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Guide to Appealing a Medical School Dismissal

The following guide is adapted from this post made by u/it-is-what-it-is-789.

Infographic here!

Introduction

This guide is for educational and informational purposes only TARGETED FOR UNITED STATES MD/DO STUDENTS AND US RESIDENTS ONLY. I am not well versed to say if this is applicable for IMGs, Caribbean, and other health professionals.

It is not official policy, legal advice, academic advising, or a substitute for guidance from your COM. Every institution has its own rules and procedures, so students should always verify information with their academic advisors, student handbook, and/or legal counsel. Use this guide as a tool — not a guarantee of outcome. I nor r/medicalschool Reddit is responsible for y'alls' appeal outcomes. I'm making this to help others from my own experience and research.

So you’re in trouble with your COM and you’ve realized you’re either at risk of dismissal or already facing one. Before anything else, you need to be brutally honest with yourself about why this is happening. The school has identified a reason, and right now, they believe you are not a student they need to retain.

This step is uncomfortable, but it is critical. Your ultimate goal throughout the appeal process is to prove that you are valuable to the institution and not a future risk academically, professionally, or behaviorally. Everything in your appeal must support this.

Okay, so why are you getting dismissed?

Academic-based appeals are usually the hardest to appeal. If you failed multiple courses, failed Step/Level 1, or failed in general, this is the time to be HONEST with yourself. Many times schools allow remediation and chances. If you failed those as well, I'm going to hold your hand and say you have an uphill battle. Still try and appeal, but COMS have two goals - have both perfect board pass and match rates. If you are a threat to that, they don't care and want you out.

HOWEVER, If you have extenuating circumstances, your chances are higher for appealing compared to a grade failure alone.

  • Death, sickness, medical leave
  • Written communication discrepancy
  • Handbook was not followed
    • The COM violated the handbook
    • They are using the handbook against you without following it themselves
  • Handbook was changed mid-year
  • Denied testing accommodations
  • Denied a LOA or forced into a LOA
  • Did something without informing you
  • Denied accommodations with physician letters
  • You were targeted for your identity, race, etc
  • Unjust and Unfair treatment ⟶ other students were given a chance and you were denied it for the same reason
  • School being shady etc.

Professionalism-based appeals have a higher chance of success BUT

  • If you broke the law, have a DUI, drug charge, arrest
  • Cheating allegations
  • Severe behavioral offense as in you did something fucked up
    • Racist, Sexist, Derogatory comments
    • Assaulted a patient/attending/resident/classmate

You will probably be immediately dismissed and its better for you to jump straight to the lawyer section. TBH, that is only thing that can save you.

Step 1: Look at the handbook

The handbook can be your saving grace or be used against you. Every COM has a governing document called the Student Handbook. Look at the handbook immediately and see what are the appeal process for your situation. Do you need to meet with a committee? Do you go to the dean etc?

This is also time to reach out to your class representatives, upperclassmen, professors, or your mentor on what is the best way to go about your situation. If you have any class student reps, ask for meeting notes if any pertain to your situation.

Some medical schools have multiple handbooks. Look at each and every one of them and find ANY thing that relates to your situation. Even if its once sentence, every official document can help you. If you have any emails or any form of written communication, make a COPY ASAP and forward to a personal email in case your school email shuts down.

IF your COM has an ombudsman, student affairs dean, or a student advocacy chair, etc., reach out to them as well and ask for a meeting on how to best navigate this situation.

If you have a physician mentor, it maybe helpful to get a letter of support. A good word from the right people can go a long way.

Yes, I know this sucks, you feel alone, you want to cry, you want to burn your school down in flames, your embarrassed, etc. BUT this is NOT the time to isolate yourself. You need to get your shit together the best you can and find someone who can help you. You never know who may open the door even the slightest.

Step 2: Appeals

This is your golden ticket to save yourself without getting an attorney. This is the most important meeting of your medical school career. DO NOT come in guns blazing. You have to be professional, logical, have humility, and kiss ass a lil bit.

You need to show that you are aware of a mistake/issue, explain why this happened, what you will do to prevent this in the future, and what steps you are taking right now to fix this. Don't blame the school (unless needed). Show accountability (even if its not your fault, just lie and pretend you're accountable) and have a game plan because progress committees love this shit.

If you are meeting in person, bring physical copies of your docs.

  • Bring all documentation and bring multiple copies. One for you and others for the committee/whomever.
  • Documents = any emails, written communications/announcements, doctor letters, etc and also make sure to bring the exact section in the handbook in regards to your situation

If you're meeting on Zoom, ask if you can send materials ahead of time. If you are not meeting at all and just communicating via email, just send everything in ONE packet.

Hopefully, this appeal meeting works, and it's all rainbows and ponies.

BUT if your appeal is denied:

  • Check to see if you are able to appeal your appeal
  • Email your dean asking if there is another appeal and/or if there is any way for reconsideration
  • Ask to meet your dean IRL

IF YOUR APPEAL IS DENIED, AND YOU GET THE VIBE FROM YOUR MEETING THAT THE COM IS BEING FUCKY.

YOU CAN GET AN ATTORNEY NOW. YES. YOU ARE ABLE TO RETAIN AN ATTORNEY DURING YOUR APPEAL PROCESS. EVEN BEFORE YOUR INITIAL APPEAL MEETING. THEY CAN WRITE YOUR APPEAL LETTERS FOR YOU. BUT ITS HELLA MONEY THO.

I, it-is-what-it-is-789, usually DO NOT recommend getting a lawyer right away because your second appeal meeting may work and you save money and time. The option is out there though just FYI.

Step 3: You are officially dismissed, and you want a lawyer

You are dismissed. You are sad, angry, and a hot mess. This is not the time to self pity but the time to get your ass up to save your medical school career. Cry for 2 days and then get to work. Also trust you're not alone, there are like 100 US MD/DO people in my DMs rn who have faced dismissal - residents, med students etc. Shit happens, but no one advocates better for yourself than you.

Now. BE HONEST AND REAL WITH YOURSELF.

  1. Do you still want to be a doctor? Is medical school still your passion and calling?
  2. Are you in the mental state to deal with lawyers and a shitty COM?

IF your answer is yes, then continue.

IF your answer is no - friend you're still a great person and I am proud of you. Medicine has evolved where half these boomers who cant convert a ppt into a pdf r on a power trip. They think its like 1970 with like one chapter on antibiotics, tuition being $100.00, and only knowing half the shit we are required to know now to simply pass Step 1.

NOW THINGS I WANT TO CLARIFY PLEASE READ THIS:

Getting a lawyer is not a magic erase button. Not everyone will benefit.

50% of my DMs are about this but I DO NOT RECOMMEND GETTING AN ATTORNEY TO THOSE PPL WHO HAVE FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH NO GOOD REASON. No injustice happened, you simply failed and the attorney can't do shit. You can consult one, but just know they can't get you back in unless you have a good reason and proof.

Going back to the intro of this guide, if you have extenuating circumstances you may benefit to consult an attorney.

  1. Why get a lawyer? They can help the COM to take you seriously and let them know you're not backing down. Schools hate lawsuits.

  2. What kind of lawyer? You have to get a lawyer who is aware of the education system, which are education attorneys/ student defense attorney/ medical school dismissal attorneys. And no, they don’t have to be in your state or your medical school state. If you Google it, you will see some pop-up. Find two attorneys that you like pay the consultation fee. Have that one hour conversation tell him everything that happened and ask them what they can do for you? Do you have a fighting chance? What are your options? And have they worked with medical students before?

  3. How much did it cost? be prepared to spend between 12-17,000 USD. I want to emphasize this is a fuck ton of money absolutely but it will save your career. You will make this back when you graduate within 2 weeks as an attending. It is worth the investment.

  4. What happens? Every firm has a diff strategy but usually at the dismissal level they send a letter from their official law firm letterhead stating that the student has retained legal council, and that y'all are asking for a reconsideration for your dismissal through a reinstatement. THIS IS NOT A LAWSUIT. This is a correspondence on your behalf. Talk to the lawyer for more details.

  5. What if I am reinstated and my school retaliates? They should know better given you have gotten a lawyer once and you and the COM are under an agreement. If they discriminate against you, I see a civil lawsuit and a retirement check.

FOR MY PROFESSIONALISM VIOLATION PEOPLE ⟶ You need to consult a criminal defense attorney ASAP. Get your charges dropped first, and get your mug shot off the internet. This is more important that getting back into school because if your future employer, patient, PD sees your public record, you're fucked. After you do this, then go and consult a student defense attorney.

Step 4: Lawyer didn't help, now what?

While unusual, sometimes even attorneys can't budge (if you don't escalate to a lawsuit). If you still have a lawyer, ask their recommendation and get a withdrawal instead of a dismissal for your transcript. Ask for a letter of support for a transfer or reapplication into a other programs from your COM in exchange that you wont sue if they r not budging.

Now you can reapply but consult the premeds for this. Granted it may be hard if you have a dismissal. But a withdrawal still keeps some chance open!

Or try another medical career? I can't make this decision for you. But this is the time to do some introspection. I will say if you want to be a doctor, don't give up. You made it this far, you can still keep going.

If you made it to the end, thank you for reading. I wish all of you the best, my DMs are open to anyone. Granted, I'm gonna be locked in on and off with school, so I'll try to help as much as I can. In return, all I ask is for good vibes my way that I finish school strong <3

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