Disadvantaged Status...

what exactly makes you have disadvantaged status..

it sounds rather subjective

 

welcome to sdn. if you have a legitimate disadvantage that you feel you've had to overcome, if shouldn't hurt your application, and if presented correctedly can augment how your life experiences have prepared you for medicine.

be wary though that the AMCAS definition of "disadvantaged", at least for the fee waiver, is pretty extreme, basically you have to be homeless to qualify. on some secondaries there are optional questions to this effect, so you might want to consider addressing your life hurdles there as well. good luck

 

I am really confused about what makes someone economically disadvantaged! I was a single parents by the time I was 19 and relied on state and federal assistance for a period of time until I was on my feet. Currently my husband is active duty army and we are raising five children in our home and don't make a lot of money? Is this considered disadvantaged? I'm afraid that the adcoms will look at the fact that my step-father is a physician and laugh that I marked disadvantaged, but he married my mother after I was no longer in the house and he is, after all, my step-father.

 

I'm pretty sure that disadvantaged status applies only if you were disadvantaged for the majority of your years prior to age 18.

Someone correct me if thats wrong but I remember that from when I applied last year.

 

Isn't the level for fee waiver 300% of poverty level? I would hardly consider this level to be near homeless. For a family of four this would be over $65,000 per year. I actually thought this was very generous, considering the level for things like the Pell grant is much lower.

To the OP, if you feel you were disadvantaged, then explain it in your application. It won't hurt you and it might help you. Don't be too proud, if that's the problem.

 

Yeah I remember reading someone that it involved overcoming significant disadvantageous throughout your life. But I can't remember where I saw or read this so I'm not very much help am I haha

 

"Disadvantaged" refers to ages 0-18 years. One self-identifies. It shouldn't hurt unless it seems like bull**** and a pity party (like the daughter of a highly paid subspecialist in a very nice suburb who paid 100% of the cost of college). It may or may not help you by giving a more complete picture of the preparation (or lack thereof) that you had for college.