Disadvantaged status explains mediocre grades? Help!`

[ab2701]

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hey, I was wondering if being classified as disadvantaged (family income less than 20,000, lived in public and subsidized housing, qualified for medicaid, parent terminally ill, working during the school year to help pay family bills; all this occured during freshman and 1st sem soph yr) can somewhat explain poor grades early on (C, C+, C (retook for A-), C+). I had trouble focusing on school during that time (mostly freshman and beginning of sophomore yr) which resulted in these grades...Would having an upward trend and having a cumulative gpa around 3.6 by graduation help? I really want to get into a NYS med school such as Columbia, Cornell, or MSSM. What do you advise me to do from now on? Im desperate for suggestions and all advice would be greatly appreciated. I would really like to know this...thanks again

 

[HumidBeing]

Disadvantaged status is taken into consideration, but should never be counted on to EXPLAIN performance. In other words, allow them to give you the benefit of the doubt, but don't use it as a crutch.

3.6 with an upward trend is GOOD. The advice is to just keep doing your best. Your performance will speak for itself. It looks to me like you are on the right road.

 

[BlackSails]

No.

 

[Bartelby]

Also, disadvantaged status is usually reserved for people who grew up (childhood through high school) in low-income, abusive, or somehow "disadvantaged" households. Medical schools do look at extenuating circumstances to explain bad grades, but regardless if you can keep to a 3.6 and develop strong ECs, LORs, MCAT scores, etc. you should be fine, although MSSM, Columbia, and Cornell are some really competitive schools.

 

[scowdeva]

I'm not sure how helpful this will be to you, but I am considered disadvantaged by both definitions mentioned on here. The response I have had so far, and I'll admit it has been somewhat limited, is a kind of understanding that my situation influenced my performance, but doesnt make it go away. I have one awful semester tearing down my GPA (like almost .3 down, it was the worst possible semester for it to happen!!) and I have had the opportunity to explain it IF you get to the interview level. Just keep everything else high, be interesting with your personal statement and EC's, and nab those interviews. Then, if the opportunity arises, you can explain why you performed lower than you expect out of yourself and show that you came back from it. I think just showing that you can pull yourself up and move on at least shines a positive light on less than positive grades (which at this point is something that you cant do anything about). G'luck!

 

[Maxprime]

hey, I was wondering if being classified as disadvantaged (family income less than 20,000, lived in public and subsidized housing, qualified for medicaid, parent terminally ill, working during the school year to help pay family bills;

In residency, you will have less than 20k after taxes and paying loans back, you'll probably spend most of your time in the hospital (public housing), you'll qualify for free health care, most of the people you deal with will be terminally ill, and you will have to work to pay the bills.

Sorry to make light of the disadvantaged status, but this is the most extreme comeback an interviewer could give you. You're welcome.

 

[Blade28]

Would having an upward trend and having a cumulative gpa around 3.6 by graduation help? I really want to get into a NYS med school such as Columbia, Cornell, or MSSM. What do you advise me to do from now on? Im desperate for suggestions and all advice would be greatly appreciated. I would really like to know this...thanks again

IIRC from previous posts, you're currently finishing your first semester of sophomore year. So don't take anything for granted - keep working hard to pull those grades up (it's always dangerous to assume "well my final cummulative GPA will be x if I just get straight As between now and graduation"). And rock the MCAT!

It sounds like you're doing better this year than last, which is always a plus. 👍

If you're going to talk about your family's poverty level, make sure it's more about hardships at home, stresses, etc. and not simply having to work during undergrad - many people here routinely work 20-40 hours per week in addition to studying hard.

Best of luck.

 

[Lshapley]

I claimed disadvantaged status when applying this year, but I haven't thought of or used it an any sort of excuse for poor grades. I think that if you end up having a poor couple of semesters and keep and upward trend, than you could mention it. However, it is better not to blame your bad grades on outside circumstances. There are always examples of people who have had it worse than you who were able to succeed.

Personally, during my interviews, I have viewed my background more like one might view and extracurricular activity (i.e., it gives me experience and empathy) rather than as any excuse as to why I couldn't achieve anything.

Good luck and keep up the good grades.

 

[shevie]

In residency, you will have less than 20k after taxes and paying loans back,

First of all, I want to make it clear before I respond that im not "disadvantaged," so its not like im taking personal offense to what youre saying and just trying to defend my own situation. Im looking at this really objectively too.

Maybe im off as to the cruelty of some interviewers but 20k as a single resident not supporting a/o but yourself, is livable. You may not be driving a Jag and skiing in St Moritz and Aspen, but you can live off that. And if youre married and your spouse is doing s/t other than medicine, your income increases then too...

You cant compare a single 20 something year old resident (or married w/ maybe 1 or 2 kids 20 something year old resident) to a FAMILY trying to survive on 20 grand.

you'll probably spend most of your time in the hospital (public housing),

but will have a home to go to at night (well at least 2 out of every 3 nights). It may not be on Park Avenue (in the case of OP who is looking at top tier NYC schools), but its still "home" and probably wont be in some housing project.

most of the people you deal with will be terminally ill,

um, major difference between dealing with terminally ill people at work, and having terminally ill family members, and having to grapple with illness and death on a much more personal level at a young age. I think thats just a tad insensitive and I dont think any interviewer (who is most probably a physician and has been treating many terminally ill people for many years) would be so dumb as to look at it that way. Being a doctor is a JOB. no matter how passionate you are about it, no matter how screwed up your priorities are, and no matter how much people want to make it seem like it is the most noblest of all jobs. When it boils down to it, its a JOB, and when you go home, you can put your cases behind you (emotionally at least). Not so with family. That is REAL life.

and you will have to work to pay the bills.

Yea. Just like all the other 25 year olds in this country. But a teenager in High School is not expected to go out and work to pay the bills. They should be in school, and having to work to support your family at a time when most of your friends spend their evenings and weekends at movies or parties or whatever, is really tough.

AB2701, I dont think that disadvantaged status is an "excuse" for bad grades, but I DO think that it is definitely something they will take into consideration when reviewing your file. Also, just keep in mind, this was just your first year. Lots of NOT disadvantaged kids screw up their first year of college b/c their so busy doing fraternity stuff or drinking and partying...and they get in to med school too. An upward trend in grades is something admissions committees like to see (or so i hear)

Its really amazing that youre pursuing this despite all the obstacles youve had to endure. All I can say is wow. Just keep pushing ahead and youll succeed! I am really glad that AMCAS has this "disadvantaged" option, because honestly, I think that the whole URM thing is overrated and is just a disguised form of reverse discrimination....it should ALL be based on economic status, or "disadvantaged" status, not what race you come from. So good luck to you the next few years...you can do it!!