Can I no longer be disadvantaged?

[TrevorR]

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Delete.

 

[ciestar]

There is no question here. Youre the overcoming the odds candidate adcoms like. You cant make excuses for the circumstances you were born into and had no power to change as a child. In addition, disadvantage here tends to skew toward your upbringing.

Dont listen to your advisor, this wont be a negative.

 

[Engrailed]

Not an adcom.

I think you should put disadvantaged. It sounds like you genuinely went through various life struggles.
I dont think it would hurt you and if you can pull off a great (or even GOOD) MCAT score, you would be GOOD TO GO for even the best medical schools given your unique narrative.

It's not BECAUSE of your disadvantages but bc of what you've been able to accomplish despite your challenges that would make your application stand out from the other 10,000 applicants. Best of luck!

 

[tessellations]

Disadvantaged generally refers to what you experienced before turning 18. I agree with others here - I would check off the box.

Even with average stats - your story is quite impressive and I could def see Adcom’s being receptive to it 🙂

 

[Goro]

There is no question here. Youre the overcoming the odds candidate adcoms like. You cant make excuses for the circumstances you were born into and had no power to change as a child. In addition, disadvantage here tends to skew toward your upbringing.

Dont listen to your advisor, this wont be a negative.

1000% agree with my young colleague. OP, Adcoms like come-from-behind stories. It's in our national DNA.

 

[LeaveNoTrace]

Disadvantaged refers to your circumstances from birth to age 18.

Those have clearly had a not inconsiderable impact on your academic career; you have managed to do well in spite of this. Get a 510+ MCAT and 3.7+ GPA in your postbacc and you are a very solid MD candidate. With a 514 or better, you're a decent choice for schools like Columbia or Duke: you're a combat veteran with a come-from-behind story. Adcoms love this.

Good luck!

 

[LizzyM]

Just another case of an advisor making an ill-advised recommendation. Check the box, tell your story. It is not an excuse, it is an explanation and a story of triumph over adversity that deserves to be told.

 

[TrevorR]

Gonna delete original post since it could easily identify me. Really not sure what to do as when I say average MCAT <500 and both cumulative/science GPA <3.0 even with post bacc.

Guess its Carribean?

Thanks all for the suggestions!

 

[LeaveNoTrace]

Don't go Caribbean. How much postbacc work would you need to get your cGPA and sGPA above 3.0? What was your most recent MCAT, and has there been any change? You could've had a 490 and a retake for a 508, you could have had two 498s.

 

[TrevorR]

Cumulative would probably need another bachelors. Science definitely could get up with a year or two of strictly science courses but that would require quitting my job since its 60+ hours a week.

Can't afford more classes. Pelt grant ran out, GI bill ran out. Had to scrounge up money to pay the fee for MCAT twice since FAP never got back to me despite several emails, since in the applications it wants information on both parents. I don't even know where my dad is lol.

Since I have limited money, gonna apply to the few schools MD/DO that I sorta meet requirements for, in addition to Caribbean and hope for the best. If no acceptance, well that's life and I'll look for other opportunities.

Essentially, time and money is my biggest enemy right now.

Thanks all, gonna close this thread.