disadvantage section of the AMCAS

[wander]

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What is considered disadvantage for the AMCAS application?

 

[efex101]

If you go to the AAMC web page under AMCAS it will tell you.

 

[Persistence101]

Basically "disadvantaged" is if you felt that due to social-economic reasons, you did not perform as well as you could have. (i.e. had to work to pay for tuition or what not.) There's a lot of "gray" area - i.e. "what if my parents are totally loaded, but I paid my way through college anyway?" - and the answer to whether you should put yourself as disadvantaged is this:

If you felt that your grades/mcat/ec were affected by having to work, go ahead and put it. You don't have to be a minority single mother who put herself through college while raising 3 kids on 2 full time jobs to mark "disadvantaged". It's best to give the med schools as much information as you can; they'll adjust their evaluation accordingly 'cuz, after all, this is what they do for a living.

But why would students want to falsely categorize themselves? If you mark the disadvantaged box, be aware that you will have to answer many more questions concerning your disadvantaged circumstances. Many students work while in college, but this does not mean they were disadvantaged. How do you think adcoms will view your application and reasons for being disadvantaged when they are completely aware of the real challenges of disadvantaged students (i.e., you having to work in college although you came from a middle class background versus someone growing up in poverty with significant social and economic challenges) ?

 

[MD2B_81]

Initially, before I submit, I had considered checking the box and submitting the information. I wasn't sure. I am didn't grow up in poverty with poor schools and poor medical help, but I did have a lot of family stuff that happened in my later high school life that had a serious impact on the rest of my life. Mostly, I had to help pay bills in the family, buy groceries, fund my entire tuition and books all years attended, provide financially for my younger sister, etc. THis was a serious distraction to my education. Now, in the last two years of undergrad, it hasn't been as serious. Like many college students, I have had to pay for everything myself through working, loans and grants... but I am not sure how disadvantaged I am considered to be.

I don't want any schools to read it and say "Oh, right, you and 50% of the rest of the student... (groan)." But my situation was far from an ideal student.

What do you think?

 

[jlee9531]

Initially, before I submit, I had considered checking the box and submitting the information. I wasn't sure. I am didn't grow up in poverty with poor schools and poor medical help, but I did have a lot of family stuff that happened in my later high school life that had a serious impact on the rest of my life. Mostly, I had to help pay bills in the family, buy groceries, fund my entire tuition and books all years attended, provide financially for my younger sister, etc. THis was a serious distraction to my education. Now, in the last two years of undergrad, it hasn't been as serious. Like many college students, I have had to pay for everything myself through working, loans and grants... but I am not sure how disadvantaged I am considered to be.

I don't want any schools to read it and say "Oh, right, you and 50% of the rest of the student... (groan)." But my situation was far from an ideal student.

What do you think?

put it down. you will have to answer more questions later. most schools dont even bother to consider that but some do and if you have a legit case, then its good.

if you want to know more you should read the section about the disadvantaged status like efex pointed out.

 

[Persistence101]

No matter how difficult things are, there will always be others with harder lives to lead; but the fact that these individuals exist shouldn't lessen the magnitude of our achievements. Persistence101, don't use fear and guilt to lessen the accomplishments of others. By claiming disadvantaged status, an applicant isn't taking a space away from a more "disadvantaged" applicant; they're simply giving the adcoms more information to make an informed decision.

I was just basically telling others about my opinion on the matter, just like what you're doing, except I'm not the one wrongly accusing others of "fear and guilt". Umm, last I know, you've never really had a conversation with me so how could you assume this? 😕 I deserve an apology, mister! 😡 😛 Seriously, I'm not trying to talk anyone out of marking that disadvantaged box, it's all up to the individual to decide.

MD2B, I really have to commend you on overcoming challenges. Here is the definition of "disadvantaged" that AMCAS follows: "from an early age, you resided in a low-income community or experienced enduring family and/or societal hardship that significantly compromised your educational opportunities." So Biochemdork, if this definition isn't clear to you, I don't know what is. They're basically wanting to know if students experienced socio-economic challenges FROM AN EARLY AGE. If students really want to stress challenges that happened in later stages of life, there's the something called the personal statement.

 

[coffeeluver]

The "struggling up from poverty in the inner city, being the first to go to college, and making it all the way to apply to medical school" story, while moving, isn't all that common. Less than a few hundred applicants fit this profile. Are we truly to believe that AMCAS reserved the "disadvantaged" status for these few noble souls?

there's more poor folks than you may think. claiming yourself as disadvantaged when you're clearly not is like robbing from the poor and giving to the rich. good for you...

 

[ih8biochem]

My situation:
While enrolled in a comminity college I worked full-time at a sales job, which really, really affected my grades. But I didn't do it cause I need to pay tuition or rent or anything. In fact, I'm not really sure I did it. Lack of direction I guess. Was I disadvantaged?

Alex

 

[coffeeluver]

My situation:
While enrolled in a comminity college I worked full-time at a sales job, which really, really affected my grades. But I didn't do it cause I need to pay tuition or rent or anything. In fact, I'm not really sure I did it. Lack of direction I guess. Was I disadvantaged?

Alex

you're joking, right?

 

[ih8biochem]

you're joking, right?

Why, is this funny?

 

[nachoDoc]

Why, is this funny?

Yes, by all means fill out all of the disadvantaged questions.

Adcom reviewers: 😱 👎 👎

sorry......