his behavior while gloating he was gonna get away with it (he later edited those mocking comments to be a lot more "thoughtful" and "apologetic". I'll see if I can find it.

I'm not sure, the point of the thread was to ask whether his DUIs would affect him, so he never followed up with admissions outcomes months later. However, his DUIs definitely didn't play a role in his admissions, regardless of whether or not he was admitted, as many comments (often bitterly) told him. He wasn't really regretful either and often mocked the people that criticized his behavior while gloating he was gonna get away with it (he later edited those mocking comments to be a lot more "thoughtful" and "apologetic". I'll see if I can find it.

Thanks for all the information. I have a lot to think about and will try get help in the form of family therapy (the destruction of my main support system is one reason I believe this happened) and whatever the courts recommend. I have already taken a safe driving course and am taking this very seriously. This was an incredibly selfish and stupid act. I don’t know when I will apply to med school but I feel like it’s one mode of redemption to become a doctor and help others, possibly even to help those that made the same mistake and we not as lucky as I, or to help save those who were affected by it. The Wisconsin person in the OWI seems very defensive and rude for the obvious mistake he made and ungrateful for the second chance they were given at life, and in applying to medical school.

 

[DoctorFate]

Thanks for all the information. I have a lot to think about and will try get help in the form of family therapy (the destruction of my main support system is one reason I believe this happened) and whatever the courts recommend. I have already taken a safe driving course and am taking this very seriously. This was an incredibly selfish and stupid act. I don’t know when I will apply to med school but I feel like it’s one mode of redemption to become a doctor and help others, possibly even to help those that made the same mistake and we not as lucky as I, or to help save those who were affected by it. The Wisconsin person in the OWI seems very defensive and rude for the obvious mistake he made and ungrateful for the second chance they were given at life, and in applying to medical school.

haha sounds good man. best of luck to you!
What are your stats rn, if you already took the MCAT?

 

[anonymous1170819]

haha sounds good man. best of luck to you!
What are your stats rn, if you already took the MCAT?

I need to take the MCAT. For some reason Veterinary Schools only require the GRE and some, the CASPer. I have a 3.7 overall gpa, well actually 3.69 (.01 away from summa :/). So I figured I have a good year at least to take the MCAT, gpa boosters, and get good experience/recover from this for the next cycle or the cycle after. I have a lot of animal experience but I believe the only things that would look semi relevant is my clinic experience and volunteer/rescue experience. I hope the clinic experience paints me as a little unique as I got to handle animals but also talk to the patients owners about their conditions/history. I have to look into the MCAT as I’m not really familiar with how it’s scored but IK it’s one of those make or break tests. I don’t think vet schools look at the gre in the same way.

 

[princesspeach2]

Do you have any human medical experience or human volunteering? Human doctor shadowing? All your ve5 experience will count against you in some ways, you need to show how you are not just running from vet medicine, and that you will like working with sick people for 30+ years. Talkung to people about their sick pets is completely different. I have worked in vet med and volunteered in human med which is why I say this. Is it really just getting a dui that has made you interested in human medicine over vet med? Or do you have other experience not mentioned?

 

[princesspeach2]

*dwi

You will want to get at least a year of human clinical experience (200 hours seems to be average) and 20-40+ hours shadowing as well to show adcoms and yourself you know what you are getting into.

 

[DoctorFate]

yea, I think your vet experience is a wonderful addition to your app when paired with subsequent human patient experience (shows you explore more than one field and have chosen human medicine) but I do also agree with @princesspeach2 in that if you don't get that human patient experience, it's worse than having nothing, as now you seem as if you're just running away from vet care.

 

[anonymous1170819]

Do you have any human medical experience or human volunteering? Human doctor shadowing? All your ve5 experience will count against you in some ways, you need to show how you are not just running from vet medicine, and that you will like working with sick people for 30+ years. Talkung to people about their sick pets is completely different. I have worked in vet med and volunteered in human med which is why I say this. Is it really just getting a dui that has made you interested in human medicine over vet med? Or do you have other experience not mentioned?

I have done a little virtual shadowing during COVID and screening at a hospital. A lot of the classes at my university were for both pre-med and pre-vet so IK academically what I’m getting myself into. I must admit I do not have much experience with human medicine in a clinical setting which is what I plan to explore in the next year. I have many friends that are going this route however and have talked to them about their experiences, which are very appealing to me. This incident is definitely not the sole reason for my switch. I have felt a little lost since obtaining my degree and trying to search for answers. My passion is in medicine and obviously I love animals but feel it necessary to explore human medicine. I’m curious, were you originally pre-vet as well? Or just for a job? And if so what led you to switch?

 

[anonymous1170819]

yea, I think your vet experience is a wonderful addition to your app when paired with subsequent human patient experience (shows you explore more than one field and have chosen human medicine) but I do also agree with @princesspeach2 in that if you don't get that human patient experience, it's worse than having nothing, as now you seem as if you're just running away from vet care.

I will most likely continue working at one nonprofit rescue. There is only one day I am required to go in to vet our incoming transport dogs. This would allow me to pursue experience in human medicine while also continuing to help out in another field I invested a lot of time into. And still enjoy, I just think I may enjoy human medicine even more.

 

[anonymous1170819]

yea, I think your vet experience is a wonderful addition to your app when paired with subsequent human patient experience (shows you explore more than one field and have chosen human medicine) but I do also agree with @princesspeach2 in that if you don't get that human patient experience, it's worse than having nothing, as now you seem as if you're just running away from vet care.

Would you think a medical scribe position is a good pathway to adequate human patient experience? I was recently offered this position and think it may be worth pursuing.

 

[DoctorFate]

If you have nothing else, it's good. But as far as clinical positions go, that's often considered the lowest form except shadowing (which serves a different purpose and is needed, but also can count as very low level clinical experience) as you don't really interact with patients much.

 

[anonymous1170819]

If you have nothing else, it's good. But as far as clinical positions go, that's often considered the lowest form except shadowing (which serves a different purpose and is needed, but also can count as very low level clinical experience) as you don't really interact with patients much.

Do you have any recommendations on experiences to help me stand out and get a better feel for human medicine?

 

[DoctorFate]

Do you have any recommendations on experiences to help me stand out and get a better feel for human medicine?

Pretty much the classic ones: Hospital Volunteering and Hospice Volunteering. If you already have EMT qualifications, then do that.

 

[anonymous1170819]

Pretty much the classic ones: Hospital Volunteering and Hospice Volunteering. If you already have EMT qualifications, then do that.

Okay, once again, thank you so much!

 

[AvsPearTree]

I work in a field where i have to deal with countless amounts of people who have received DWIs and DUIs. People don't realize how those two can truly destroy your life and possibly the lives of others. Seeing people wipe away their entire career because of such an avoidable mistake, friends take their life because of it, and seeing someone kill a family of four with their car because they were drunk have shown how impactful they can be.

You are fully grown adult, and you decided one day to drive while intoxicated and selfishly take other people's right to live into your own hands. Statistically this was most likely not your first time driving while intoxicated and it may of not been your last time if you weren't caught. So you should actually consider yourself lucky that you were caught, you're lucky enough to be one of the few people that could actually learn and better yourself from this situation before something worse happened.

I hope you realize how lucky you are, and i know im dramatic, but you need to consider this as your final shot to live the life you want to live. I know saying you have taken this as a wake up call are nice buzzwords to make others feel better, but i hope you prove to yourself that you actually mean it for your own sake as a future doctor.

 

[anonymous1170819]

I work in a field where i have to deal with countless amounts of people who have received DWIs and DUIs. People don't realize how those two can truly destroy your life and possibly the lives of others. Seeing people wipe away their entire career because of such an avoidable mistake, friends take their life because of it, and seeing someone kill a family of four with their car because they were drunk have shown how impactful they can be.

You are fully grown adult, and you decided one day to drive while intoxicated and selfishly take other people's right to live into your own hands. Statistically this was most likely not your first time driving while intoxicated and it may of not been your last time if you weren't caught. So you should actually consider yourself lucky that you were caught, you're lucky enough to be one of the few people that could actually learn and better yourself from this situation before something worse happened.

I hope you realize how lucky you are, and i know im dramatic, but you need to consider this as your final shot to live the life you want to live. I know saying you have taken this as a wake up call are nice buzzwords to make others feel better, but i hope you prove to yourself that you actually mean it for your own sake as a future doctor.

I understand this and I thank you for your words of criticism. I feel very lucky and fortunate and I know no explanation or excuse will make up for what happened. I could go on and on about the circumstances that led up to this but they don’t really matter. I know I have a lot to prove, especially to myself if I decide to go down the route of becoming a doctor. I know the buzzwords and phrases don’t mean anything until action has been done but they help give myself some reassurance and motivation I guess. I know I can’t go back and erase what happened so I have to grow and learn from it or else there was just no point to it at all.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

The usual SDN wisdom applies here I believe. I think its best to put some time between this and enhance your app in the process. I believe most Adcoms take a dim view of drinking and driving. I personally believe anyone who is impaired should not be on the road while my family is. This shows a huge lapse in judgement, and things can follow you in the digital age. As an example, I have had students with an underage alcohol violation that could not be expunged denied access to clinical clerkships in their 3rd and 4th year. I realize this is not the same thing as your situation, but similiar.

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

Consider working the program. It helps.

 

[DoctorFate]

The usual SDN wisdom applies here I believe. I think its best to put some time between this and enhance your app in the process. I believe most Adcoms take a dim view of drinking and driving. I personally believe anyone who is impaired should not be on the road while my family is. This shows a huge lapse in judgement, and things can follow you in the digital age. As an example, I have had students with an underage alcohol violation that could not be expunged denied access to clinical clerkships in their 3rd and 4th year. I realize this is not the same thing as your situation, but similiar.

OP lucked out given the laws of his state. His DWI is neither a misdemeanor nor a felony, so no need to put any time between this as OP does not need to report it, as described in earlier posts.

 

[anonymous1170819]

OP lucked out given the laws of his state. His DWI is neither a misdemeanor nor a felony, so no need to put any time between this as OP does not need to report it, as described in earlier posts.

I’ll need time to get my bearings and get my application to where I’d like it. I’m not just gonna pull a Wisconsin guy. Also I think that person did end up getting accepting a few years later. So maybe his owi did affect him.

 

[DoctorFate]

I’ll need time to get my bearings and get my application to where I’d like it. I’m not just gonna pull a Wisconsin guy. Also I think that person did end up getting accepting a few years later. So maybe his owi did affect him.

He might have just been a bad candidate. I'm not sure how his OWI could affect him given he was pretty clear he wouldn't report it and the comments also made it clear it wouldn't come up on any background check.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

OP lucked out given the laws of his state. His DWI is neither a misdemeanor nor a felony, so no need to put any time between this as OP does not need to report it, as described in earlier posts.

I don't disagree that OP dodged a bullet in one respect. My concern is that it could come back on a backround check and require some explanation. When you are explaining, you are losing. I might consider paying for a backround check and see what comes up. Just a thought.

 

[DoctorFate]

I don't disagree that OP dodged a bullet in one respect. My concern is that it could come back on a backround check and require some explanation. When you are explaining, you are losing. I might consider paying for a backround check and see what comes up. Just a thought.

Definitely agree that it would be worth it just in case. But you can just google "DWI in New Jersey background check" and its clear it won't come up.

 

[KnightDoc]

Definitely agree that it would be worth it just in case. But you can just google "DWI in New Jersey background check" and its clear it won't come up.

Does anyone know whether schools pull DMV records at any point in the process, specifically to pick up cases just like this? If not, are schools really okay giving NJ drivers a break no one else receives? That's the only potential gotcha here as far as I can tell.

 

[DoctorFate]

Does anyone know whether schools pull DMV records at any point in the process, specifically to pick up cases just like this? If not, are schools really okay giving NJ drivers a break no one else receives? That's the only potential gotcha here as far as I can tell.

"The federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994 codified protections against disclosing personal information associated with driver's licenses unless express permission of the subject whose records are being accessed is obtained."

So schools can, with permission. However, I dont think there's ever been a single incident of a school asking for DMV records unprovoked, at least as far as I am aware.

 

[KnightDoc]

"The federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994 codified protections against disclosing personal information associated with driver's licenses unless express permission of the subject whose records are being accessed is obtained."

So schools can, with permission. However, I dont think there's ever been a single incident of a school asking for DMV records unprovoked, at least as far as I am aware.

It never occurred to me that they'd pull anything without permission, but, isn't that covered when we give them permission to run "background checks"?

 

[DoctorFate]

It never occurred to me that they'd pull anything without permission, but, isn't that covered when we give them permission to run "background checks"?

I don't believe so. I'll check the specific wording and get back to you, but usually you cant just use catch all phrases to do background checks like this. I'm pretty sure med schools only take your consent for criminal background checks, of which DMV records wouldn't be included.