Advice on how to include SES background + Med-MAR guidance

[newmagra]

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I'm planning to apply next cycle and am currently registering for the MCAT. I had a few questions about Med-MAR eligibility and how socioeconomic status is evaluated by med schools (especially when some parts of the application may seem contradictory to demographics) For context, my sister and I cut contact with both of our parents due to longstanding physical abuse. My sister had a baby right around this time as well. Although we became financially independent, our parents still claimed us as dependents for another two years, which meant I didn’t qualify for federal need-based aid until my Junior year. By that point, I qualified for the Pell Grant, but I didn’t accept it because I already had a full academic scholarship through my university. I supported myself with SNAP benefits and was on Medicaid while also helping to support my sister and her kid who lived with me at that time. However, when registering for the MCAT, I still listed my parents' last known occupation, which definitely does not accurately reflect my actual financial situation throughout college.

Here are my main questions:
- Even though I didn't accept the Pell Grant, will med schools still see that I qualified for it? And is this something I should try to clarify somewhere in my application?
- Would it be appropriate for me to indicate low socioeconomic status and opt into Med-MAR? I’m a white male and I know that Med-MAR is set up for low-ses folks as well but I worry about it being seen as me taking advantage of this program considering I also listed my parents occupations, which would likely disqualify me
- Should I even be listing my parents' occupations? I called the AAMC and got advice on this on two different occasions and one told me to put "Don't known" while the other told me to list their last known occupation
- My big question is: Am I setting myself up for skepticism from admissions committees? On paper, some of my demographics (like parental occupation or lack of Pell acceptance) probably does not align with what schools typically expect from low-SES applicants, even though I would definitely consider myself to be low-ses and feel that this definitely impacted my application.

I understand that I could explain parts of this in the “Other Impactful Experiences” section. That said, this situation is still ongoing and definitely not central to why I chose to pursue medicine. I'm concerned that including too much personal background will either look like I'm overcompensating or like I’m trying to grub for scholarships that my demographics don't qualify me for. But leaving it out also feels like I'm omitting lots of important context. Has anyone gone through something similar or have thoughts on how best to handle this in the application?

 

[LizzyM]

"Med-MAR serves only as a means of identifying and communicating the availability of applicants from groups who self-identify as underrepresented in medicine and/or as economically disadvantaged [to medical schools]. No attempt is made by Med-MAR to advise students where to apply or to influence any admissions decisions."

So, this is very, very low stakes. If you want to be on a mailing list and receive information from schools that are trying to recruit URM candidates (including those who are low income), then sign up. No one is going to check carefully. You have nothing to lose but IMHO, little to gain, by getting into this registry.

 

[LizzyM]

BTW, your AMCAS application will ask how you paid for school and you can show that you had a 100% merit scholarship or some combination of need based and merit aid.

I believe that parents' names and occupations is optional but it has been awhile since I looked at the instructions regarding that section.

Schools will base financial aid decisions on your FAFSA. You may need to report parental income or give a VERY STRONG reason for not doing so. That will determine what sort of aid you get, not anything else that might be in your application.