applying disadvantaged: pros and cons?

[beyondhuman]

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I can probably apply disadvantaged. rural background, government aid, low-income (single mother), and first generation college grad (even first to get a high school diploma).

However, I wasn't a boat person, immigrant, required to work to support my 17 little siblings, etc. and my gpa/mcat is probably about 1 s.d. over the average at my state schools (top picks)

If somebody can count as disadvantaged but isn't a shoo-in are there any drawbacks to applying disadvantaged or is it more like it will either help or just not count?

Additionally, are there any advantages of applying disadvantaged if I'm not hoping it will mitigate a low gpa/mcat (since mine are fine)?

thanks for your thoughts.

 

[sinombre]

I have no idea how it will affect your application, but I don't think the fact that I checked the disadvantaged box helped me at all. I had average-ish stats for the schools I applied to with a ton of ECs and full time work experience throughout undergrad in various clinical settings. I applied to 24 schools and only received 3 interviews, which resulted in 2 acceptances and 1 wait list. I doubt checking the box will hurt, but I also don't think it will result in any kind of boost.

This is of course coming from a single experience, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

 

[chillaxbro]

I didn't pick disadvantage and didn't get any acceptances...👎

 

[mystifire]

I checked it, had it come up in multiple interviews and became very defensive about it. I honestly didn't grow up in the hood on food stamps with no electricity but I felt that I faced many family challenges the average applicant doesn't. My parents are divorced and I lived with my mom who is on gov support although my father is quite well off. At first I felt a bit guilty because, true, some applicants have it worse with both parents. However I quickly disabused myself of that guilt as I met soooooo many applicants on the inteview trail who are from rich backgrounds and have it real good with their folks as far as $$ and support are concerned.

Looking back, I have to say that I think it definitely helped get me into some schools that were sympathetic while I got rejected from others that maybe thought I was lying after they got all up in my kool aid during interview and I became defensive. Also, I automatically became eligible for large quantities of additional financial aid funds at the school I am matriculating to.

Even though I was kinda unsure at first of whether I should check it, looking back I would check it again in a heartbeat with no second thought. If you fit the disadvantaged criteria then you are disadvantaged. If that helps you get accepted easier then so be it; why not take any advantage you can get. We dont make up the rules, we just play by them.

 

[Arbor Vitae]

Looking back, I have to say that I think it definitely helped get me into some schools that were sympathetic while I got rejected from others that maybe thought I was lying after they got all up in my kool aid during interview and I became defensive. Also, I automatically became eligible for large quantities of additional financial aid funds at the school I am matriculating to.

This. I had 1 interviewer who was immediately hostile out the gates, and jumped down my throat very time I opened my mouth. I also had people that seemed sympathetic. It really is subjective and depends on who reads your app. Just try and stay moderate in your explanation. I think mainly the Republican minded people take offense to it. Nothing you can do about it, just try and toe the line.

 

[circulus vitios]

What are the criteria for 'disadvantaged?' I don't consider myself disadvantaged from a broader context, but relative to the average medical school applicant I might be: first generation college student among immediate family, dad dropped out of high school and is a blue collar laborer, mom has high school diploma and works a low-level service industry job. I live in and grew up in a rural town, population of about 3000. I went to a rural and very blue collar/non-traditional university. My family is solidly middle with respect to income, and my parents did help pay for ~20% of my college education, but I had no 'support network' or academic help with regards with college or applying to medical school.

 

[BABSstudent]

I have no idea how it will affect your application, but I don't think the fact that I checked the disadvantaged box helped me at all. I had average-ish stats for the schools I applied to with a ton of ECs and full time work experience throughout undergrad in various clinical settings. I applied to 24 schools and only received 3 interviews, which resulted in 2 acceptances and 1 wait list. I doubt checking the box will hurt, but I also don't think it will result in any kind of boost.

This is of course coming from a single experience, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

Yep. I felt like I did not get any significant boost for interviews. I was asked about it in one interview and it was only one question. Nothing in depth, just a casual question. My background involves homelessness, a stepparent that made meth, having to work in high school to help support family, first in family to go to college and I didn't get any love for acceptances.

I did get offered a substantial scholarship for it though. I turned it down to attend a different school too. So in the end it didn't help me.

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

My understanding is that schools will start to use the new demographic data section to calculate SES scores regardless of whether you checked the box.

 

[earf]

This. I had 1 interviewer who was immediately hostile out the gates, and jumped down my throat very time I opened my mouth. I also had people that seemed sympathetic. It really is subjective and depends on who reads your app. Just try and stay moderate in your explanation. I think mainly the Republican minded people take offense to it. Nothing you can do about it, just try and toe the line.

I had a similar experience at one school: they asked me since I was disadvantaged, how I afforded to study abroad and volunteer internationally (along with pointing out every other potential red flag on my application). Worst interview experience ever, but I ended up getting accepted so I guess they must've liked my answers. Several other schools asked me about it and I think it did indeed help me show my motivation, perseverance, and resiliency in the face of adversity.

You should mark disadvantaged because it provides the admissions committee more context and background about who you are and the experiences surrounding that, things that you may not even see. It will definitely show that you've overcome more challenges, shown resiliency in the face of adversity, and less enrichment opportunities that the privileged class don't specifically realize the "disadvantaged" class don't have. I'm not saying that people who don't check mark this box haven't overcome their own set of challenges and difficulties in their lives, but just different kinds that might have some sort of historical significance. It'll allow you to provide extra information on the context behind your motivation and your maturity, which I believe definitely does help schools learn more about why they should be impressed with you.

Marking this box puts you at a different baseline than those who don't check it off, which allows admissions committee to see the progress of your career development as a future physician. That's not to say that they will accept you if you're missing critical items in your application (shadowing, volunteering, research, ECs or other doctor-affirming activities), but they'll see how these opportunities might not have come as easy as those who don't have this box marked off.

For what it's worth, I applied with disadvantaged status because I was raised by a single mom with a mental illness on a salary of government supplemental security income (about $13k/yr) since 6th grade. I checked that box off, had below average GPA but above average MCAT, received 16 interviews and 3 acceptances. Don't feel guilty if your struggles aren't as "profound" as the next person because in the end, if you qualify for what they define as "disadvantaged," you should indicate it as such on your application.

Again, this is my opinion and I hope there wasn't anything that offended anyone in my post. Most of these points can probably be highly debated or even controversial, but it's to your advantage to have these debates and be acknowledge these issues during this application cycle to increase your self-awareness on where you stand as an applicant.

 

[mdclass]

Hi all, I'm not sure if this is the appropriate place to put this..but can someone please critique my diadvantaged claim: (I am not trying to sound whiny nor do I want to give off the impression that I have a chip on my shoulder-- that said, If I don't mention these factors, the adcoms wont know who I am)

I grew up in No Town, a neighborhood in Doesn't exist, NY that is home to mostly Hispanic immigrants and their families. Like many others in my neighborhood, my mother has worked in a factory since her arrival to the US, and my father has worked as a grocery store employee. My mother and father separated when I was five, worsening the burden on my mother to provide for my sister and me. We have received government assistance such as Medicaid and food stamps in the past. There are many aspects of my neighborhood that I love: the great variety of food, the vast ethnic diversity and the hard working nature of many of the families. However, the neighborhood schools lack the resources and instruction to help their students succeed, teen pregnancy is rampant and drug and alcohol abuse is common. The area is also underserved in health care due to large patient volumes far exceeding the available providers. Moreover, there are few primary care physicians in the area, prompting the population to overlook its importance. Despite these hardships, I am lucky to have had enough emotional and academic support to achieve my goals. My personal struggle has been a motivating force to give back by working to improve these situations. I hope to one day serve a population similar to my own

 

[BABSstudent]

Hi all, I'm not sure if this is the appropriate place to put this..but can someone please critique my diadvantaged claim: (I am not trying to sound whiny nor do I want to give off the impression that I have a chip on my shoulder-- that said, If I don't mention these factors, the adcoms wont know who I am)

I grew up in No Town, a neighborhood in Doesn't exist, NY that is home to mostly Hispanic immigrants and their families. Like many others in my neighborhood, my mother has worked in a factory since her arrival to the US, and my father has worked as a grocery store employee. My mother and father separated when I was five, worsening the burden on my mother to provide for my sister and me. We have received government assistance such as Medicaid and food stamps in the past. There are many aspects of my neighborhood that I love: the great variety of food, the vast ethnic diversity and the hard working nature of many of the families. However, the neighborhood schools lack the resources and instruction to help their students succeed, teen pregnancy is rampant and drug and alcohol abuse is common. The area is also underserved in health care due to large patient volumes far exceeding the available providers. Moreover, there are few primary care physicians in the area, prompting the population to overlook its importance. Despite these hardships, I am lucky to have had enough emotional and academic support to achieve my goals. My personal struggle has been a motivating force to give back by working to improve these situations. I hope to one day serve a population similar to my own

I don't really see anywhere that you were extremely disadvantaged. You grew up in a small town and it sounds like you used government aid (the definition AMCAS uses as being disadvantaged) for a short period of time, but that's it. Were you a teen that was pregnant? How were you affected by the drug use personally? Or were you just a passive observer of these? You used government aid, you sound like the first in your family to go to college and your parents divorced, which are the only "real" claims I believe you have. However, you made note that these were all in the past. Are you still affected by it all? if not, I wouldn't mark it because you are not going to get any "points" by reviewers.

Previously, someone asked about being disadvantaged because they grew up in poverty until they were 10 because their parent went back to school to be a NP. Once school was over, the family suddenly made over $100K per year and the person wanted to mark disadvantaged because of that first 10 years. Everyone told him not to do it because the last 8 years was him being extremely benefited by his parents' hard work more than how much he was hurt. He ended up applying as disadvantaged anyway.

In the end, like the person I told you about earlier, the decision to mark disadvantaged is up to you. Listing everything you did seems like you are complaining and whining about little details. You lack one major thing, how did this affect you. Thus, I would leave it out.

It sounds like you could use almost all of that in a secondary application though. That's where I would say something.

 

[circulus vitios]

I don't really see anywhere that you were extremely disadvantaged. You grew up in a small town and it sounds like you used government aid (the definition AMCAS uses as being disadvantaged) for a short period of time, but that's it. Were you a teen that was pregnant? How were you affected by the drug use personally? Or were you just a passive observer of these? You used government aid, you sound like the first in your family to go to college and your parents divorced, which are the only "real" claims I believe you have. However, you made note that these were all in the past. Are you still affected by it all? if not, I wouldn't mark it because you are not going to get any "points" by reviewers.

But when you mark disadvantaged on your AMCAS app, is it supposed to be relatively to the general population or relative to medical school applicants? I'd say the vast majority of medical school applicants are far better off than him. I mean the average matriculant's family pulls down about $120k/year, 50% of the fathers of matriculants have doctorate degrees, etc.

 

[BABSstudent]

But when you mark disadvantaged on your AMCAS app, is it supposed to be relatively to the general population or relative to medical school applicants? I'd say the vast majority of medical school applicants are far better off than him. I mean the average matriculant's family pulls down about $120k/year, 50% of the fathers of matriculants have doctorate degrees, etc.

I always took it as compared to the general population. I see how you could argue both ways, so pick which way you want to interpret it.

But the fact still remains, don't talk about stuff that didn't directly affect you. Unless you or someone close to you became pregnant as a teen (as stated by the question I answers above), how where you disadvantaged?

 

[mdclass]

Hmm... Perhaps I should rewrite this whole statement, then? I consider myself to be disadvsantaged. I am the first in my immediate family to graduate highschool and college. I wasn't affected by teen pregnancy myself, but my sister had her first child at 16, second at 24. she dropped out of highschool, got her ged then dropped out of an associate degree program. my family income has been less than 25,000 my whole life. still is. went to a really bad middle school, a better hs b/c of my own efforts and teacher support etc, and later graduated from an ivy league uni. again bc of my own efforts, scholarships etc. I wasn't trying to sound whiny, should be more specific with what I wrote? Thanks for the input, all! I appreciate it.

Edit: Also, I wasnt on aid a short time. I was on medicaid until college, at which time i was forced to purchase university insurrance, and now (during my year off) im under my work insurrance

I don't really see anywhere that you were extremely disadvantaged. You grew up in a small town and it sounds like you used government aid (the definition AMCAS uses as being disadvantaged) for a short period of time, but that's it. Were you a teen that was pregnant? How were you affected by the drug use personally? Or were you just a passive observer of these? You used government aid, you sound like the first in your family to go to college and your parents divorced, which are the only "real" claims I believe you have. However, you made note that these were all in the past. Are you still affected by it all? if not, I wouldn't mark it because you are not going to get any "points" by reviewers.

Previously, someone asked about being disadvantaged because they grew up in poverty until they were 10 because their parent went back to school to be a NP. Once school was over, the family suddenly made over $100K per year and the person wanted to mark disadvantaged because of that first 10 years. Everyone told him not to do it because the last 8 years was him being extremely benefited by his parents' hard work more than how much he was hurt. He ended up applying as disadvantaged anyway.

In the end, like the person I told you about earlier, the decision to mark disadvantaged is up to you. Listing everything you did seems like you are complaining and whining about little details. You lack one major thing, how did this affect you. Thus, I would leave it out.

It sounds like you could use almost all of that in a secondary application though. That's where I would say something.

 

[BABSstudent]

Hmm... Perhaps I should rewrite this whole statement, then? I consider myself to be disadvsantaged. I am the first in my immediate family to graduate highschool and college. I wasn't affected by teen pregnancy myself, but my sister had her first child at 16, second at 24. she dropped out of highschool, got her ged then dropped out of an associate degree program. my family income has been less than 25,000 my whole life. still is. went to a really bad middle school, a better hs b/c of my own efforts and teacher support etc, and later graduated from an ivy league uni. again bc of my own efforts, scholarships etc. I wasn't trying to sound whiny, should be more specific with what I wrote? Thanks for the input, all! I appreciate it.

Edit: Also, I wasnt on aid a short time. I was on medicaid until college, at which time i was forced to purchase university insurrance, and now (during my year off) im under my work insurrance

That is how you should write about it.

 

[mdclass]

Got it! knew it should've been more detailed. Thanks for your input!

That is how you should write about it.

 

[BABSstudent]

Got it! knew it should've been more detailed. Thanks for your input!

Yep. Just make sure you write in the active tense so it comes across as things happening to you. If it is passive, then it sounds like it happened around you and it doesn't sound as good.

 

[mdclass]

I think this is more specific to my own situation and sounds less whiny? maybe? haha


I grew up in No Name, an underserved neighborhood in Doesn't exist, NY home to mostly Hispanic immigrants and their families. My parents were not formally educated past the sixth grade and have been employed as a factory worker and a grocery store employee since their arrival in the US. My parents separated when I was five, worsening the burden on my mother to provide for my sister and me. We have received government assistance such as Medicaid and food stamps for most of our lives. The neighborhood schools that I attended often lacked the resources and instruction necessary for success. However, thanks to support from teachers, scholarships and my parents I was able to become the first high school and college graduate in my family. Although I was not a teen parent myself, my sister, like many teens in the area, had her first child at age 16, dropped out of high school and had her second at 24. This has undoubtedly deepened the social and financial burden on my family. The area is also underserved in health care due to large patient volumes far exceeding the available providers. Despite these hardships, I am lucky to have had enough emotional and academic support to achieve my goals. My personal struggle has motivated me to improve these situations, and I hope to one day serve a population similar to my own

Got it! knew it should've been more detailed. Thanks for your input!