Disadvantaged Status Question

[jadealer]

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I grew up in a rural county in western PA which I know has a physician shortage. I witnessed the lack of quality care available in the area through experiences that happened to my family members and friends at different times growing up in the area. Many times, they had to travel 2 hours or more to find a correct/proper diagnosis and treatment.

I saw that under disadvantaged status AMCAS lists, "Underserved: Do you believe, based on your own experiences or the experiences of immediate family and friends that the area in which you grew up was inadequately served by the available health care professionals? Were there enough physicians, nurses, hospitals, clinics, and other health care service providers?"

Should I include this experience or not? I don't feel I was financially disadvantaged.. but I definately witnessed a lack of quality healthcare.

 

[zombymush]

Yea. That question throws me off too. I grew up in an urban area where you would wait up to 4 hours for a doctor at a public clinic. But in recent years, a lot of foreign physicians have been opening up practices in the area, so I'm not sure if I would answer Yes to that question either.

 

[BlitzSleep]

Yea. That question throws me off too. I grew up in an urban area where you would wait up to 4 hours for a doctor at a public clinic. But in recent years, a lot of foreign physicians have been opening up practices in the area, so I'm not sure if I would answer Yes to that question either.

The question is referring to your childhood (up to the age of 18).

 

[LizzyM]

If you had above average income in an area with what you thought to be a shortage of physicians, you might want to be careful as it could come off as seeking an advantage that seems undeserved (which could turn it into a disadvantage).

That is to say, if you self-report as disadvantaged but your family had an annual income when you were growing up of >$100,000 and you paid out of pocket for all or most of your college costs, it will seem ungrateful for the advantage of your socioeconomic status to self identify as "disadvantaged". Just be careful not to come across as a rich cry baby.

 

[jadealer]

If you had above average income in an area with what you thought to be a shortage of physicians, you might want to be careful as it could come off as seeking an advantage that seems undeserved (which could turn it into a disadvantage).

That is to say, if you self-report as disadvantaged but your family had an annual income when you were growing up of >$100,000 and you paid out of pocket for all or most of your college costs, it will seem ungrateful for the advantage of your socioeconomic status to self identify as "disadvantaged". Just be careful not to come across as a rich cry baby.

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback.