Disadvantaged Status Question

[deleted621740]

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Title says it all. I grew up in a single parent household (along with multiple siblings), my mother used government aid (food stamps) for a few years while we were growing up, I didn't even have health insurance until I started college. I'm a first gen. college student, and...yeah.

Would I qualify? If so, should I check the box? Realistically, can it affect my chances at admission (positively or negatively)?

Oh, and please don't quote this - I plan on removing it! Thank you!

 

[mybluedog]

You need to ask yourself how are you disadvantaged compared to other applicants.
You said you grew up in a single parent household with multiple siblings, were you the oldest, did you have to contribute to your family income?
You said your mom was on government aid. Okay, what makes that disadvantaged for you?
You didn't have health insurance until you got to college, how is that a disadvantage to you?
When you said you are 1st gen, how does that make you disadvantaged? What adversity have you been through? You can't just say hey look at me, I'm 1st gen, therefore I am disadvantaged. You need to show the struggles you've been through as a first gen student and the different things you've accomplished and how being 1st gen has made you a better individual, applicant and future physician.

If you can answer these questions, you know what you should do on the disadvantaged section. There is also a space for you to write why you consider yourself disadvantaged. Do not take advantage of it but also write truthfully of your experiences and adversity, if you have any. Be yourself and think less of what adcoms would be thinking when doing the disadvantaged section, if you choose too.

 

[Drez06]

I claimed disadvantaged for many of the same reasons you are wondering about and others - homelessness, government benefits, lack of health insurance, contributing to family income, working two jobs in HS and to put myself through college, etc. When you consider the average student who applies for med school (how many have parents who are doctors, who had their college and applications paid for, who didn’t have to work in school, lived in households making more than $100K, who never wondered where their next meal wasn’t coming from, etc ??), these things you listed definitely qualify you as disadvantaged in my opinion. I think you can make the case. Just ask yourself, did these things actually contribute to me being behind the curve compared to my classmates when it comes to applying (parents weren’t doctors, couldn’t afford to take an MCAT course or had to work full time while studying for it, had to pay for your own schooling, couldn’t afford health insurance, etc.) Poverty sucks and there’s a reason they ask this question. Just answer honestly, no one is going to challenge the struggles you’ve experienced (at least I hope not).

It positively affected my application and led to a scholarship in fact. If it’s true, I would think it can only help you.

Edit: Sorry, you said not to quote it, I took it out lol