Title IX dismissal 9 years ago

[CraigBA1994]

Hello,

So long story short, I was dismissed from one of my undergrad schools in my early 20s because of a Title IX accusation from a relationship that ended very very poorly. It was a tough time, and I honestly didn’t know what I was going to do with my life. Medicine or healthcare wasn’t even something I was thinking about.

I had a little money saved, so I used it to get my EMT cert because I heard there was a shortage in my area. That got me into the field. Later on, I got my phlebotomy license to be more competitive, and I ended up working 911 EMS for a couple years. During that time, I decided to go back to school and finish my bachelor’s degree. I was juggling full-time ambulance work while going to class. It wasn’t easy, but I got through it, graduating with honors from a different college.

After that, I applied to a master’s program. I thought I wanted to go into leadership or stay in the ambulance industry long-term. But while doing all that, I realized I’d never actually worked in a hospital setting, so I got a job as an ER tech at a university hospital.

That’s when everything kind of clicked. I loved it. I liked working closely with nurses and doctors, being part of a team, and helping patients directly. After getting married, my wife asked me why I’m doing all this healthcare stuff and when am I gonna jump to a provider role. That’s when I started seriously thinking about becoming a physician.

The problem is that, that expulsion looks terrible. This happened a while back (9 years ago) but still feel like it’s gonna impact me. My wife is telling me to apply anyways (after the MCAT and premed courses at community college are done), and I’ve been wanting to apply since getting the hospital job.

Will getting in be a possibility even with this on my record? I have done so much and worked incredibly hard to get to where I am today.

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[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

Maybe you should talk to an lawyer with experience in academics cases. If it was just an accusation I have a hard time believing you got dismissed tbh. I think you're correct that this would be a huge barrier but I'm not an adcom.

 

[CraigBA1994]

Yes I was dismissed. The school found me responsible. I got expelled. And Ive talked to lawyers in the past. They’ve told me to apply anyways.

Even with everything that I’ve built up to this point, is it even a possibility?

 

[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

I'm sure you can get into a school somewhere. It's not like there was a formal charge filed against you right? But IDK. If I were an adcom, something like that would give me huge pause. You're going to be doing pap smears on people, breast exams, psychiatric treatment of vulnerable people, etc.

Hopefully you have no other smears on your record and lots of good references. Idk man. I'll let one of the real adcoms like @Goro and co weigh in.

 

[CraigBA1994]

Thank you for this reply. I’ve been working as a tech for about 2 years now, and been out on an ambulance for several years before. It really sucks that I need to “prove” that I’m not a monster.

 

[CraigBA1994]

I'm sure you can get into a school somewhere. It's not like there was a formal charge filed against you right? But IDK. If I were an adcom, something like that would give me huge pause. You're going to be doing pap smears on people, breast exams, psychiatric treatment of vulnerable people, etc.

Hopefully you have no other smears on your record and lots of good references. Idk man. I'll let one of the real adcoms like @Goro and co weigh in.

Also no formal charges or legal proceedings. Like I said, it was just a really bad break up, but I understand adcoms don’t care about it being framed like this.

 

[Goro]

Hello,

So long story short, I was dismissed from one of my undergrad schools in my early 20s because of a Title IX accusation from a relationship that ended very very poorly. It was a tough time, and I honestly didn’t know what I was going to do with my life. Medicine or healthcare wasn’t even something I was thinking about.

I had a little money saved, so I used it to get my EMT cert because I heard there was a shortage in my area. That got me into the field. Later on, I got my phlebotomy license to be more competitive, and I ended up working 911 EMS for a couple years. During that time, I decided to go back to school and finish my bachelor’s degree. I was juggling full-time ambulance work while going to class. It wasn’t easy, but I got through it, graduating with honors from a different college.

After that, I applied to a master’s program. I thought I wanted to go into leadership or stay in the ambulance industry long-term. But while doing all that, I realized I’d never actually worked in a hospital setting, so I got a job as an ER tech at a university hospital.

That’s when everything kind of clicked. I loved it. I liked working closely with nurses and doctors, being part of a team, and helping patients directly. After getting married, my wife asked me why I’m doing all this healthcare stuff and when am I gonna jump to a provider role. That’s when I started seriously thinking about becoming a physician.

The problem is that, that expulsion looks terrible. This happened a while back (9 years ago) but still feel like it’s gonna impact me. My wife is telling me to apply anyways (after the MCAT and premed courses at community college are done), and I’ve been wanting to apply since getting the hospital job.

Will getting in be a possibility even with this on my record? I have done so much and worked incredibly hard to get to where I am today.

If you show that the you of now is not the you of then, you'll fine there are med schools that believe in reinvention.

 

[CraigBA1994]

If you show that the you of now is not the you of then, you'll fine there are med schools that believe in reinvention.

Thank you for giving me hope. It’s truly appreciated. I will work harder.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Does that university still hold your Title IX citation? What was documented? Did you sign any non-disclosure? If the citation is held in the Diversity Office, if it is disbanded, would your records stay valid? I agree some legal assistance may help a bit. But I agree, what matters is that you didn't continue this behavior and that you are better than that.

 

[CraigBA1994]

Thanks for your response.

The university still has it. The transcript has a notation titled “disciplinary dismissal” but no mention of anything else. FERPA law states that all documents are sealed unless I authorize to release. And it’s held by the student conduct office.

In the past after it all happened, I spoke to lawyers who advised me “you can either spend thousands of dollars and years fighting this in court by means of litigation, with money that you, a 20 year old, do not have or moving on with your life and figure it out yourself”.

I chose to figure it out since I didn’t know what I was wanting to study in college anyways.

 

[esob]

I know of a resident who faced an accusation after a breakup and was expelled, but, had the money to fight the accusation and was ultimately reinstated. They went on to graduate from medical school and matched to residency.

 

[CraigBA1994]

That’s awesome. Unfortunately I grew up from a low income background. Again this was a while ago, so there’s no going back now to change things legally.

Also, @Goro do you have any tips on revealing this on the application and/or if asked by an interviewer?

 

[Goro]

Tell the truth

 

[CraigBA1994]

Understood thank you.

 

[CraigBA1994]

Tell the truth

Thank you again for your responses.

I understand that having this notation on my record is a serious red flag, and I fully expect to be scrutinized carefully because of it.

With that in mind, I’d like to ask, what more can I do to strengthen my application when the time comes to apply? I plan to be truthful about what occurred, but from your perspective, what specific qualities, experiences, actions etc. would you be looking for in an applicant with a history like mine?

 

[Goro]

Thank you again for your responses.

I understand that having this notation on my record is a serious red flag, and I fully expect to be scrutinized carefully because of it.

With that in mind, I’d like to ask, what more can I do to strengthen my application when the time comes to apply? I plan to be truthful about what occurred, but from your perspective, what specific qualities, experiences, actions etc. would you be looking for in an applicant with a history like mine?

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