I know this question has been asked multiple times as I have read many posts about this but I had my own questions for members with some expiernce about this.
When I was 13 years old I was arrested and charged with both a felony and a misdemeanor both for vandalism (I had graffitied 2 different locations with a friend) The reason that one was charged as a felony was that in the state of California anything above $400 in damage is considered a felony, anything under is a misdemeanor. I was given 3 years probation and served it without getting into anymore trouble again and sealed my record when I was released from probation, by the time I apply to medical I would be 26 and about 13 years will have passed. I have a unique story for when I was growing up to what might have contributed to me doing those things and I plan to disclose my past criminal history to med schools, I was just wondering what my chances are to getting into med schools with juvenile vandalism charges that are sealed, being a physician is the only thing I can see myself being and hate that I made these mistakes as a child. Also I know that when someone sees the word felony they think the worst and I’m worried that my application would be screened out just because I disclosed my felony but it wasnt serious or violent offense.
From the AMCAS applicant guide:
"You must indicate if you have ever been convicted of, or pleaded guilty or no contest to, a felony
crime, excluding (1) any offense for which you were adjudicated as a juvenile or (2) convictions that
have been expunged or sealed by a court (in states where applicable). You need not disclose any
instance in which you:
• Were arrested but not charged
• Were arrested and charged, with the charges dropped
• Were arrested and charged, but found not guilty by a judge or jury
• Were arrested and found guilty by a judge or jury, with the conviction overturned on appeal
• Were arrested and found guilty but received an executive pardon
If you answer Yes, you’ll have 1,325 characters to explain the circumstances of your conviction,
including the number of conviction(s), the nature of the offense(s) leading to conviction(s), the date(s)
and location(s) of conviction(s), the sentence(s) imposed, and the type(s) of rehabilitation."
You do not need to report this.
Reactions: 1 userYou'll be fine for AMCAS, they can't view sealed juvenile records. State licensing boards are different though, and they will be able to see your offenses. Given that theyre non violent you should be fine, but it wouldn't hurt to have a lawyers opinion, or you could anon call state licensing boards yourself. SWIM has some experience with this, and he can't get licensed in a handful of states.
Although you don't disclose in the primary application, some secondaries will ask about arrests and convictions.
Reactions: 1 user
Where you convicted or adjudicated of the felony? While your crime can not be seen through a background check it's strange that your fingerprints don't appear in the database.
Where you convicted or adjudicated of the felony? While your crime can not be seen through a background check it's strange that your fingerprints don't appear in the database.
I was adjudicated for both felony and misdemeanor. I was also surprised that nothing showed up on the fbi background. I called the fbi cjis division and asked why ones juvenile record would not show up on their fbi check and he said that it is up to the courts and police if they want to share my fingerprints and add them the the national database and since 6 years have passed since my arrest he said they most likely didn’t feel the need to disclose any other agency with my juvenile record and is most likely keeping my record in house and sealed.
Although you don't disclose in the primary application, some secondaries will ask about arrests and convictions.
Thanks for the reply @gyngyn, since some secondaries ask about only convictions would I have to disclose still as I was adjudicated and in my state (California) I was arrested in says that being adjudicated as a juvenile is not the same as a conviction. Also if a school secondary doesn’t ask anything more about criminal history other than what is on the AMCAS and I follow the directions and say no I was never convicted of a crime since it says to exclude juvenile adjudications and sealed records, would It look bad to not tell them about my juvenile record? As I posted as well nothing shows up in a fbi self background check. Thanks!
Although you don't disclose in the primary application, some secondaries will ask about arrests and convictions.
You'll be fine for AMCAS, they can't view sealed juvenile records. State licensing boards are different though, and they will be able to see your offenses. Given that theyre non violent you should be fine, but it wouldn't hurt to have a lawyers opinion, or you could anon call state licensing boards yourself. SWIM has some experience with this, and he can't get licensed in a handful of states.
what about schools that associate with a VA hospital. I know they run federal background checks and ask for fingerprinting but as I stated nothing comes back when checked.
I strong concur, you do not need to report :
1) SEALED RECORD
2) JUVENILE RECORD
I would also add that if this were to be found out, it would unlikely cause any issue with any licensing board or hospital
The OP should follow the advice of my signature, now stated in politically correct manner
Thanks @gonnif for the reply. What about secondaries that ask about convictions ? I was adjucated and in the state of California it states that an adjudication is not the same as a conviction, would I still need to disclose ?
This is what it states for juveniles that we’re charged in juvenile court. A juvenile isn’t convicted but ajudicated “they are ajudicated, not convicted” would I be telling the truth if a secondary asked if I’ve ever been convicted and I said no ? @gyngyn @gonnif
From the AMCAS applicant guide:
"You must indicate if you have ever been convicted of, or pleaded guilty or no contest to, a felony
crime, excluding (1) any offense for which you were adjudicated as a juvenile or (2) convictions that
have been expunged or sealed by a court (in states where applicable). You need not disclose any
instance in which you:
• Were arrested but not charged
• Were arrested and charged, with the charges dropped
• Were arrested and charged, but found not guilty by a judge or jury
• Were arrested and found guilty by a judge or jury, with the conviction overturned on appeal
• Were arrested and found guilty but received an executive pardon
If you answer Yes, you’ll have 1,325 characters to explain the circumstances of your conviction,
including the number of conviction(s), the nature of the offense(s) leading to conviction(s), the date(s)
and location(s) of conviction(s), the sentence(s) imposed, and the type(s) of rehabilitation."
You do not need to report this.
What do you think about secondaries should I report it then if asked about convictions? I was adjudicated but not convicted and in California those are 2 different things
This my opinion and that is all it carries as weight
1) For purposes of AMCAS, adjudication is equivalent to conviction and would therefore be reasonable to assume the same for secondary applications.
2) It can also be reasonable for a non-lawyer, premedical student to conclude that since a juvenile, sealed record does not have to be reported on AMCAS that it would not have to be reported on a secondary that even asks about any arrests or convictions
3) It can also be reasonable for a non-lawyer, premedical student who has been told by the court and/or lawyer that a sealed record does not have to be released to conclude that it would not have to be reported on a secondary that even asks about any arrests or convictions
4) It can also be reasonable for a non-lawyer, premedical student who does not find his record or fingerprints are on file to conclude that it would not have to be reported on a secondary that even asks about any arrests or convictions.
5) when you apply it would appear this offense would be 10 years old which in many states is not the cutoff to report criminal conviction.
6) briefly looking the California Juvenile Court system:
--it is a civil court that does hear criminal issues
--adjudication is NOT a conviction, which means you do not have a criminal record
7) even if you disclose it to the schools, it would not change anything when you go for a medical license . The same issues would apply.
8) if a school accepts you and this does come up, I think it is minor enough to be explained in a short deans letter.
While I tend to be conservative in reporting these things, on this one my opinion (and again just my opinion) there is no need to disclose it on a secondary
Thanks for the reply I really appreciate and it gives me hope that I can make it into med school ! As you said its only your opinion but that not disclosing it on secondaries wouldn’t be a big deal and if it were to come up it would be reasonable for me to think that I didn’t have to disclose because if I wasn’t required to report on the AMCAS?
Would say potential stats
cGpa of 3.8 and sGpa of 3.8 with a MCAT of 515 and lots of clinical and non clinical volunteering about(2000 hours), a Medical assistant certification and working as a paid MA with about 2000 hours, 100 shadowing hours
Make me competitive even with my charges as a juvenile?
