Hi all,
I am really sorry if this has been asked previously. I tried doing a search but couldn't find the exact answer I was looking for.
Anyways, I got a 32 on my MCAT the first time. After getting my score back, I have been getting letters and emails from top schools (Harvard, UMich, etc.) asking to apply. I don't think my MCAT score is competitive for any of these schools so I was surprised as to why I have been getting these emails. The Harvard letter specifically talked about disadvantaged status in medicine.
I have been socioeconomically disadvantaged all my life (but not an URM). Our household income for a family of 6 has been 20-30 K for my entire life. I went to headstart, lived in section 8 housing, qualified for free lunch, etc. I have been financially independent since 17 although lucky not to have needed to contribute to our family income.
Also, I have been lucky to go to an ivy league school with a merit scholarship for full tuition. Along with federal grants (pell, etc.) and generous financial aid from my school, I have been able to get along fine. By being frugal and not going out ( I go out to movies like 2X a year), I have been OK financially. My friends wonder where all the low-income students are. To them everyone seems advantaged. I laugh inside thinking that at these schools, low income students are in the closet. Also, it's true that there really aren't that many of us. About 5% qualify for pell grants so the majority are quite rich. I know our school has been trying to improve the amount of low income students matriculating.
So given these letters from top schools, I am wondering if medical schools are trying to do the same? How much does being socioeconomically disadvantaged help in terms of admissions? It is definitely a struggle being from a poor background and helps you empathize more with people from all walks of life. I participate in a lot of community service and a lot of it has been motivated by giving back because our family has benefited from many of these programs. I imagine that med students tend to be from more affluent backgrounds too...like students from top universities.
I thought this was in interesting article on low-income students and top colleges:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/25/b....html?pagewanted=2&sq=low income&st=cse&scp=1
I am really sorry if this has been asked previously. I tried doing a search but couldn't find the exact answer I was looking for.
Anyways, I got a 32 on my MCAT the first time. After getting my score back, I have been getting letters and emails from top schools (Harvard, UMich, etc.) asking to apply. I don't think my MCAT score is competitive for any of these schools so I was surprised as to why I have been getting these emails. The Harvard letter specifically talked about disadvantaged status in medicine.
I have been socioeconomically disadvantaged all my life (but not an URM). Our household income for a family of 6 has been 20-30 K for my entire life. I went to headstart, lived in section 8 housing, qualified for free lunch, etc. I have been financially independent since 17 although lucky not to have needed to contribute to our family income.
Also, I have been lucky to go to an ivy league school with a merit scholarship for full tuition. Along with federal grants (pell, etc.) and generous financial aid from my school, I have been able to get along fine. By being frugal and not going out ( I go out to movies like 2X a year), I have been OK financially. My friends wonder where all the low-income students are. To them everyone seems advantaged. I laugh inside thinking that at these schools, low income students are in the closet. Also, it's true that there really aren't that many of us. About 5% qualify for pell grants so the majority are quite rich. I know our school has been trying to improve the amount of low income students matriculating.
So given these letters from top schools, I am wondering if medical schools are trying to do the same? How much does being socioeconomically disadvantaged help in terms of admissions? It is definitely a struggle being from a poor background and helps you empathize more with people from all walks of life. I participate in a lot of community service and a lot of it has been motivated by giving back because our family has benefited from many of these programs. I imagine that med students tend to be from more affluent backgrounds too...like students from top universities.
I thought this was in interesting article on low-income students and top colleges:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/25/b....html?pagewanted=2&sq=low income&st=cse&scp=1
