AMCAS financial background questions

[kstorm]

I was with a friend and she showed me her AMCAS application and there were two questions I was wondering about.

1) "employment before 18?"

-can I answer "yes" if I did independent tutoring (tutored family friends and got other referrals through them for pay). I did other miscellaneous things like babysitting as well.

2) "contributions to family?"

-I did not work in college so should I answer "no"? this is referring to college right? or is it referring to HS?

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[Save a life]

My guess is that you should answer no to the first one about employment before 18 unless you actually worked for a company or your tutoring was very extensive.

For the second one you would say yes if you contributed significantly to your parents family (e.g. Worked during HS to help pay the family bills or babysat your little brother everyday). You would also say yes if you have started your own family and are married.

 

[kstorm]

My guess is that you should answer no to the first one about employment before 18 unless you actually worked for a company or your tutoring was very extensive.

For the second one you would say yes if you contributed significantly to your parents family (e.g. Worked during HS to help pay the family bills or babysat your little brother everyday). You would also say yes if you have started your own family and are married.

I think I remember putting the money I made on FAFSA for college. It wasn't that much money but I definitely did report whatever I made on there. Does it really matter if it's extensive or not? Employment is employment not matter how long, right?

For the second question I feel like in HS at the time I had this view that I did contribute because at times when money was tight I helped out a little but it wasn't really anything significant and it was rare. I can't recall if FAFSA from that year (hs->college) asked anything like that but if they asked if I contributed to family income I probably said "yes" though right now I don't think I feel comfortable answering yes to this question on a medical school application because it doesn't compare to the applicants who actually have to work to help their families pay rent, put food on the table, etc. I'm wondering if it would be ok to answer "no" to the second question. I'm still unsure if it's asking about college or HS years.

 

[LizzyM]

Did you make money before you turned 18?
Did the money you earned as a kid help pay the bills (e.g. gas, electric, rent, etc)?