Disadvantaged status opinions

[RLS122811]

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Last year when I applied I did not fill out this section and did receive an interview, although not acceptance. I still had a physics class in progress that is now completed, which I believe to be the primary reason I didn't make it through last cycle. However, I'm wondering if I should fill out this section this cycle. Throughout my childhood I was primarily in a single parent household with a low income mother. My father was an alcoholic and abusive with my mother. I received little to no guidance with academics and was the first in my family to attend college. Again, receiving no guidance with my undergraduate application process. I have never really considered this to be "disadvantaged," it was just life for me and I made the best of it. Everyone has their own trials to work through and I certainly don't want to appear as though I'm looking for a "hand-out" or worse to be labeled as "damaged" or potentially unstable. However, after talking with some people (friends not applying to dental/med schools) I have gotten the feeling that some of these facts may be noteworthy. Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[emorypredent]

Last year when I applied I did not fill out this section and did receive an interview, although not acceptance. I still had a physics class in progress that is now completed, which I believe to be the primary reason I didn't make it through last cycle. However, I'm wondering if I should fill out this section this cycle. Throughout my childhood I was primarily in a single parent household with a low income mother. My father was an alcoholic and abusive with my mother. I received little to no guidance with academics and was the first in my family to attend college. Again, receiving no guidance with my undergraduate application process. I have never really considered this to be "disadvantaged," it was just life for me and I made the best of it. Everyone has their own trials to work through and I certainly don't want to appear as though I'm looking for a "hand-out" or worse to be labeled as "damaged" or potentially unstable. However, after talking with some people (friends not applying to dental/med schools) I have gotten the feeling that some of these facts may be noteworthy. Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

I really wish I could give an answer, but all I can do is point out a couple things. adcom members and interviewers are given a lot of liberty in how they judge applicants. Each of these people is different.

Some may see your triumph as worthy of praise, as they should. They recognize you faced unique challenges and understand you had to work harder than some of those who had advantages.

However, many of these people are from a different generation with very different sociocultural values and interpretations. Unfortunately, some (a tiny minority) might look down upon individuals from backgrounds that do not fit their image of a "good household environment." I know of at least a couple of older dentists that are involved with school admissions that gave me the impression that they have such views.

 

[RLS122811]

Thank you. That was basically what I was thinking. Given that I received an interview last year and have had other accomplishments since then, I think I'm not going to change my application dramatically. Like I mentioned in my previous post, I've always had the mentality that everyone has their own "issues." I certainly don't want to appear that I'm whining about not having a perfect childhood, therefore I deserve and advantage.

 

[emorypredent]

If I was in your shoes, I woould say:

You were virtually independent when it came to academics. You worked hard against many barriers...
while this may have negatively impacted your previous performance it makes you more likely to succeed in dental school and as a dentist because you learned independence at an early age.

I would omit some of the very personal specifics and then play it by ear at the interview based on the vibe you get from your interviewer.

Look at the recent controversy around the professor not wanting to accept fat people to PhD programs and there is prob more discrimination that adcoms do not admit or even notice.

 

[doc toothache]

Last year when I applied I did not fill out this section and did receive an interview, although not acceptance. I still had a physics class in progress that is now completed, which I believe to be the primary reason I didn't make it through last cycle. However, I'm wondering if I should fill out this section this cycle. Throughout my childhood I was primarily in a single parent household with a low income mother. My father was an alcoholic and abusive with my mother. I received little to no guidance with academics and was the first in my family to attend college. Again, receiving no guidance with my undergraduate application process. I have never really considered this to be "disadvantaged," it was just life for me and I made the best of it. Everyone has their own trials to work through and I certainly don't want to appear as though I'm looking for a "hand-out" or worse to be labeled as "damaged" or potentially unstable. However, after talking with some people (friends not applying to dental/med schools) I have gotten the feeling that some of these facts may be noteworthy. Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

You really believe that?

 

[ATG20]

You really believe that?

Lol! I thought the same thing, doc.

OP, just omit specifics and keep your app the same. If you feel you were at a disadvantage, discuss it. As long as you can support it strongly and discuss it if asked, there's no wrong answer. It's an extremely subjective question.

 

[RLS122811]

Thanks emory, I have decided to leave the disadvantaged status blank and make some minor references to being academically independent in my personal statement. Doc, when I was interviewed in October while still in my 1st semester of physics and needing to complete my 2nd semester in the spring, I was well aware I was at a disadvantage. However, I thought that if I could get an interview before I was completely prepared with my coursework it would at least get my name out, so the admissions committees would be familiar with me during the next cycle. Of course, there could have been other reasons that I was not accepted. The purpose of my post/question was not to ask for advice on why I was not accepted the 1st round, in retrospect maybe I shouldn't have elaborated on that aspect at all and was basically asking for a response like yours. Normally I wouldn't even acknowledge your post, however you have succeeded in striking a nerve with me, perhaps due to the stress of filling out this darn application or perhaps due to the fact that you seem to be a generally mean person. I will have you know that I must have had some promising attributes, considering I was able to secure 2 interviews early in the application cycle and have since been notified that at least 2 of my interviewers liked me enough to insist that I re-apply this cycle. I knew someone here would have nothing better to do on a Friday than lurk around reading post and attempting to make people feel stupid so they could feel smart. Thanks for not letting me down! I just regret the fact that I was less prepared for bullying comments than I thought and actually dignified it with a response. I see that you're already a dentist, congratulations. Most of me truly does mean that, I know you've done a lot of hard work for your achievements. If online is the only place you act in this manner then I guess you can do little to no harm. However, I sincerely hope that you are more empathetic with your patients. Thank you so much to everyone who was actually thoughtful and helpful with their responses. Have a great day!

 

[doc toothache]

Head on collision with reality.

 

[Dent35]

i really do not think that the reason why you didn't get accepted is because you had a physics class in progress. dental schools understand that people apply before they have all their requirements finished. as long as it was in progress, and i know that a lot of them ask for your midterm grades to see where you are standing in that course.

 

[ToothbrushBuddy]

Personally, if I were you, I would list exactly what you just said in your post in the disadvantaged column. It does sound like you are more disadvantaged than other dental school applicants. I am listing myself as "disadvantaged" because I grew up in a place that has a dental shortage score of 18 and all of the schools I attended were Title 1 schools. I did not have a bad home-life however.

 

[LFA20]

Last year when I applied I did not fill out this section and did receive an interview, although not acceptance. I still had a physics class in progress that is now completed, which I believe to be the primary reason I didn't make it through last cycle. However, I'm wondering if I should fill out this section this cycle. Throughout my childhood I was primarily in a single parent household with a low income mother. My father was an alcoholic and abusive with my mother. I received little to no guidance with academics and was the first in my family to attend college. Again, receiving no guidance with my undergraduate application process. I have never really considered this to be "disadvantaged," it was just life for me and I made the best of it. Everyone has their own trials to work through and I certainly don't want to appear as though I'm looking for a "hand-out" or worse to be labeled as "damaged" or potentially unstable. However, after talking with some people (friends not applying to dental/med schools) I have gotten the feeling that some of these facts may be noteworthy. Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Dude if you were able to get an interview without applying as a disadvantaged applicant then that's not the reason why you didn't get in