alcohol violation and its effects!

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>Hi, </p>

<p>I'm a sophomore in college and I'd like to be a neurologist in the future. I'm a pretty careful person, but last year my sister gave me her expired ID "just in case" I ever needed to use it. I was pretty paranoid about using it, so I never really did. But during the first week of school after summer my boyfriend and his buddies came up, and they sort of pressured me into using the fake ID to buy them beer (which I wasn't even going to drink). A plainclothes officer caught me with it on my way home, and I got a ticket for "minor purchasing alcohol." </p>

<p>I know that I have to take responsibility for my actions and pay the consequences for what happened, but I'm scared that one mistake that I made when I was 18 is going to affect my chances of getting into medical school. Getting this ticket scared and traumatized me so much because I hadn't ever gotten detention even, or into the slightest bit of trouble. I have a 3.9 GPA at a very prestigious UC and I am also an intern in a neuroscience lab, who studies very hard. I'm just scared. </p>

<p>This ticket isn't going to be on my police record because my attorney had it wiped off, but my university may open a disciplinary file on me for this (even though it happened off-campus). Do you think this will adversely affect my chances for med school?</p>

<p>Thanks for your help!</p>

2

<p>If its not on your criminal record, you're good there. However, if your school chooses to pursue disciplinary action, you will have to report that on your AMCAS application. It will be a red flag, but a relatively minor one - if the rest of your application is strong, you shouldn't have any problems. Med schools are forgiving of such things.</p>

3

<p>Honestly, don't worry about it one iota. Even if your school opens a file, it will have been three years prior. If it comes up in your interview, say you learned from the experience, no ones perfect, and you've matured.</p>

4

<p>Keep up you 3.9, and you are in. Top students from excellent schools do not grow on trees, and medical schools realize that. You bought some beer? Who cares.</p>

5

<p>However, there are a hundred other applicants with similar grades and no police record</p>