Applying with welfare in your background?

[NYCmed]

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Hey folks. I have a quick, but serious, question. First off, this past year has been hell on earth for my entire family. We currently don't have a place to live, and my mother recently had open heart surgery. My father's looking for a job, but currently I'm the only one bringing home any money (with a job that doesn't pay nearly enough for food and gas, let alone an apartment.)

My dream of medical school is still there and still strong, but I've had to put it on hold to help my family out. They've applied on their own for county assistance, but as far as finding help for an apartment, they have horrible credit and can't find a place to live. Because of this, I'm considering applying for county assistance and/or welfare to obtain housing for us, both so my diabetic parents can live healthier and so I can finally start paying off my debts and go to med school. Problem is, I've heard that applicants with welfare in their background may have a reduced chance of being accepted into a high-tier med school. This is important to me, because Columbia and Stanford are both on my Top 5 list.

I'm weighing my options here, because my Top 5 list won't mean a dang thing if my family doesn't even have a place to live. My parents have suffered a lot for my dream; I don't want them to risk their health for it too. Does anyone have any information/advice?

 

[Apparition]

Hey NYCmed,

I'm really sorry you're going through this but nowhere on either primary or secondary applications were there any financial questions. On primary, you can indicate whether you'd like to be considered disadvantaged and you can check that if you'd like and provide some in-depth info but you don't have to (though for some people it helps). So they won't find out if you're getting any assitance. Med schools don't do background checks at least until you matriculate. I can't imagine them holding your family situation against you even if they could find out. If anything, it only makes your accomplishments greater as you're competing mostly with pre-meds who only have to worry about getting good grades.

Good luck

 

[MDSKF2010]

I applied as a disadvantaged student on AMCAS and was asked about it in an interview in the context of how it has helped me develop as a person and shaped my goals. I think you should do what is best for your family, and use it to give the admisssions committe a more complete picture of you as an applicant. The interview where I discussed this was probably my best (and I got admitted).

I have a friend at Standford who also applied disadvantaged so I think overall this has little to do with the process.

 

[SexyLexie729]

I am so sorry that you are going through all this. Just keep strong and remember your goals. I will keep you and your family in my heart and prayers.

 

[bainsstatic]

No way, I don't believe this affects anything.

 

[NYCmed]

Thanks for the quick replies and advice, everyone. I'll go ahead and apply for assistance, and if it ever comes up in an interview I'll be honest with them. It was a huge relief asking here, where I knew people would understand my concern. Thanks again--I appreciate it. 🙂

 

[OSUdoc08]

Hey folks. I have a quick, but serious, question. First off, this past year has been hell on earth for my entire family. We currently don't have a place to live, and my mother recently had open heart surgery. My father's looking for a job, but currently I'm the only one bringing home any money (with a job that doesn't pay nearly enough for food and gas, let alone an apartment.)

My dream of medical school is still there and still strong, but I've had to put it on hold to help my family out. They've applied on their own for county assistance, but as far as finding help for an apartment, they have horrible credit and can't find a place to live. Because of this, I'm considering applying for county assistance and/or welfare to obtain housing for us, both so my diabetic parents can live healthier and so I can finally start paying off my debts and go to med school. Problem is, I've heard that applicants with welfare in their background may have a reduced chance of being accepted into a high-tier med school. This is important to me, because Columbia and Stanford are both on my Top 5 list.

I'm weighing my options here, because my Top 5 list won't mean a dang thing if my family doesn't even have a place to live. My parents have suffered a lot for my dream; I don't want them to risk their health for it too. Does anyone have any information/advice?

1. I wouldn't think this is a true statement. If it is a true statement, it is an illegal practice.


Why do you need to be in a "high-tier" school anyway? Be thankful of an acceptance anywhere. Who decides which schools are high-tier and which are not? I would think it would benefit you, if anything.

 

[LucidSplash]

Hey NYC, I applied disadvantaged as well b/c of similar situations that occurred during most of my childhood. I personally was never on welfare as an adult, but my family was when I was a minor, and I had NY State Child Health Insurance up until age 19 which was what they used to call the free health insurance for those below the poverty level. Other than that, it won't show up on your application unless you apply disadvantaged and you should be prepared to discuss it if you do. If it has only been the past year or so I might not indicate it, but that is a personal call. However, you will have to disclose any welfare/county/state assistance on your FAFSA and other financial aid forms and if you need private loans it may affect your ability to get those. I DO NOT know to what extent it will affect those things and it may be minimal.

 

[Chronic Student]

NYCmed,

I also have welfare in my background. After my father left, my mother (who is schizophrenic) was left to raise two kids and we really had no choice after my mom decompensated and lost her job. In addition, I quit high school in the middle of my sophmore year to earn money so that we could eat more than rice and beans (and no, I'm not kidding).

I have wondered about these things myself and have basically decided to take the position of "take a negative and make it a positive". So instead of feeling ashamed of those things, I embrace them and point up the fact that I've gotten as far as I have, in spite of those things.

In fact, I routinely enjoy telling people that I missed more than half of high school after I've known them for awhile. I love the shocked look on their face.

-Mike