Can I declare myself disadvantaged?

[JonM843]

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My mother died when I was in 5th grade in 2004 and she was really the only one in my life who made sure I kept up with my studies as a child. My mother was the only one even remotely interested in my education, but neither of my parents are college graduates. After her death, my entire educational career just went completely downhill due to reasons like the lack of interest my dad had in my life or even schooling. My dad decided to just up and leave my brother and I with our grandparents after my mother's death, so that was another emotional burden on my 10 year old self. The financial responsibilities of caring for my brother and I also took a toll on my grandparents and my dad rarely if ever helped them with buying us necessities.

I was a kid, so obviously the last thing a kid wants to do is schoolwork. I didn't have anyone to push me towards being successful, but I was just a lazy kid as well and the blame isn't just on my circumstances. This continued until high school and I graduated with a laughable 2.3 GPA. I was barely able to do basic algebra by the end of high school and the only science classes I took in my high school curriculum was basic Biology.

I also grew up in a disadvantaged community with underachieving schools and I am a minority (Hispanic).

I'll be graduating next year and I'm hoping to get my GPA up from 3.3 to at least a 3.4 by then. I also have 250 hours of non-clinical volunteering and 100 hours of clinical volunteering. I'm in the process of studying for my MCATS as well. I'm not the smartest person and I struggled really hard these past three years making up for all the missed opportunities in high school.

 

[Niwde]

Thanks for sharing your story.. Yea I would say this qualifies you as disadvantaged. You will have a section in your primary and some secondaries where you will be able to discuss everything you posted and how you have overcome these obstacles.

You will have to continue to keep proving yourself however. Keep getting As, knock out the MCAT, and keep racking up volunteering hours.

Your life circumstances have not been conducive to receiving an education but you have to show that you are able to persevere.

 

[Goro]

Thanks for sharing your story.. Yea I would say this qualifies you as disadvantaged. You will have a section in your primary and some secondaries where you will be able to discuss everything you posted and how you have overcome these obstacles.

You will have to continue to keep proving yourself however. Keep getting As, knock out the MCAT, and keep racking up volunteering hours.

Your life circumstances have not been conducive to receiving an education but you have to show that you are able to persevere.

I agree

 

[deleted804295]

Sorry about your childhood circumstances and I hope life is treating your brother and you better.

I'm rooting for you and hope you study well for the MCAT.

 

[JonM843]

Thank you for answering my question and for the kind words everyone. I will try as hard as I have been the last three years and knock out the MCAT.