applying as disadvantaged

[predentalstudent58394]

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What are everyone's thoughts on applying as disadvantaged? Will it hurt or help my application?

 

[SmileswithKammy]

What are everyone's thoughts on applying as disadvantaged? Will it hurt or help my application?

Well are you actually disadvantaged? If so, please explain.

 

[predentalstudent58394]

Well are you actually disadvantaged? If so, please explain.

I believe so..I am a first generation college student and was emancipated at age 16 due to various issues with my parents (drugs, in and out of jail, etc). I have no relationship with either parent and work my way through school. Do you think explaining this would be beneficial?

 

[SmileswithKammy]

I believe so..I am a first generation college student and was emancipated at age 16 due to various issues with my parents (drugs, in and out of jail, etc). I have no relationship with either parent and work my way through school. Do you think explaining this would be beneficial?

First off, congratulations for overcoming adversity in your life. Mad respect there. And yes! I think it would be great to integrate this into your Personal Statement, however I don’t know if it will hold and solidarity under being disadvantaged. Im not quite familiar with what counts as being disadvantaged, but I say do it. It’s an amazing story and I’m sure it will catch the eyes of adcoms if you have solid stats as well. You have an amazing platform to tell a story for your PS, which equally important as your the rest of your application. Cheers and best of luck to you!

 

[predentalstudent58394]

First off, congratulations for overcoming adversity in your life. Mad respect there. And yes! I think it would be great to integrate this into your Personal Statement, however I don’t know if it will hold and solidarity under being disadvantaged. I feel as if you list yourself as disadvantaged and they see that you listed those reasons, they would just look past it because it isn’t a true evidence of being “disadvantaged”. I know many students who are first generation grads and have had several run-ins with the law, but I don’t think it qualifies as being disadvantaged. On the bright side you have a solid platform to tell your story for your PS, which is more important. Cheers and best of luck to you!

Thank you! and I'm sorry if I wasn't clear but I didn't go to jail myself lol. My parents were the ones that were struggling with drug issues which led to me becoming emancipated. Sorry if that was confusing! Thank you for your input!

 

[SmileswithKammy]

Thank you! and I'm sorry if I wasn't clear but I didn't go to jail myself lol. My parents were the ones that were struggling with drug issues which led to me becoming emancipated. Sorry if that was confusing! Thank you for your input!

Not a problem at all! And I think it’s still a great topic to speak about in your PS! If you show evidence of overcoming adversity, especially to this extent, it can help you with many aspects in life. (Dentistry aside)

 

[Lau Sang]

If you worked through school without support from family, there are very few applicants who can claim to be more disadvantaged than you are...
You're like the poster child for disadvantage. If you're thinking being "disadvantaged," is being a certain race, that is not the case.

 

[surfline]

If you worked through school without support from family, there are very few applicants who can claim to be more disadvantaged than you are...
You're like the poster child for disadvantage. If you're thinking being "disadvantaged," is being a certain race, that is not the case.

This^

I would write a disadvantaged statement explaining those hardships you’ve faced

 

[predentalstudent58394]

If you worked through school without support from family, there are very few applicants who can claim to be more disadvantaged than you are...
You're like the poster child for disadvantage. If you're thinking being "disadvantaged," is being a certain race, that is not the case.

Thank you for your reply! You're right about the race part as I am not a URM.

 

[rebecca_chatul_tov]

What counts as disadvantaged is open to interpretation. I think ADCOMS have left it open for this very reason as it can give additional insight to a candidate's view of themselves.

For example, I have read a thread by someone whose parents thought that he should claim disadvantaged status because they felt were harassed for being of south Asian ancestry because they were investigated by HUD at one their several rental properties and also because some kids called him "gay" in 8th grade (note the OP stated he wasn't gay). Although he was a URM (many schools do not include Asians in their estimates for UMR due to them doing better than black and Latino students statistically) his experiences didn't hold the same weight as your struggles growing up. The way that he explained his situation came across as being very out of touch with reality.

I have sort of a similar background. I was lucky enough to have relatives that took me in, so I was living with a legal guardian when I graduated from HS. It's very rare that a judge will bless off an emancipation versus slapping a kid into a foster home, so you obviously had your act together at a young age. You are good to weigh in as disadvantaged regardless of race or ethnicity. Most people that face these sorts of obstacles don't go on to college. Give yourself permission to own it.