Disadvantaged Status?

[kech611]

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I am a first generation college student (parents dont even have GED) who had to stay with relatives from the age of 4 to 14 because my parents were working 12+ hour days at a small family restaurant. (Only saw parents on weekends)

Also, dad has/had colon cancer (he is 1 in 4 or 5 of the workers at the restaurant, so income drastically fell while we was in surgery/recover/chemotherapy.

Do I count as disadvantaged (should I put this on the AMCAS app)?

 

[LizzyM]

If you think that you were at a disadvantage in comparison with other college freshmen at your school, then you should self-identify as disadvantaged.

 

[Prism328]

i think that counts, what were their incomes? Did you rely on government aid like food stamps, reduced school lunch, etc?

 

[picklesd]

I have often wondered about my status as well. My dad was the only one working (out of town for months at a time), while my mom stayed at home with us. There are 10 kids total in my family (I am # 5 and the only girl). Yes, we had reduced lunch and I believe we had assistance. We are part Native American and had our immunizations done on the reservation growing up. There are no college graduates in my immediate family to date.
How far back do they look in regards to the disadvantaged status? I am now 31 years old and I have a decent job with 3 children of my own.

 

[LizzyM]

I have often wondered about my status as well. My dad was the only one working (out of town for months at a time), while my mom stayed at home with us. There are 10 kids total in my family (I am # 5 and the only girl). Yes, we had reduced lunch and I believe we had assistance. We are part Native American and had our immunizations done on the reservation growing up. There are no college graduates in my immediate family to date.
How far back do they look in regards to the disadvantaged status? I am now 31 years old and I have a decent job with 3 children of my own.

Disadvantaged refers to ages 0-18 years. You would not be the first 30-something with a good job to apply as having been disadvantaged as a child. The last one I know of to have done so was admitted to several top 10 schools so it doesn't seem to have hurt.

Look at the questions asked and see if you think you have good answers without it sounding like a pity party. There is also a section to list your sibs ages/gender and your parents names, (alive yes/no), locations, last school attended, and profession so that also gives a hint to the socio-economic status of your family. (There are instances where that doesn't tell the whole story such as when a family member has a professional degree but has become disabled.)

 

[RB93]

.

 

[LizzyM]

It is your call. I have seen some applicants who may have overstated their situation (one had a dad who had been a doctoral student 20 years earlier but was now a professor at a very prestigious school, another had a dad who was had a suburban practice of a medical subspecialty that is known for paying well) but in other cases you get a better picture of a student who overcame the odds to reach academic success. In addition, if you can see yourself practicing medicine in a community similar to the one where you grew up, you should mention that, too. (This can be rural, inner-city urban, rust-belt factory town, etc).