confusion about AMCAS primary disadvantaged? does URM automatically qualify?

[feelingreen]

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Hello. I know that being an URM can have advantages at certain schools, however, I am a bit thrown off by the Disadvantaged question on the primary AMCAS app because I grew up relatively middle class. Dad has a bachelors and mom has an associates. Both were and are steadily employed. We do not qualify for any assistance programs.

Anyway, I am a reapplicant and last year I did not select disadvantaged; however, many people told me that I should have simply based on my race (which is a little offensive, but I won't get into that). That being said, does being an URM automatically mean I should check the box? And will it look strange that I did not check it last application cycle, but suddenly had a realization of my "disadvantage"?

I also feel a little silly writing a disadvantaged essay based completely on race :/ not sure if I could pull it off.

Other URMs, what have you done? And ADCOMs, what is appropriate?


Thank you for your input!

 

[V5RED]

Hello. I know that being an URM can have advantages at certain schools, however, I am a bit thrown off by the Disadvantaged question on the primary AMCAS app because I grew up relatively middle class. Dad has a bachelors and mom has an associates. Both were and are steadily employed. We do not qualify for any assistance programs.

Anyway, I am a reapplicant and last year I did not select disadvantaged; however, many people told me that I should have simply based on my race (which is a little offensive, but I won't get into that). That being said, does being an URM automatically mean I should check the box? And will it look strange that I did not check it last application cycle, but suddenly had a realization of my "disadvantage"?

I also feel a little silly writing a disadvantaged essay based completely on race :/ not sure if I could pull it off.

Other URMs, what have you done? And ADCOMs, what is appropriate?


Thank you for your input!

I am almost certain that you do not qualify as disadvantaged. That said, if you get good advice, will you delete your main post like you did in your previous thread when you asked for help? Part of why the forums are great is that you can read past threads of people in a similar situation who got their questions answered as opposed to something like a chat room where the answers just disappear into the ether.

 

[Aerus]

Disadvantaged status is based off of your own perception. Do you feel that your race had a significant impact on your life growing up that you are at a disadvantage when compared to your peers?

If you did not check the box last cycle, that's probably how you really feel about the matter.

 

[LizzyM]

Not all URM are disadvantaged and not all disadvantaged applicants are URM. Claiming to be something you are not can hurt you as adcoms see through the dishonesty or the "pity party" for a description of some minor deprivation (eg I had to share a bedroom until my sib went to college when I was fifteen.) and ding you for it.

 

[feelingreen]

thank you for the replies, everyone! it sounds like i made the correct choice last year and will be sticking with it. 🙂