Medical Will SIS on the way to medical school ruin my chances?

[Goro]

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I’m a senior 3.82 gpa preparing to take the MCAT in March 2021 and apply to MD schools June. I’m 7 year Army veteran with a Purple Heart. Have over 1k hours of clinical experience and loads of volunteer work. Previously to what I’m about to write I was told I was a shoe in for Md school.

Last week I was charged with a DUI. I’m fairly positive my BAC will come back under (had blood test). But if it doesn’t I’m definitely looking at SIS with no probation at the maximum (in MO means not convicted unless I fail to follow the instructions. ie stay out of trouble, community service etc..).

Serious question... how will the SIS affect medical school applications?

It is possible that charges aren’t even filed for 10 months due to Covid backing the system up. Therefore I wouldn’t actually be charged with anything until after I’ve applied and possibly had interviews.

The other option is I’m charged but I take the SIS which then doesn’t show up on background checks. (No sentence = no record conviction)

I have an attorney all of my information thus far has come from them.

I have learned my lesson from this, I stupidly thought I had waited long enough to drive. Even if I’m under I should have still utilized a ride platform or back up plan. 7 years in the Army you’d think I’d know better. I’m super nervous and fell like the Dumbest Smart person to walk the earth right now.

I’ve already reached out to MODOT to adopt a hwy and give back to the community as a way to give back.

What's SIS?

First off, Many thanks for your service to our country.

The bad news is that you an age and maturity level where you should have know better. So unless you can beat this charge, I'd reject you at my school.

The problems you are facing are these thought which Adcoms will have:

1. How many times did he drive drunk and didn't get caught?
2. Why take a risk when we have so many other applicants who didn't do this?
3. Is this someone we want to have in our Class?

Yes, the charge doesn't define you, but it will keep you out of medical school.
@lord999?
@mr.smile?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

It's hard to predict since the charge and SIS would be very recent. You do have an attorney so there is a way to describe the circumstances. If I understand SIS from a description from a legal website, I interpret it to be like probation which would likely be reported in a background check. I won't completely close the door, but I would also do some outreach with physicians who have traveled a similar path as yours if you can find them in medical school as students, residents, or faculty.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Suspended imposition of sentence is an sis.

This is a misdemeanor dui. My first offense for anything. Also I am not actually charged yet. In all fairness..

1. it could go away from bac being low
(extremely likely).

Or

2. I won’t be convicted either by accepting guilt or otherwise until after the end of this next application cycle.

Also

3. If convicted I will get an SIS. According to Missouri’s sunshine law, after the probation period is over the SIS will NOT be considered a conviction and becomes closed record only visible to the court for subsequent criminal prosecutions.

I’ve done a lot and seen crazy things as a combat vet. Many things that are the reason I laid down my rifle to become a physician. I don’t come from money and I’m not entitled to anything in life. I can’t believe it’s over especially with my resume after one mistake. I wasn’t even feeling a buzz and was clear headed. So much in fact I was able to joke with the officer and explain the physiology behind all of his sobriety tests that I actually passed.
I’ve seen so many people get away with so much worse. Just hard to wrap my head around.
I appreciate any and all honesty I don’t want anything sugar coated.

#1. I would never say you are a "shoe-in" to any medical school, ever (you haven't even taken the MCAT).

#2. This is an unfortunate situation. Yes, people do drive over the limit all the time. Just because it happens doesn't make it ok. I don't think that's what you were insinuating, but stating that others get off for much worse comes off as someone trying to state that it was semi-ok.

The hard part here is like stated above, medical schools have an extreme surplus of students to choose from who DON'T have a record (I know you currently don't, but you get the point).

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Yeah I am not condoning it all....simply stating a fact that people do and have gotten off for worse.

I also wasn’t belligerently intoxicated. It’s very possible BAC comes back at .07 from my calculations. I don’t normally drink and absolutely don’t condone driving while intoxicated.

All I can hope for is the BAC comes back low as I presume it will. If it doesn’t then I’ll probably have to wait until my SIS is complete before be accepted. Either way I plan to move forward with applications this coming cycle and see where I am.

As for the shoe it portion I was actually told that while doing a sit down with one of the schools. “As long as you don’t bomb your MCAT you seem to be a shoe in here.”

Again, I don't think going into the medical school interview process with the idea of being a shoe-in will do you any good. I have been through both the medical school and residency interview process now and seems to me that MOST students who think they are shoe-ins don't get into the school or program because they were cocky, etc. NOT AT ALL saying that that's you, just saying....be modest.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Thanks I will definitely remember that.

Good luck. Hope you get more info from the other adcom members on here.

 

[MusicDOc124]

It is possible that charges aren’t even filed for 10 months due to Covid backing the system up. Therefore I wouldn’t actually be charged with anything until after I’ve applied and possibly had interviews.

This is a poor way of looking at it. There are questions that you would have to dance around and would likely still be considered lying. Your school would learn of it while youre there and you potentially face being dismissed, not to mention you'd have taken up a seat that someone else could have had without that risk. And even if you managed to stay in, matching for residency would be more difficult.

Would be best to wait and see what happens first.

 

[Goro]

Yeah I am not condoning it all....simply stating a fact that people do and have gotten off for worse.

While this is true, it is also irrelevant for your case. Stop thinking this way.,

 

[Goro]

Some other SDN Adcom colleagues are a bit more cautious, yet optimistic:

Seems the SIS will show up if he pleads guilty. I wonder if he can get the charges dropped, best scenario. I love veterans, but might like to know about his military records and see if there is any pattern of behavior. If none, and BAC comes back below legal limit, I would be ok with him.

I think everyone is entitled to one stupid mistake, but I would still be alert to any other red flags in his background/application that suggested poor judgment or substance abuse.

 

[Goro]

That is encouraging! My military record is spotless and I was consistently rated in the top 5% of my peers Army wide. I got out of the Army on my own terms with an Honorable Discharge. I chose to get out when I was unable to secure the guarantee of being allowed time to go to MD school, if accepted.

Yesterday I was informed by counsel that an SIS (in this case) is an unsupervised probation period of two years. As long as I have no more infractions, when the period is over, the SIS will be closed and NOT visible on my record nor will it be considered a conviction.

That being said even if it’s not visible I feel I would/should report it during an interview. At least stating something along the lines of: Even though you may not see it I wanted to state, I made this mistake in the past, I didn’t let it define me, I’ve learned from it and I have moved forward.

Would something like this be advised? Any suggestions?

Personally, I suggest trying to get as much time as possible between the infraction and applying.

Take some sort of class that encourages sobriety.

Continue to engage in service to others, and get into positions of responsibility.

 

[lord999]

Say I am over and I am denied entry because of it. I wait a time for it go off my record and apply again. Will those schools that denied me previously auto decline when I reapply or will they run another background check?

Depends on the school, and you should know that the SIS will show up in a federal background check as a diversionary program. You will have to answer yes to the question:

AMCAS version of the question (highlights mine):
If you are convicted of, plead guilty, or no contest to a felony or misdemeanor crime after you submit your AMCAS application and prior to your medical school matriculation, you must inform the admissions office of each medical school to which you have applied.

MO version of the question from application (highlights mine):
11. Have you been arrested, charged, found guilty, or entered a plea of guilty, an alford, no contest plea or plea of nolo contendre, in a criminal prosecution in any state, federal, or municipal court whether or not the sentence was imposed, including suspended imposition of sentence or suspended execution of sentence, except for minor traffic violations? Alcohol related traffic violations must be reported.

Because for an SIS, you have to plead guilty even though the sentence was suspended. This will come up for medical licensure as well, so the SIS doesn't give you any particular advantage since you have to plea guilty for the diversionary program.