Underage Drinking Misdemeanor Conviction

[amph119]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Okay, first off this isn't me. I'm already accepted, lol. Second off, I've seen so many of these threads that I feel silly for asking, but this seems to be unique, so here goes.

A friend of mine received a drinking ticket. However, it isn't just some citation that can be paid and disappear. Apparently where it occurred, it is a class C misdemeanor, and my friend was convicted. Obviously, this needs to be reported on AMCAS / criminal background checks / secondaries, right?

How bad is this and what can he/she do?

GO!

 

[funkydrmonkey]

Okay, first off this isn't me. I'm already accepted, lol. Second off, I've seen so many of these threads that I feel silly for asking, but this seems to be unique, so here goes.

A friend of mine received a drinking ticket. However, it isn't just some citation that can be paid and disappear. Apparently where it occurred, it is a class C misdemeanor, and my friend was convicted. Obviously, this needs to be reported on AMCAS / criminal background checks / secondaries, right?

How bad is this and what can he/she do?

GO!

Amph, come on, I know you should celebrate after getting Case, but getting a ticket... Come on!

 

[DrYoda]

Learn to run faster.

 

[amph119]

Amph, come on, I know you should celebrate after getting Case, but getting a ticket... Come on!

Haha, I'm 21. This seriously isn't me. I just did the CBC and was clear on everything!

 

[DrYoda]

On a more serious note, I belive MIPs are expungable. At least in some states anyway.

 

[funkydrmonkey]

Teetotalism. Your friend should try it! 😛

 

[LizzyM]

Okay, first off this isn't me. I'm already accepted, lol. Second off, I've seen so many of these threads that I feel silly for asking, but this seems to be unique, so here goes.

A friend of mine received a drinking ticket. However, it isn't just some citation that can be paid and disappear. Apparently where it occurred, it is a class C misdemeanor, and my friend was convicted. Obviously, this needs to be reported on AMCAS / criminal background checks / secondaries, right?

How bad is this and what can he/she do?

GO!

I've seen this sort of thing forgiven by the adcom. This is pretty common at some schools and unheard of at other schools -- not because no one drinks but because the school treats it as a medical issue rather than a criminal one.

Truthfulness is essential.

 

[amph119]

I've seen this sort of thing forgiven by the adcom. This is pretty common at some schools and unheard of at other schools -- not because no one drinks but because the school treats it as a medical issue rather than a criminal one.

Truthfulness is essential.

Thanks Lizzy, I'll pass that along. Should he/she go about getting it expunged, if possible? And would doing so really mean anything in the long run, because he/she would have to report it anyway right? Or would he/she not have to?

 

[kentuckyman]

Your friend is an idiot.

 

[Hoju]

Your friend is an idiot.

Excellent post. Haven't you ever made a mistake?

 

[kentuckyman]

Excellent post. Haven't you ever made a mistake?

Mistakes? I've made plenty of them. Class C Misdemeanors? Nope. I think there is a big difference between a mistake and a misdemeanor, wouldn't you say so Hoju? Maybe you should have rephrased the question to "Don't you have a class C misdemeanor?" Great post Hoju.

If I were on an ADCOM committee I would take that citation into account. It shows lack of self control, immaturity, and a blatant disregard of law.

 

[amph119]

Mistakes? I've made plenty of them. Class C Misdemeanors? Nope. I think there is a big difference between a mistake and a misdemeanor, wouldn't you say so Hoju? Maybe you should have rephrased the question to "Don't you have a class C misdemeanor?" Great post Hoju.

If I were on an ADCOM committee I would take that citation into account. It shows lack of self control, immaturity, and a blatant disregard of law.

Don't hurt your leg dismounting from your high horse, okay?

 

[cast128]

Mistakes? I've made plenty of them. Class C Misdemeanors? Nope. I think there is a big difference between a mistake and a misdemeanor, wouldn't you say so Hoju? Maybe you should have rephrased the question to "Don't you have a class C misdemeanor?" Great post Hoju.

If I were on an ADCOM committee I would take that citation into account. It shows lack of self control, immaturity, and a blatant disregard of law.

You know what else shows a lack of self control, belittling someone over the internet who asked an honest question. Kids drink, I did, I just didn't get caught. Doesn't necessarily make me immature and I don't have a blatant disregard of the law either. My advice would be to be honest, most schools will be very understanding. There are certain schools that do not like to see this activity however (ex: Loma Linda, Wake Forest).

 

[kentuckyman]

Don't hurt your leg dismounting from your high horse, okay?

I am not on a high horse. I just have an opinion that Doctors, and people trying to be Doctors, should be held to very high standards. A physician that has disregard for law and no self control will turn out to be one of those physicians that abuses drugs they have access to and those that do other stupid things.

I am not saying I wouldn't accept somebody with a misdemeanor, but they better show me somehow they are ready to take on the responsibility of becoming a doctor.

If people like you and Hoju don't think ADCOM people care about misdemeanors, good for you. I think you are living in a fantasyland. Of course we all make mistakes and need to be forgiven, but idiots that break the law might not be the best candidates for medical school, especially when there are many more qualified, non-law breaking candidates out there.

 

[kentuckyman]

You know what else shows a lack of self control, belittling someone over the internet who asked an honest question. Kids drink, I did, I just didn't get caught. Doesn't necessarily make me immature and I don't have a blatant disregard of the law either. My advice would be to be honest, most schools will be very understanding. There are certain schools that do not like to see this activity however (ex: Loma Linda, Wake Forest).

My answer does not display a lack of self control. It is reality. Deal with it. If you don't want opinions than don't post on the freaking internet. Or if you just want opinions that will make you feel good than say so.

 

[kentuckyman]

Don't hurt your leg dismounting from your high horse, okay?

Talk about high horse, you are the one who started this thread off by announcing to the world that you have already been accepted? Why did you need to tell us that?

 

[funkydrmonkey]

Talk about high horse, you are the one who started this thread off by announcing to the world that you have already been accepted? Why did you need to tell us that?

He wanted to tell us that he got accepted, so he is smart enough not to do something like this...

 

[Kaydubz]

Mistakes? I've made plenty of them. Class C Misdemeanors? Nope. I think there is a big difference between a mistake and a misdemeanor, wouldn't you say so Hoju? Maybe you should have rephrased the question to "Don't you have a class C misdemeanor?" Great post Hoju.

If I were on an ADCOM committee I would take that citation into account. It shows lack of self control, immaturity, and a blatant disregard of law.

Are you going to be this dismissive and condescending to every alcoholic or drug abuser that steps in your door, or just other pre-meds?

 

[GoSpursGo]

:troll:

 

[kentuckyman]

Are you going to be this dismissive and condescending to every alcoholic or drug abuser that steps in your door, or just other pre-meds?

Of course I am not going to be condescending to alcoholics and drug abusers that step into my door. I feel bad for them and want to help them. I know they are good people that are having problems. But do I think they would be good doctors? Probably not. Would you honestly want a drug addict as your brain surgeon? Come on man. You are totally misconstruing what I am saying.

 

[chiz2kul]

Of course I am not going to be condescending to alcoholics and drug abusers that step into my door. I feel bad for them and want to help them. I know they are good people that are having problems. But do I think they would be good doctors? Probably not. Would you honestly want a drug addict as your brain surgeon? Come on man. You are totally misconstruing what I am saying.

Whoa dude CHILL....CHILL
Drug addict?
You are seriously OVER REACTING to this issue. Dont put down the kid like that. You are writing him off cos he made a mistake, albeit a stupid one?
You must be a troll.

And as for your friend, well he/she really has no other option than to be truthful, and show (somehow) that he/she has changed for the better n try to convince the adcom otherwise.
otherwise...

 

[kentuckyman]

Whoa dude CHILL....CHILL
Drug addict?
You are seriously OVER REACTING to this issue. Dont put down the kid like that. You are writing him off cos he made a mistake, albeit a stupid one?
You must be a troll.

And as for your friend, well he/she really has no other option than to be truthful, and show (somehow) that he/she has changed for the better n try to convince the adcom otherwise.
otherwise...

I know the original poster is not a drug addict. I was responding to someone a couple posts up that asked me about drug abusers.

So you, my friend, are the one that needs to chill out and read before you make a post. I am not saying to write off the friend. I am just saying their MISDEMEANOR should be taken into account when they are applying for medical school.

Sheesh.

 

[MrBurns10]

It shows lack of self control, immaturity, and a blatant disregard of law.

Seriously? Do you know how many people drink in college? You know, oral sex is a misdemeanor in some states. If I were you, I'd look those up before I planned on getting any action.

Sorry, I just get tired of seeing "So and so did X? He's going to make a bad doctor." posts on here. I'm not trying to attack you personally, really.

 

[ButImLETired]

Sigh...please guys, less judging and blaming and more helping?! Come on now, you can do it!

 

[kentuckyman]

Seriously? Do you know how many people drink in college? You know, oral sex is a misdemeanor in some states. If I were you, I'd look those up before I planned on getting any action.

Sorry, I just get tired of seeing "So and so did X? He's going to make a bad doctor." posts on here. I'm not trying to attack you personally, really.

I don't necessarily think people that commit crimes will be bad doctors. I am just saying they probably have a higher chance of being a bad doctor than those that follow the law.

 

[kentuckyman]

Sigh...please guys, less judging and blaming and more helping?! Come on now, you can do it!

Your avatar makes me dizzy.

 

[ButImLETired]

Your avatar makes me dizzy.

That's unfortunate. Don't look at it.

 

[MrBurns10]

I don't necessarily think people that commit crimes will be bad doctors. I am just saying they probably have a higher chance of being a bad doctor than those that follow the law.

Well, I guess the point of my post is that there are lot of "crimes" that are misdemeanors in some states and not others, and that it's not a black and white issue. An underage college student caught with a beer is not the same thing as one selling drugs or hurting people in some way. I just wouldn't be so quick to judge someone's potential by getting caught for what essentially 90% of the college population does. It doesn't make the action "right", but it also doesn't mean anything about his/her future. Just my opinion.

And to the OP, I think your friend will be fine. Usually, schools or city departments have alcohol classes he can take to get it removed from his record. I would definitely look into those.

 

[amph119]

Thanks guys. She was a little freaked, and I showed her the responses. I think she feels better, and I think I may have just inadvertently created another SDN addict, haha.

 

[ANF1986]

I know the original poster is not a drug addict. I was responding to someone a couple posts up that asked me about drug abusers.

So you, my friend, are the one that needs to chill out and read before you make a post. I am not saying to write off the friend. I am just saying their MISDEMEANOR should be taken into account when they are applying for medical school.

Sheesh.

Like most pre-meds, it sounds like you have lived a VERY sheltered life, and have no clue or conception of the real world. So let me clue you in. Everyone makes mistakes, everyone, that includes aspiring doctors and even..............hold on........this might shock you.......but ACTUAL DOCTORS! You can live in fantasy land and try to idealize these people as supra human, but that is not reality. Doctors are people, people at different times during life make poor decisions that have negative consequences.

You are obviously unable to relate to the OP's friend because I'm guessing that you never drank while underage in college. To each their own, but dont be judgemental and overly critical of people who got CAUGHT for something that A LOT of people do and rarely get caught doing. I'm sure a great number of matriculants into medical school have consumed alcohol underage while in college, do you think they shouldn't be there either?

 

[ANF1986]

Kentuckyman....It would also do you some good, when evaluating situations like this to know the difference between Malum prohibitum and Malum in se. Look that up if you dont know what it means and then report back once you've done your homework.

 

[Bacchus]

Thanks guys. She was a little freaked, and I showed her the responses. I think she feels better, and I think I may have just inadvertently created another SDN addict, haha.

We'll welcome her with open arms 😉.

 

[kentuckyman]

Kentuckyman....It would also do you some good, when evaluating situations like this to know the difference between Malum prohibitum and Malum in se. Look that up if you dont know what it means and then report back once you've done your homework.

I really don't think I am in the mood to do that.

 

[kentuckyman]

Like most pre-meds, it sounds like you have lived a VERY sheltered life, and have no clue or conception of the real world. So let me clue you in. Everyone makes mistakes, everyone, that includes aspiring doctors and even..............hold on........this might shock you.......but ACTUAL DOCTORS! You can live in fantasy land and try to idealize these people as supra human, but that is not reality. Doctors are people, people at different times during life make poor decisions that have negative consequences.

You are obviously unable to relate to the OP's friend because I'm guessing that you never drank while underage in college. To each their own, but dont be judgemental and overly critical of people who got CAUGHT for something that A LOT of people do and rarely get caught doing. I'm sure a great number of matriculants into medical school have consumed alcohol underage while in college, do you think they shouldn't be there either?

I know people make mistakes. I have already said that genius. I am just saying misdemeanors should be taken into account when evaluating an applicant. Is that so wrong to say?

 

[Bacchus]

No. Now lets all act like the reasonable adults we are and stick to the topic at hand. If we all want to fight LET and I will allow it, but ya'll are betting and we're taking half the proceeds.

 

[ButImLETired]

No. Now lets all act like the reasonable adults we are and stick to the topic at hand. If we all want to fight LET and I will allow it, but ya'll are betting and we're taking half the proceeds.

That's a pretty excellent idea. I'm undeniably po'.

 

[fizzle]

I am not on a high horse. I just have an opinion that Doctors, and people trying to be Doctors, should be held to very high standards. A physician that has disregard for law and no self control will turn out to be one of those physicians that abuses drugs they have access to and those that do other stupid things.

Not to condone underage drinking, but why is it that doctors should be held to very high standards, as opposed to others? You seem to imply with this statement that other jobs, such as car mechanic, chef, lawyer, or other shouldn't be held to the same standard. Being a doctor is only a job--it doesn't make you a bastion of morality and ethics. It irritates me to see people put doctors on a pedestal and worship them; this figuratively actually does happen in some countries. Doctors are only human, too; they've just been fortunate and hard-working enough to attend medical school.

 

[kentuckyman]

Not to condone underage drinking, but why is it that doctors should be held to very high standards, as opposed to others? You seem to imply with this statement that other jobs, such as car mechanic, chef, lawyer, or other isn't held to the same standard. Being a doctor is only a job--it doesn't make you a bastion of morality and ethics. It irritates me to see people put doctors on a pedestal and worship them; this figuratively actually does happen in some countries. Doctors are only human, too; they've just been fortunate and hard-working enough to attend medical school.

Give me a break. If my car mechanic was a drug addict, I wouldn't care. If my doctor was a drug addict, I would care. Doctors should be held to higher standards because they deal with people's lives.

Fizzle, I can't believe you don't think a Surgeon, who could potentially kill people with their mistakes, shouldn't be held to higher alcohol and drug standards than a car mechanic.

You're nuts my friend.

 

[Bacchus]

Last civility warning, cool it down folks.

 

[kentuckyman]

Last civility warning, cool it down folks.

\

My bad Bacchus.

 

[pianola]

Personally, if it were me, I'd try to get it expunged. And tell your friend to to do a CBC on herself before she applies to med school so that she knows what she may have to explain (or not explain).

Just my $0.02.

 

[usatina8]

Let your friend know that there are plenty of people in medical school that have less than perfect records. At the same time, the medical school does background checks to cover their own butts so they do not let irresponsible people become doctors.

If you friend can prove that the conviction was a learning block and to show they learned from it they ___ (fill in the blank) it will help to show responsibility. Yes, it would be great to get it expunged but that isnt always possible. Might as well turn it around into a positive learning experience. Tell him to volunteer at a drug abuse clinic, battered womens shelter, psych ward... anything to show that he is trying to put the lessons he learned during this mistake into action to help others.

Medical schools dont want perfect people (all the time). They want people who do good.

 

[murdoc9]

ugg there is some serious ignorance going on in this thread.
i agree with everyone who understands that doctors are HUMAN. i don't believe an isolated mistake such as a misdemeanor will hurt you, as long as you own up to it fully. in fact, i think it shows maturity to stand in front of doctors and admit that you're not infallible and made a mistake, and have learned from it.

what happens down the road when you're in your residency and you make a mistake (which you will)? you tell your supervisor right away and learn from it. attendings want to know that they can trust their residents, not that they got caught drunk in...(gasp) ...college!

 

[xpinchx]

Heh, I got a ticket for disorderly in public - public urination. Normally it's a misdemeanor but I got a lawyer and it was reduced to a $300 littering ticket. Pisses me off to see celebrities that make millions of dollars get off with a $100 fine for posession of cocaine and a poor college student has to pay a month's worth of paycheck for peeing in a bush behind a bar. Grr 😡

 

[rvarsity]

Your friend is an idiot.

I'm a PGY-2 and have personally known several people with misdemeanors on their records that are in residency or medical school. Underage drinking, DUI, public urination, etc. They all used these things positvely when applying for med school/residency and it worked out fine.

Everyone makes mistakes - it's just the unlucky ones that get caught.

I'll forgive your comment b/c you are most likely the typical SDN user with no life and nothing going for you outside of medicine. Anyway, I'm post call, time for a beer.

 

[LizzyM]

Give me a break. If my car mechanic was a drug addict, I wouldn't care. If my doctor was a drug addict, I would care. Doctors should be held to higher standards because they deal with people's lives.

Fizzle, I can't believe you don't think a Surgeon, who could potentially kill people with their mistakes, shouldn't be held to higher alcohol and drug standards than a car mechanic.

You're nuts my friend.

An incompetent or impaired car mechanic can kill people with their mistakes too. (brake failure, anyone?)

As I've said numerous times, the criminal background checks were put in place to identify those who have records of violent crimes including child abuse, sex crimes (whether violent or not), and domestic violence, as well as those who have engaged in drug dealing (because it is hard to get a license to prescribe narcotics if you are a former drug dealer) and terrorism.

Use of alcohol in college is ubiquitous; in my experience, prosecution for alcohol offenses has not hurt applicants to med school.

 

[dec0y]

An incompetent or impaired car mechanic can kill people with their mistakes too. (brake failure, anyone?)

As I've said numerous times, the criminal background checks were put in place to identify those who have records of violent crimes including child abuse, sex crimes (whether violent or not), and domestic violence, as well as those who have engaged in drug dealing (because it is hard to get a license to prescribe narcotics if you are a former drug dealer) and terrorism.

Use of alcohol in college is ubiquitous; in my experience, prosecution for alcohol offenses has not hurt applicants to med school.

There you have it.

Thread closed. Stop the soap-boxing. Go out and have fun with your friends, whether that includes beer or not is up to you.

 

[chessknt]

But do all aspects of the job require higher moral standards - at least when it comes to drugs? Would you rather have a highly competent surgeon who occasionaly does coke or a tee-totaller surgeon who is a bit lousy? If they're cracking me open, I'm gonna take the occasional crack smoker. Then again, I don't want to be the first person he operates on after "occasional coke" turns into "cocaine addiction" and I have a listless, fumbling junkie with his hand inside of my abdomen. Maybe that is where kentuckyman is coming from - if we remove users at the beginning we don't risk them becoming doctors and becoming abusers since they are more at-risk.

However that doesn't jive with me socially. I think that if someone is smoking a joint occasionally; big deal. He'll still turn out to be a fine doctor if that's what he's passionate about.

Uh why does it have to be drug user/good surgeon or drug-free/bad surgeon? I am 100% sure that witht he number of applicants, there is a large population of people that can be drug-free/good surgeons. That is what this comes down to--there are too many applicants to morally justify letting someone who breaks important laws in over law-abiding applicants. Sure they may have learned from it, but they also carry the risk of having that powerful disdain for the law I see all too often in drug users.

Also your engineer friend would probably be more effective/productive if he was not high because he is naturally talented. Natural talent does not excuse drug use in work-related instances.

 

[JackInTheBox]

(did you guys not see that episode of Scrubs when Turk tells the patient that he didn't do well in school and the guy requests another surgeon?? come on. tv people! watch it!).

"Let's just say my girlfriend wasn't the only one with 34Cs, you know what I'm sayin'?"

 

[MILK07]

I had a friend with a similar situation. My friend got a lawyer, did some community service hours and an "alcohol class" and was charged NOT GUILTY. It will still appear on your record, however. You can have misdemeanors expunged once if you were charged but found not guilty. Tell your friend to get a lawyer.

While I don't think this sort of thing is the end of the world, I think it is important to be honest.

Tell your friend Good luck!