Transcript red flag and sexual harassment?

[gyngone]

I hope to get your advice.

My master’s transcript shows a GPA of 4.0. Initially, it was a one-year coursework-based degree, but I transferred into the two-year program (the second year involved research in a lab). Unfortunately, I experienced sexual harassment (inappropriate touching) in the lab, and after reporting it, I was fired from the lab. As a result, I had to switch back to the one-year program and graduated.

My transcript reflects that I first enrolled in the one-year program, transferred to the two-year track, then switched back to the one-year program in September, and graduated the following June.

Do you think this sequence of changes will be seen as a red flag by medical school admissions?

Because sexual harassment still carries a stigma, I do not plan to disclose the reason behind the switch. However, if a medical school contacts my university directly, they may learn that I was dismissed from the lab (and possibly the program?) after reporting sexual harassment.

I’m concerned that the school may not keep this information confidential. I’m currently involved in an unrelated wage theft lawsuit against the university, and they have already disclosed to my attorney that I was fired from a previous lab for reporting sexual harassment—even though it’s unrelated to the wage theft lawsuit.

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[Goro]

Sexual harassment only has a stigma if you were responsible for the harassment.

Being a victim in no way it's going to stigmatize you.

This will be a good subject for secondary prompts that ask about greatest challenge or how you have dealt with stressors.

 

[Goro]

If the university admitted to your lawyer that they admitted firing you because you made a sexual harassment complaint, that wins your sexual harassment lawsuit right there!

 

[gyngone]

Sexual harassment only has a stigma if you were responsible for the harassment.

Being a victim in no way it's going to stigmatize you.

This will be a good subject for secondary prompts that ask about greatest challenge or how you have dealt with stressors.

Thank you, do you think the sequence of changes on my transcript (first enrolled in the one-year program, transferred to the two-year track, then switched back to the one-year program) will be seen as a red flag by medical school admission?

 

[gyngone]

If the university admitted to your lawyer that they admitted firing you because you made a sexual harassment complaint, that wins your sexual harassment lawsuit right there!

The sexual harassment happened two years ago when I was still a student and didn’t have the money to file a lawsuit. Now I’m dealing with a wage theft lawsuit against the university (I worked there for about two years after graduating), and the school breached my Title IX confidentiality by revealing that I was fired after reporting sexual harassment before—seemingly to try to stop me from going through with the wage theft case. Can't believe they use my personal trauma to against me to avoid accountability for wage theft. So I think school will also disclose this confidentiality if medical school admission reaches out to them.

 

[LizzyM]

Good Lord! What a mess. I wish you luck with the lawsuit. Schools don't really look at transcripts, only a transcription of the transcript in the AMCAS application. So the switch from one year to two back to one won't be noticed until your actual transcript is delivered to the school just before your matriculation and by then the school won't care.

 

[Goro]

Thank you, do you think the sequence of changes on my transcript (first enrolled in the one-year program, transferred to the two-year track, then switched back to the one-year program) will be seen as a red flag by medical school admission?

No

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you, do you think the sequence of changes on my transcript (first enrolled in the one-year program, transferred to the two-year track, then switched back to the one-year program) will be seen as a red flag by medical school admission?

No it won't.

But does your (un)official transcript note your participation in these tracks?

 

[gyngone]

No it won't.

But does your (un)official transcript note your participation in these tracks?

Yes, my unofficial transcript shows I initially enrolled in the one-year program, transferred to the two-year track, then switched back to the one-year.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Yes, my unofficial transcript shows I initially enrolled in the one-year program, transferred to the two-year track, then switched back to the one-year.

Ok. That's interesting. Again, it won't make a difference. I'm sure there is some fluidity between both tracks that it only concerns the accountants at your school, not the adcoms wherever you apply.

 

[Goro]

Yes, my unofficial transcript shows I initially enrolled in the one-year program, transferred to the two-year track, then switched back to the one-year.

At my school, we don't see your transcripts, and even when we did, all we would see would be enrollments at a school, not a 1 year vs 2 year program.