A reckless driving charge carries a fine and possible jail time; however, a conviction could have serious consequences for your future if you're getting ready to apply to medical school. Applying to medical school after a reckless driving conviction

Reporting a Reckless Driving Charge on Your Medical School Application

In many cases, a criminal conviction is required to be reported on your medical school application. Some schools only require you to report felonies, while others ask for a list of misdemeanor convictions as well. The Association of American Medical Colleges also performs national background checks for its participating schools.

Although all criminal charges aren't equal in severity, any black mark on your permanent record can cause problems if you're seeking admission to a competitive program. It's not uncommon for prestigious medical schools to have several thousand applicants for less than 200 open slots, which means admissions representatives are forced to make cuts based on seemingly minor distinctions between applicants.

Medical school admission is based on a number of factors, including your academic record, essay, MCAT scores, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and previous experience in the healthcare field such as part-time or volunteer work. If you're a top-notch candidate in every area, a charge may not be the deciding factor in whether you're offered admission. However, if your test scores are only average or your previous experience in the healthcare field is limited, a criminal conviction may very well keep you from being chosen for an open slot.

Don't Let One Mistake Ruin Your Future

Everyone makes mistakes, but you don't need to let one bad decision sabotage your dream of becoming a doctor. After you've been charged with reckless driving, you'll want to seek the assistance of an experienced attorney who can investigate strategies to reduce or drop the charge. Call today to schedule a free, no-obligation case review with Virginia reckless driving attorney Charles V. Hardenbergh.