Reapplicant question: IA disclosure after AAMC policy change

[throwaway2112]

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I'm a reapplicant planning to apply in the 2026-27 cycle and wanted to get some perspective on how to handle a specific situation.


During undergrad, I had a minor academic IA (non-med-school pre-requisite course) that was resolved through a faculty-level resolution process. The consequence was a grade reduction in the course and a written reflection for the professor. Importantly, this resolution process explicitly does not create a reportable disciplinary record per my institution's policy, and when I later requested documentation, my school's conduct office confirmed in writing that I have "no reportable disciplinary history."


When I applied in the 2024-25 cycle, the AAMC guidelines stated that you had to disclose institutional actions even if they didn't appear on your record. So I answered "Yes" and disclosed it. I also (in retrospect, unwisely) wrote about it in my personal statement and several secondaries, framing it as a growth experience. I received zero interview invites, and feedback from advisors suggested that the IA disclosure and centering it in my essays likely hurt me significantly.


For the 2026-27 cycle, AAMC has updated the guidelines to say applicants "may answer No if the action was deleted, expunged, or otherwise removed from your record by the institution." Since my institution's process never created a record in the first place, I believe I can now correctly answer "No."


My questions:

1. For schools I'm reapplying to, do admissions committees typically cross-reference previous applications? If they see I answered "Yes" before and "No" now, would this raise flags?
2. If asked to explain the discrepancy, is it sufficient to point to the AAMC policy change and my institution's documentation confirming no reportable record?
3. Would you recommend applying primarily to new schools to avoid this issue, or does it not matter that much?

Appreciate any insight, especially from anyone who has navigated a similar situation or has adcom experience.

 

[wysdoc]

I'm a reapplicant planning to apply in the 2026-27 cycle and wanted to get some perspective on how to handle a specific situation.


During undergrad, I had a minor academic IA (non-med-school pre-requisite course) that was resolved through a faculty-level resolution process. The consequence was a grade reduction in the course and a written reflection for the professor. Importantly, this resolution process explicitly does not create a reportable disciplinary record per my institution's policy, and when I later requested documentation, my school's conduct office confirmed in writing that I have "no reportable disciplinary history."


When I applied in the 2024-25 cycle, the AAMC guidelines stated that you had to disclose institutional actions even if they didn't appear on your record. So I answered "Yes" and disclosed it. I also (in retrospect, unwisely) wrote about it in my personal statement and several secondaries, framing it as a growth experience. I received zero interview invites, and feedback from advisors suggested that the IA disclosure and centering it in my essays likely hurt me significantly.


For the 2026-27 cycle, AAMC has updated the guidelines to say applicants "may answer No if the action was deleted, expunged, or otherwise removed from your record by the institution." Since my institution's process never created a record in the first place, I believe I can now correctly answer "No."


My questions:

1. For schools I'm reapplying to, do admissions committees typically cross-reference previous applications? If they see I answered "Yes" before and "No" now, would this raise flags?
2. If asked to explain the discrepancy, is it sufficient to point to the AAMC policy change and my institution's documentation confirming no reportable record?
3. Would you recommend applying primarily to new schools to avoid this issue, or does it not matter that much?

Appreciate any insight, especially from anyone who has navigated a similar situation or has adcom experience.

If you disclosed it last time and subsequently do not check the box and disclose it this time, AAMC will pull out your application for investigation and give you a chance to clear up the discrepancy.
I think the very best, simplest, way to do it this time is to check the box that says "yes" you have a past IA, and in the space provided very briefly say what it was and that it does not appear as a disciplinary action at your college.
This time don't include it in any other essays.