Disadvantaged applicants: Please share your stories

[krelian]

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During my interview at Baylor, I met one applicant who particularly impressed me. He was an immigrant from Vietnam and came to the US by himself because his parents died during the trip. Apparently, he survived by bumming off distant relatives in Houston and then brought his 2 siblings over and took care of them while in high school. I think he said he studied at community college and then transferred to Rice for the last 2yrs. I was very impressed that he went through all of that and now has an interview at Baylor.

Does anyone else have similar experiences or know people who have been through financial difficulties and want to go into medicine?

 

[MeMyselfI]

During my interview at Baylor, I met one applicant who particularly impressed me. He was an immigrant from Vietnam and came to the US by himself because his parents died during the trip. Apparently, he survived by bumming off distant relatives in Houston and then brought his 2 siblings over and took care of them while in high school. I think he said he studied at community college and then transferred to Rice for the last 2yrs. I was very impressed that he went through all of that and now has an interview at Baylor.

Does anyone else have similar experiences or know people who have been through financial difficulties and want to go into medicine?

Not to be rude or anything, but why do you want to hear about other people's disadvantaged backgrounds? Are you from a disadvantaged background?

 

[krelian]

I don't consider myself disadvantaged and did not indicate so on my med school appl. I grew up in a poor section of Philadelphia and my parents and myself had to do manual labor work when we first immigrated to the US to survive. However, I did not have to take care of myself, and my family's position was not below the poverty line. Thus, I don't feel as though my college opportunities were significantly hindered by financial problems. Still, because of my background, I feel a close connection to those who have been through difficulties. I was hoping that this thread would be a support thread for applicants (if there are any on SDN) who share such experiences.

 

[MeMyselfI]

I don't consider myself disadvantaged and did not indicate so on my med school appl. I grew up in a poor section of Philadelphia and my parents and myself had to do manual labor work when we first immigrated to the US to survive. However, I did not have to take care of myself, and my family's position was not below the poverty line. Thus, I don't feel as though my college opportunities were significantly hindered by financial problems. Still, because of my background, I feel a close connection to those who have been through difficulties. I was hoping that this thread would be a support thread for applicants (if there are any on SDN) who share such experiences.

Oh, I see. I considered myself a disadvantaged applicant, but I'm a little hesitant about sharing my personal life over the internet. Sorry for not contributing.

 

[Fermata]

Most docs tend to come from middle to upper class families.