Disadvantaged--do I claim?

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LifeTake2

LifeTake2

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After reading everything I can find I think I clearly fit the definition; but should I and does anyone have a feel as to the pros/cons of doing so?

Summary:
*Mom dropped out of high-school to have me, did earn GED years later but no further.
*Raised by single mom, near constant food-stamps, medicaid, welfare, etc.
*Placed in group home at 13 for 3 years then moved to kinship foster-care; never lived with my mother again.
*Tried college @ 18, dropped out after a year due to lack of support from family.
*After getting married returned to school part-time while working full-time and earned BS & Master's that I paid (am paying) for.
*Made a decision to pursue medicine (several year progression); now dirt poor while taking pre-reqs.

While my 'current' status qualifies for me for the fee waivers; it is my childhood that would make for disadvantaged. Just curious thoughts or opinions as I have spent most of my adult life NOT acknowledging to the world what it was like 'back then'.

Thanks,
 
LifeTake2 said:
After reading everything I can find I think I clearly fit the definition; but should I and does anyone have a feel as to the pros/cons of doing so?

Summary:
*Mom dropped out of high-school to have me, did earn GED years later but no further.
*Raised by single mom, near constant food-stamps, medicaid, welfare, etc.
*Placed in group home at 13 for 3 years then moved to kinship foster-care; never lived with my mother again.
*Tried college @ 18, dropped out after a year due to lack of support from family.
*After getting married returned to school part-time while working full-time and earned BS & Master's that I paid (am paying) for.
*Made a decision to pursue medicine (several year progression); now dirt poor while taking pre-reqs.

While my 'current' status qualifies for me for the fee waivers; it is my childhood that would make for disadvantaged. Just curious thoughts or opinions as I have spent most of my adult life NOT acknowledging to the world what it was like 'back then'.

Thanks,
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I'm just reacting- so forgive me if this sounds insensitive. I don't think you should "claim" anything as your current situation since it's over and done. (I don't have an understanding of that exactly- will it reward you with something besides a reduced fee/waiver?)
What you should do (IMO) is include your struggle as part of your upward trend story. Clearly you've pulled up! You overcame your surroundings, so your momma did something right. 😀
 
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You should definitely claim disadvantaged status. One thing you will need to learn in the fight to get into medical school is that everyone else is using what they have to get the leg up to gain that acceptance. I claimed disadvantaged for the same reasons and was never asked about it in the end but it helped me get where I need to be. Now is not the time to second guess yourself, leave your pride in the closet and do what you have to do to get where you want. This was a hard lesson learned for me as I didn't want any "special treatment". Bottom line: If you don't use what is out there, someone else will and it may cost you an acceptance in the end. Medical schools get funding for having a well rounded class and having under represented and minorities accepted. DO IT, don't think twice.
 
Your childhood was disadvantaged. From 0-18, you were disadvantaged. That is what the status applies to. It doesn't matter if at 19 you won the lottery and wrote a check for 4 years.
 
This is incorrect. Disadvantage refers to childhood. You should definitely claim it. On the AMCAS application there is a box where you have to describe why you feel that you are disadvantaged so don't worry, schools will know exactly why you chose to claim it and can also agree or disagree with you, though in your case they would be more inclined to agree.

CookDeRosa said:
I'm just reacting- so forgive me if this sounds insensitive. I don't think you shouldn't "claim" anything as your current situation since it's over and done. (I don't have an understanding of that exactly- will it reward you with something besides a reduced fee/waiver?)
What you should do (IMO) is include your struggle as part of your upward trend story. Clearly you've pulled up! You overcame your surroundings, so your momma did something right. 😀
Click to expand...
 
Yes, what you have described qualifies you to claim disadvantaged status. You will be given the opportunity to write an essay explaining your background, and you can also discuss it in your PS if you feel that it is relevant to your decision to become a physician. As cabinbuilder said, there is no good reason to let pride deter you from telling people how far you've come to get to where you are. As the admissions dean at my med school puts it, we look at distance traveled, not just the endpoint reached. It is more than reasonable for someone who has overcome the obstacles you have overcome to have that fact taken under consideration with respect to admissions decisions.

(For the record, I am telling you this based on four years of having served as a student adcom at my med school.)
 
mspeedwagon said:
This is incorrect. Disadvantage refers to childhood. You should definitely claim it. On the AMCAS application there is a box where you have to describe why you feel that you are disadvantaged so don't worry, schools will know exactly why you chose to claim it and can also agree or disagree with you, though in your case they would be more inclined to agree.
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Thanks, I misunderstood the application of the term.
 
I'm curious, what parts exactly about his/her story make him/her disadvantaged? I'm genuinely curious, as I don't know the rules. My background is somewhat similar, so it will help me to know the lines between are/are not.
 
lsu hopeful said:
I'm curious, what parts exactly about his/her story make him/her disadvantaged? I'm genuinely curious, as I don't know the rules. My background is somewhat similar, so it will help me to know the lines between are/are not.
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Poor, bad homelife, support self at young age (econ or otherwise).
 
QofQuimica said:
As the admissions dean at my med school puts it, we look at distance traveled, not just the endpoint reached.
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Hmm...

I had a miserable, poor and violent childhood with too much responsibility. Given my adult financial status and stability, I had not considered claiming disadvantaged status.

It would be nice to have an extra essay to explain my background but I do not feel at all comfortable with claiming disadvantage.

Dismissing pride and dignity is much easier for someone who has always had it and been treated with it. For those of us who have truly climbed out of the muck, those are qualities we hold quite dear.
 
Eik Ooc said:
Dismissing pride and dignity is much easier for someone who has always had it and been treated with it. For those of us who have truly climbed out of the muck, those are qualities we hold quite dear.
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You sir/ma'am, speak the truth. Every time I have to write an essay of how I'm disadvantaged or something, I feel like I'm crumbling within.
 
If you don't feel like claiming disadvantaged, you don't have to.

I, for one, am going to do so. I take great pride in the fact that I did what I had to do to get where I am today. It shows a strength of character that a lot of people do not have.
 
familyaerospace said:
If you don't feel like claiming disadvantaged, you don't have to.

I, for one, am going to do so. I take great pride in the fact that I did what I had to do to get where I am today. It shows a strength of character that a lot of people do not have.
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I completely agree. This is not to say that either side is wrong, because both have their benefits for moral sanity.

My own opinion: When I heard a gentleman who has an incredibly successful business speaking about how he was in the holocaust, hiding in sewers, eating rats, etc., I didn't feel as though this man had lost his pride or dignity in telling the story of how he rose from the ashes. Quite the opposite.
 
Eik Ooc said:
Dismissing pride and dignity is much easier for someone who has always had it and been treated with it. For those of us who have truly climbed out of the muck, those are qualities we hold quite dear.
Click to expand...
Not sure if this was specifically directed at me, but if so, my intention was to dismiss neither. That the OP is asking this question in the first place suggests to me that s/he would like to claim disadvantaged status if it applies. The answer is that it does, and there is no good externally imposed reason not to claim it. Basically, I would argue that one should not decide to avoid claiming disadvantaged status because of being too proud to ask for help. We all need to ask for help at times.

I would also argue against assuming that anyone who doesn't share your specific background must have "always had (pride and dignity) and been treated with it." I have yet to meet the person who has never suffered from being on the receiving side of rankism in some form. If there is such a person and they go into medicine, they will quickly discover that unfortunately, medical training is replete with it.

All that being said, if you don't feel comfortable claiming disadvantaged status for whatever reason, no one will force you to do so. I don't agree with that choice if you're making it because you are too "proud" to ask for help that you feel you legitimately need. But I certainly affirm your right to make that choice.
 
lsu hopeful said:
I completely agree. This is not to say that either side is wrong, because both have their benefits for moral sanity.

My own opinion: When I heard a gentleman who has an incredibly successful business speaking about how he was in the holocaust, hiding in sewers, eating rats, etc., I didn't feel as though this man had lost his pride or dignity in telling the story of how he rose from the ashes. Quite the opposite.
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You definitely don't lose your pride or dignity having to take the hard road when it's the only one to travel, but there is a difficulty, at least to me, in having to expose this because eventually you get the sense "I have earned my way out of that. Why fill out this form about being disadvantaged? I don't want it being given easier to me just because."
 
TriagePreMed said:
You definitely don't lose your pride or dignity having to take the hard road when it's the only one to travel, but there is a difficulty, at least to me, in having to expose this because eventually you get the sense "I have earned my way out of that. Why fill out this form about being disadvantaged? I don't want it being given easier to me just because."
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I don't want to belabor the argument because I don't think you're wrong; I don't think there is a right or wrong for this... however, I want to point out that by that logic, you shouldn't mention your good grades, your volunteering, etc.. It's all a part of your journey, so if AMCAS and/or adcoms want to know, which they clearly do want to know about your grades, volunteering, and any disadvantaged history you may have, I think there's a reason for that, and it's not to give you a leg up on the competition. It's a part of the package that makes you who you are.

Just my 2cents, definitely not trying to start a huge discussion on this, as I'm sure we could all better use our time studying. :laugh:
 
lsu hopeful said:
I don't want to belabor the argument because I don't think you're wrong; I don't think there is a right or wrong for this... however, I want to point out that by that logic, you shouldn't mention your good grades, your volunteering, etc.. It's all a part of your journey, so if AMCAS and/or adcoms want to know, which they clearly do want to know about your grades, volunteering, and any disadvantaged history you may have, I think there's a reason for that, and it's not to give you a leg up on the competition. It's a part of the package that makes you who you are.

Just my 2cents, definitely not trying to start a huge discussion on this, as I'm sure we could all better use our time studying. :laugh:
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I agree with you that ADCOMS want that and that you're not asking for a leg up, but my point is to explain an emotional undertone that exists. Like it or not, society is vocal about the idea that people in these situations want a handout and many of us try really hard to change that perception.
 
QofQuimica said:
All that being said, if you don't feel comfortable claiming disadvantaged status for whatever reason, no one will force you to do so. I don't agree with that choice if you're making it because you are too "proud" to ask for help that you feel you legitimately need. But I certainly affirm your right to make that choice.
Click to expand...


Western ethics are in large part based on Kantian musings like the ethics of consent. If an advantage in a highly competitive process is given to those who select disadvantaged status then such selection is not truly voluntary.
 
Eik Ooc said:
Western ethics are in large part based on Kantian musings like the ethics of consent. If an advantage in a highly competitive process is given to those who select disadvantaged status then such selection is not truly voluntary.
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It doesn't açtually give them an advantage; the vast majority of med students still come from middle çlass and upper middle class backgrounds. Think of it more like a handicap in golf. The goal is to level the playing field so that those who can't afford $2000 test prep courses and who don't grow up in suburban neighborhoods with great public schools aren't at as much of a disadvantage when competing with those who do have access to these things. So if you attend an unselective college and get a 28 MCAT with no help, but someone else gets a 28 MCAT after taking test prep courses and attending an expensive private college that has an established record of getting its grads into professional schools, is it really true that both people did equally well on the MCAT just because the number on their scoresheets is the same? If you agree that their scores aren't actually equal in terms of what it took to get them, then it makes sense to expect the second person to perform better given that they have such superior resources, and to set up a handicap system accordingly.
 
I also qualify for "disadvantaged" my mom was a single mom, raised my sister and I... She remarried at one point, because the guy was an accountant and made a bunch of money, turns out he was an abusive drunk... she left, so we were poor again, but at least not being abused by a drunk... I am with the poster who said that everyone else is using whatever method they can to get a leg up, I will too... Additionally, I think med schools appreciate that people from our backgrounds are at their door versus the rich kids who have everything handed to them on a platter, have never had a bad day in their lives, and have never failed at anything because mommy and daddy made sure they couldn't fail...
 
SBB2016 said:
I think med schools appreciate that people from our backgrounds are at their door versus the rich kids who have everything handed to them on a platter, have never had a bad day in their lives, and have never failed at anything because mommy and daddy made sure they couldn't fail...
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^^^ This

Med schools are seeking a "diverse" student population, which entails selecting students with more than a background of "my daddy was a doctor, his daddy was a doctor, and his daddy was a doctor....so I'm going to be a doctor." The "neither of my parents went to college, I had no financial support, I suffered at times but pulled myself up by my bootstraps and got it done" stories are inspiring, compelling, and typically advantageous for those that arose over those disadvantages, whatever they might be. They show drive, character, and a lot of maturity in an applicant, and that is exactly what the adcoms are looking for.

If your numbers have suffered as mine did a bit through your undergrad, because you maxed out student loans and still couldn't afford some of your text books, or food at times, then why wouldn't you claim those disadvantages? I imagine I certainly would have done better if I had no financial concerns through college and my parents were supportive, but I got through, went on to get a master's and am now applying to med schools hoping they see more than my GPA on my application. I certainly don't feel "weaker" for claiming that I'm disadvantaged. There's no shame in my game.
 
Quik said:
^^^ This

Med schools are seeking a "diverse" student population, which entails selecting students with more than a background of "my daddy was a doctor, his daddy was a doctor, and his daddy was a doctor....so I'm going to be a doctor." The "neither of my parents went to college, I had no financial support, I suffered at times but pulled myself up by my bootstraps and got it done" stories are inspiring, compelling, and typically advantageous for those that arose over those disadvantages, whatever they might be. They show drive, character, and a lot of maturity in an applicant, and that is exactly what the adcoms are looking for.

If your numbers have suffered as mine did a bit through your undergrad, because you maxed out student loans and still couldn't afford some of your text books, or food at times, then why wouldn't you claim those disadvantages? I imagine I certainly would have done better if I had no financial concerns through college and my parents were supportive, but I got through, went on to get a master's and am now applying to med schools hoping they see more than my GPA on my application. I certainly don't feel "weaker" for claiming that I'm disadvantaged. There's no shame in my game.
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👍
 
I didn't feel ashamed to claim disadvantaged status because of financial and educational hardships early in my life. I have used my story to encourage and mentor other inner city kids who aspire to be doctors/scientists/mathematicians and attend schools in which many classmates struggle with material years behind their grade levels. It is not easy to catch up in college without preparation and without the support of advisors who believe you should be happy with the lot in which you were cast early on in life. My background has given me many of my values, as well as my career goals, and it will always be a part of me--neither good nor bad, neither something of which to use to get a leg up nor something of which I should hide from those who did not have those experiences.
 
Would growing up in a 3rd world country count? I was born and lived in Pakistan until age 12.
 
unholymosquito said:
Would growing up in a 3rd world country count? I was born and lived in Pakistan until age 12.
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Probably....depends on what happened after 12.

If your dad is a neurosurgeon and you moved to an estate in the Hamptons and lived in luxury than the time in Pakistan isn't going to cut it.

If you lived a more traditional 1st generation immigrant childhood; then yes this could likely qualify.

There is no hard rules, you decide if you are disadvantaged. Guidelines are based upon things such as did you get food stamps/welfare as a child, when did you have your first job (that actually helped pay bills), ect.
 
Even if your first job was only to support yourself, but you were 16 it still counts if your parents were 'poor' for the area. My mom was a single mom, we had food stamps, etc with the exception of a couple years when she was married to an alcoholic, and when I turned 17 and she remarried, we were poor, my sister and I had to work to have our own clothes, gas money, insurance for the car, etc... If the job was to support the family, you get bonus points 😉 Take the extra help if you can get it!
 
It sounds like you have transcended much adversity. However, this transcending adversity is likely true for many folks. I too had a very difficult childhood but it is not my intention to claim disadvantage.

I think you are better of focusing on your success and committment. In your essay you may want to touch upon how your life experience has helped you develop compassion. Other than that, I would stay don't get caught in the trap of playing the violin or claiming disadvantage.

_____
But I should add, my father was a migrant worker and I am Chicana. So I will mark that I'm Chicana on the box. For some reason this feels ok to me - I guess because it's just a fact. Disadvantaged (I'm from extremely 'disadvantage' background on all fronts, but I do not care to air my dirty laundry to tell just how bad it was), on the other hand, is subjective. Plus I am no longer disadvantaged - I'm away from my crazy family. I'm educated, married to a successful man and live a upper middle class life. On the other hand, I am still Chicana... that will never change.

I honestly think Americans are 'too soft'. Everybody suffers. It's part of life.
 
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Well I just noticed that you are 'dirt poor', and from the sounds of it still quite young (under 30). In that case, given your background, I think it is legit to claim disadvantaged.
 
mafunk said:
Well I just noticed that you are 'dirt poor', and from the sounds of it still quite young (under 30). In that case, given your background, I think it is legit to claim disadvantaged.
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Just to clarify I'm not sure where my signature when in my 1st post---but if this comment was pointed at me I'm 35, father of 8 and 10+yrs management in the Japanese mfg industry so definitely not 'quite young' 🙂
 
mafunk said:
... don't get caught in the trap of playing the violin or claiming disadvantage.
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TriagePreMed said:
...society is vocal about the idea that people in these situations want a handout and many of us try really hard to change that perception.
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You can claim your disadvantaged background without making it about asking for a handout. That's what I did.

State the facts about your disadvantaged background, then relate them to your interest in medicine.
  • Abused as a child?
    Relate it to child abuse.
    ​
  • Grew up poor?
    Relate it to nutrition, health literacy, education, etc.
    ​
  • Grew up speaking a different language?
    Talk about ethnic barriers to good healthcare.
    ​
  • Grew up in a rural area?
    Talk about how we need more rural physicians.
    ​
...you get the idea.


Nobody likes a complainer. Sounding like a whiner is going to hurt you whether it's in the disadvantaged-background essay, your personal statement, or your interview. Avoid that like the plague. Focus on what you learned from your background. Everything in your application should be about "why you should pick me." Growing up disadvantaged is arguably not in itself a reason to pick someone. But if you learned something from that background that someone else didn't learn then you've got something to talk about.
 
TriagePreMed said:
You sir/ma'am, speak the truth. Every time I have to write an essay of how I'm disadvantaged or something, I feel like I'm crumbling within.
Click to expand...

I feel you! I've spent many years trying to distance myself from being 'disadvantaged'. Yes, I want to help the under served. But, no, I don't want to rehash all the details of my own less than rosy childhood to a bunch of people whom I want to respect me and treat me as an equal.
 
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