disadvantaged applicants- please share your stories

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Mistress S

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I am going to apply to med school this June, and after a lot of thought and discussion with my pre-med adviser and others I have decided to apply as a disadvantaged applicant. I know this doesn't make a big difference in how your application is viewed or treated by adcoms, but I feel that it is a part of who I am and what my motivations to be in medicine are. I did struggle with it a bit though, as I have never tried to "take advantage" of my disadvantaged background before (tee hee, couldn't help being a little punny), and I didn't want to be perceived as doing so now. I have worked hard to do well in college and have a fairly strong application overall, so I didn't want applying as disadvantaged to overshadow my accomplishments, just put them in a different light. Anyway, I would really like to hear about other applicants who have applied as disadvantaged and what they thought of their experience in doing that, or from people who plan to do so as I do. Why do you consider yourself disadvantaged? What impact has it had on the application process, interviews, etc. (if you have gotten that far)? Do you feel like it has helped you, hurt you, or neither? How did/will you approach writing the additional essay for AMCAS explaining your disadvantage(s)?

I'll get the ball rolling: I guess I consider myself disadvantaged for financial and social reasons. I am from a single parent household (dad disappeared completely from my life at age 5), my mom is an HS graduate only who worked intermittently throughout my childhood (so obviously we weren't exactly rich growing up). Between the ages of 3 and 16, I was taken out of my mother's custody and made a ward of the state several times, so I bounced around in different foster homes and group homes and also living with different family members throughout my childhood. I don't know how I am going to write the disadvantaged essay yet, but I think I'll just stick to facts and talk a little about the positive effects of these experiences (increased maturity at a young age), and also how going through all of that has obviously impacted my desire to serve others who are socioeconomically disadvantaged as I was (am?).

Although I'm still not 100% comfortable with applying disadvantaged--I've met so many people who had it much worse than I did growing up--I've come to realize that my background is pretty atypical for a med school applicant (I've never met another former foster child in college, let alone applying to med school, although I'm sure they're out there). Even answering some of the questions on the AMCAS app are difficult; for example, when it asks what my avg, household income was growing up, which household do I use? I grew up in so many different households and institutions, but obviously AMCAS assumes (safely, for the most part) that people grew up in just one household that they can answer that question for. Anyway, I'm sure others have similar stories, which I hope they will feel comfortable sharing so I and others can learn from them.
 
Hey
So...i totally understand where you are coming from, and to be honest I never thought i would find myself discussing this on SDN, but here it goes. I am applying now for next fall, and also applied disadvantaged. In the same way as you, I had a hard time even admitting that i was disadvantaged. But believe me...you are definatly not the same as other applicants.

My status also rose from my early childhood into high school and college. My mother was very sick when i was a child, and my father was trying to be a music teacher in the 80's when music was cut from public school (AKA he was out of work) We lost everything because of my mother medical bills. Because of this, i had to put myself to college, ect...

The reason i put myself as diadvantage in because i may have been one of thoes 4.0 students, involved in everything students, if i hadn't had to work 30 hours a week in college to pay my rent and tuition.

I never though that i would apply this way, but to be honest, i do owe much of my personal development, as well as my decision to go to medical school, to the fact that i was below poverty level growing up.

The biggest advice that i can give, is that if you do apply as disadvantaged, believe that you are...because they will ask you about it in your interviews. Feel good about yourself that you have made it this far (ie: through HS & college). The biggest thing that i did with my Disadvanted status was turned it into a positive, and showed how my experiences make me a better candidate.

It's tough to admit that **** hit the fan in your past, and it's even harder to write it down in an essay--but do it...it will show that you have what it takes to make it through medical school.
 
I applied as a disadvantaged applicant and I think i pretty much regret it. If you're having doubts, i wouldn't do it. I think it may be different for me, though because alot of the stuff is personal and its hard to talk about it with interviewers and having people that i could go to med school with seeing that stuff about my family and life. I'm a pretty open person, but for some reason i don't really like talking about a bunch of it. I did volunteer it in the app tho, so I can't bitch about it being brought up. So far not every interviewer has brought it up, but if it has been, its been mostly positive and followed by encourgement.
Just a quick summary of my spill is that I grew up in a single parent home and we were on welfare for a while and in government housing and subsidized housing. basically dirt poor. both my parents have troubles with drugs and alcohol and one with severe clinical depression and there was a ton of abuse from above on my sisters and me. It hasn't been the worse life, but it was enough for my advisor to pretty much strong arm me into applying as disadvantaged. But since I have little to no contact with either parent now, I couldn't qualify for the fee waiver for AMCAS. Thats why i regret applying as disadvantaged. I think if you don't get the fee waiver, it doesn't give much credence to your claim, but thats just my thought. good luck with it. I've wondered how much affect it has on one's application in the long run.
 
You do not necessarily have to apply as a disadvantaged applicant to be seen as one. When you draft your personal statement you can mention your experiences growing up and your determination to become a physician. But DON'T write of them in a negative light. Instead, show how accepting personal responsibility made you a stronger and better person. On the one hand you get to show where you've come from and at the same time you show your maturity and ability to come from behind and run with the pack. The whole statement, which doesn't give you too much space, should NOT be focussed on negatives. They are implied by the way you write about positives.

It should be written in good, flowing, grown-up English instead of a high school level plodding, straightforward, boring way. Not only is there nothing wrong with good turns of phrase, but it is to your advantage to use them. Do not string together a number of declarative sentences: I did this, I did that, I did this other thing; they were all rewarding experiences. Duh! This how all too many essays read. If you were in medical school admisssions and forced to read a lot of this tripe, you too would want to upchuck. Science is not incompatible with good writing. Do not throw in the kitchen sink. Stay with a small number of points you want to make. You will have a chance to bring in others in the secondary essays many school ask for and at the many interviews you are sure to have. Overkill at the early
stage may be self-defeating.

I believe too many premedical students are focussed on their grades, MCAT scores, medically related experience, extracurriculars and letters as covering the important ground. They are important, but a gem of a personal statement will stand out like a spring of cool fresh water in the middle of a desert.

The Adcoms will come to you with their tongues hanging out.
 
Originally posted by Moskeeto
But since I have little to no contact with either parent now, I couldn't qualify for the fee waiver for AMCAS. Thats why i regret applying as disadvantaged. I think if you don't get the fee waiver, it doesn't give much credence to your claim, but thats just my thought. good luck with it. I've wondered how much affect it has on one's application in the long run.

Well, i understand where you are coming from...but i didn't even go through the whole fee waver thing. I am independent now, and make more in today than both my parents combined. But did my background have an affect on my life...yes. I totally agree, however, that you must be sure you want to go down this road...and you are willing to talk about it.
 
You have to be dirt poor to get a fee waiver from AMCAS these days. If you get one, fine, nothing wrong with it, no reason to hide it. Do you think all adcoms came from wealthy backgrounds?
If you do, you are wrong.
 
My family's income level is below the poverty line(less than 15,000 a year) Would I qualify for a few waiver?
 
My mom is a depressive with periods of schizophrenia, who spent 1/3 of her time in mental hospitals and the other 2/3 of the time at home "raising me", and my father had a liver transplant when I was 8 years old. Our family was always broke due to medical bills, bankruptcy, and inability to work on the part of my parents. I basically raised myself in a falling down house in the city in poor, mostly minority schools. I dropped out of HS at the age of 15, got a job, and ended up back in college on a special program after I got my GED.

I think anyone with a unique background is uniquely driven to get to where they want to go. I am not looking for hand outs, as my GPA, MCAT, ECs, and LORs are all very good. I still applied disadvantaged and I think that my past has helped me get interviews and even into schools that I don't think I would have gotten into otherwise.

Congrats to all the non-trads! :clap:
 
Originally posted by Neuronix
My mom is a depressive with periods of schizophrenia, who spent 1/3 of her time in mental hospitals and the other 2/3 of the time at home "raising me", and my father had a liver transplant when I was 8 years old. Our family was always broke due to medical bills, bankruptcy, and inability to work on the part of my parents. I basically raised myself in a falling down house in the city in poor, mostly minority schools. I dropped out of HS at the age of 15, got a job, and ended up back in college on a special program after I got my GED.

Wow and Congradulations!!:clap: :clap: :clap:
 
Originally posted by mashce
My family's income level is below the poverty line(less than 15,000 a year) Would I qualify for a few waiver?

Didn't you say in another thread that your mom is a lawyer?
Sorry- don't want to be rude, but that's kind of a low salary for a lawyer. Neuro- that's a hell of a story. Hope people like you and path are still around on SDN when I apply for MSTP.
 
My mom is an attorney, but she is an unemployed attorney. A few years ago, she lost her job with the social security administration, because they were making budget cuts, so they ditched all the lawyers and hired paralegals instead. Anyways... social security is not a large field, she doesn't have experience in other types of law, the job market is a little tight right now, she is a middle aged woman, and she has been struggling with severe depression and some health problems. So, altogether, my family income is not that of the typical attorney...
 
Originally posted by mashce
My family's income level is below the poverty line(less than 15,000 a year) Would I qualify for a few waiver?

How could a family even survive off of that much? 😱 ouch!
 
Originally posted by lady bug
How could a family even survive off of that much? 😱 ouch!
Well, basically we've just had to give up on the little luxuries, the family vacation to Switzerland, the yacht, however we're still holding on to the house on Long Island🙂
 
Originally posted by mashce
My mom is an attorney, but she is an unemployed attorney....she is a middle aged woman, and she has been struggling with severe depression and some health problems. So, altogether, my family income is not that of the typical attorney...

My god, we could be siblings. This relates perfectly to me and my mom, spooky. 😱 Get out of my head!
 
Originally posted by Moskeeto
My god, we could be siblings. This relates perfectly to me and my mom, spooky. 😱 Get out of my head!
Your mom is depressed and unemployed or is she a poor attorney? Are you applying disadvantaged? I'm not going to, but with the other stuff that's happened I suppose I could...
 
Originally posted by mashce
Your mom is depressed and unemployed or is she a poor attorney? Are you applying disadvantaged?

All of the above. i'm telling you, you could be my sister/brother. My mom is an attorney, but doesn't work due to depression caused by mental illness and health problems. actually, she works sometimes, but not steadily, mostly when she sticks to her medication.
 
🙂 Mistress S
I definitely think you should apply disadvantage! I did not apply disadvantage this year but I really wish I had. I think one reason I didn?t was because I didn?t think I was disadvantage, but when I compared myself with some other applicants on the interview circuit I know I am. Last year there was a page on SDN about the disadvantage status basically bashing people who applied disadvantaged and saying how they thought they were more disadvantaged and yet didn?t apply that way and others shouldn?t. But, the truth is when you look at those you are competing with you are at a disadvantage and schools should know this, it allows you to talk more about your experiences. In my PS I talked about my experiences growing up and how it shaped my desire to go into medicine. The reason I wish I had applied as disadvantage is because at two interviews they questioned why I didn?t apply as disadvantage seeing all I went through.
I was also in foster care before I was adopted, my father lost his job when my mom got very ill and we were in dept for a long period of time. My parents did not go to college nor did any relatives or friends and I came from a poor performing high school. I can see you have lived through a lot and it has shaped you as a person and why you want to be a doctor so I think you should mention this. Just my 2 cents.
 
Originally posted by Mistress S
I am going to apply to med school this June, and after a lot of thought and discussion with my pre-med adviser and others I have decided to apply as a disadvantaged applicant. I know this doesn't make a big difference in how your application is viewed or treated by adcoms, but I feel that it is a part of who I am and what my motivations to be in medicine are.

Actually this isn't true. Some schools place great emphasis on the disadvantaged status.
 
Originally posted by lady bug
How could a family even survive off of that much? 😱 ouch!

We used to live on that. It just takes living in a really cheap house (under $60k, my mom's place now cost $33k), driving a cheap used car, and not having many luxeries.

As for what UCLA2k was saying, my interviewers at UMich (including the previous dean of admissions) were super-sympathetic to my disadvantaged background. That could be a place to apply. When it's time to think about what schools to apply to, send me a PM and if there is any overlap, I can talk to you about my experiences at those schools.
 
After reading these postings, is "disadvantaged" associated more towards those that had "challenging" circumstances in their childhood/adolescent years or towards those who come from low income families who had to deal with more obstacles than higher income familes. I heard that UCs really look at a student's family's assets/incomes for those applying as "disadvantaged".
 
hi you guys,


I wanted all of your opinions on whether or not I qualify as a "disadvantaged" applicant
Basically, here's the story:
My dad is a dentist and my mom has a high school education
From age 0-12 my dad moved in and out of my house and provided my mom with a menial "allowance" to raise my sister and I (My dad prevented my mom from working). I was living on little money and had a dad who was abusive and who basically discouraged my sister and I from pursuing education

After the age of 12, my dad moved out permanently and provided no alimony to my mom...she started cooking and cleaning for living and has been doing this for the past 13 years.

The reality is that I live in a very wealthy neighborhood (my mom actually got our house in a divorce settlement when I was around 20 years), and my house is worth a lot of money. The fact of the matter is that that I have never seen a penny of money from my house. My mom uses the house to house foreign exchange students who she cooks and cleans for. Since I was basically born, my mom has received around 15,000 and provided that to herself, me, and my sister. I have worked since I was 15 years old and worked a whole lot in college to help provide for my mom, and sister(while she underwent cancer treatment)

Anyways, last year one of my interviewers saw my home address and basically implied that I should not be considered as ?disadvantaged? applicant?.
Honestly speaking, what do you think?? Should I not apply as disadvantaged??

thanks very very much for all of your suggestions...they are all greatly appreciated

Note: My interview was at a UC school where you are required to give a list of all of your family assets and income if you apply as disadvantaged
 
stressedout,
I am by no means an expert on this; but if you want my opinion, it sounds like you were economically disadvantaged growing up. However, whether or not you can "prove" this to adcoms is another matter. I think that if you feel the economic hardships your family faced affected your educational opportunities, you should go ahead and apply as disadvantaged and explain your circumstances in the additional essay you will write for this. It sounds like you did apply as disadvantaged unsuccesfully last year, without knowing anything about your application it is difficult to say why, but you should probably read over your disadvantaged essay and have others read it as well to gauge how effectively it communicates your circumstances growing up. If this was clear in your essay, it seems odd that your interviewer still questioned your status. On the other hand, if you lived in a good neighborhood you probably attended good schools, so maybe the interviewer felt you were not put at a disadvantage educationally by your mother's low income growing up. If you had to work a lot in HS and to put yourself through college (which it sounds like you did), that is of course a valid thing to discuss in terms of how it affected your opportunities.

I am under the impression that many schools will ask for a complete disclosure of family income, possibly including assets, if you claim disadvantaged status, so that may affect you. It kind of sucks, but the way it's generally looked at is that if your family is so poor, they would sell off their home, car, etc. My mother filed for bankruptcy this past year after getting laid off, and was forced to sell her car, worth $8500, because in OR you cannot file for bankruptcy if you have more than $2500 invested in a car. She barely got out of selling her home; she had $23,000 of equity in it, $2000 more and she would have had to sell that too. The attitude, right or wrong, is that if you're too poor to pay your bills then you should have to sell off anything of any value that you might own, even if that leaves you out on the street, and it seems like a similar logic applies to claiming disadvantaged status. Adcoms may view it as your mother should have sold her nice home if she was so poor, but if you explain in your essay that she also uses it as a source of income (to board students) that may help. Anyway, good luck!
 
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