Do I have an advantage of being adopted?

[Malkin.12]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I was wondering if I have an advantage of getting accepted into medical school, due to my unique background. I got adopted from Russia at the age of seven. I still remember many memories of being an orphan. I was born close to Mongolia, which is pretty cool. In my personal statement, could I explain my memories from Russia?

 

[ConfusedChemist]

Oh yeah. It'll totally mean you're going to be a better doctor than most people

 

[Redpancreas]

:troll:

 

[Malkin.12]

Oh yeah. It'll totally mean you're going to be a better doctor than most people

I can't tell if your being sarcastic or not.

 

[racerwad]

I can't tell if your being sarcastic or not.

Then "your" not paying close enough attention.

 

[piii]

No

 

[Malkin.12]

No

How come?

 

[raiderette]

If you can weave a story about adjusting to new culture, learning how to be part of a family, then maybe it will test at the heartstrings. But have the MCAT, GPA and everything else.

Sent from my XT1254 using SDN mobile

 

[piii]

No

Because your name is Malkin... You're a penguins fan and nobody likes penguins fans.

 

[Malkin.12]

Because your name is Malkin... You're a penguins fan and nobody likes penguins fans.

You are just jealous because we won the Stanley cup this year😉

 

[piii]

You are just jealous because we won the Stanley cup this year😉

I'm definitely not a bitter caps fan 😛
But let's be real, the only thing worse than Pittsburgh is philly

 

[ConfusedChemist]

How come?

Why would it?

It's not a competition for who has the most a-typical life story.....it's about who would be most likely to be a good doctor. Your parents choices aren't super predictive of that, oddly enough

 

[Law2Doc]

If you were adopted by a med school dean you'd be in great shape.

 

[JustAPhD]

I'm definitely not a bitter caps fan 😛
But let's be real, the only thing worse than Pittsburgh is philly

Woah woah woah let's be reasonable now.

 

[Affiche]

Being bilingual is always a plus. Do you still speak Russian?

If you were adopted by stable parents and you don't speak Russian, I'm not sure I see how this will contribute to your application. If you were adopted by family who emigrated here from Russia and struggled to make ends meet, then that might be important context to provide. But, being adopted by parents who could provide for you isn't going to win you hardship points, if that's what you're asking. Being from another culture is cool, if you still integrate that culture into your lifestyle.

 

[Goro]

Nope.

I was wondering if I have an advantage of getting accepted into medical school, due to my unique background. I got adopted from Russia at the age of seven. I still remember many memories of being an orphan. I was born close to Mongolia, which is pretty cool. In my personal statement, could I explain my memories from Russia?

 

[Malkin.12]

I'm definitely not a bitter caps fan 😛
But let's be real, the only thing worse than Pittsburgh is philly

Yeah haha. We can't stand philly!

 

[Malkin.12]

Being bilingual is always a plus. Do you still speak Russian?

If you were adopted by stable parents and you don't speak Russian, I'm not sure I see how this will contribute to your application. If you were adopted by family who emigrated here from Russia and struggled to make ends meet, then that might be important context to provide. But, being adopted by parents who could provide for you isn't going to win you hardship points, if that's what you're asking. Being from another culture is cool, if you still integrate that culture into your lifestyle.

I appreciate your feedback. I got adopted by american parents. I am not fluent in Russian, I just know the basics. I didn't have Russian individuals to associate with. I was to focused learning English at the age of 7. I plan on relearning my first language eventually.

 

[Affiche]

I appreciate your feedback. I got adopted by american parents. I am not fluent in Russian, I just know the basics. I didn't have Russian individuals to associate with. I was to focused learning English at the age of 7. I plan on relearning my first language eventually.

Then I'd say no, it won't provide any flavor to your application.

 

[Malkin.12]

Then I'd say no, it won't provide any flavor to your application.

So if I relearn my Russian, that would be the only appealing part? not my background? Don't some medical schools value diversity?

 

[Affiche]

So if I relearn my Russian, that would be the only appealing part? not my background? Don't some medical schools value diversity?

You were raised by American parents, in America, and didn't retain any of the culture from your original country. How is that adding diversity?

 

[Malkin.12]

You were raised by American parents, in America, and didn't retain any of the culture from your original country. How is that adding diversity?

That's a good point. I just figured because I wouldn't be the typical applicant that was born in the states.

 

[cardzkp]

I'm definitely not a bitter caps fan 😛
But let's be real, the only thing worse than Pittsburgh is philly

I was excited to be starting school in DC so I can catch the occasional Islanders game.. until I remembered the Caps are stacked and the Isles have the worst management in professional hockey.

 

[candbgirl]

Many applicants weren't born in the states. And many of them have retained their culture and language. You're just a kid who was an international adoption who successfully assimilated to American life. And good for you. You've gotten a good education and are now applying to med school. Lots of kids born in America aren't anywhere near as successful as you. Good luck with your applications.


Sent from my iPad using SDN mobile app

 

[DingoPingo]

I was wondering if I have an advantage of getting accepted into medical school, due to my unique background. I got adopted from Russia at the age of seven. I still remember many memories of being an orphan. I was born close to Mongolia, which is pretty cool. In my personal statement, could I explain my memories from Russia?

Your background doesn't give you an advantage nor disadvantage; it's just context for your achievements.

 

[MareNostrummm]

Provided that this isn't a troll thread, you guys are heavily discounting how it is growing up as an orphan... especially on education and development at a young age. For all we know he could have had a very hard time coming to terms with not having parents. Children are easily traumatized. A good portion of the earlier part of his life would have been spent adapting to a new family and a new culture, which isn't exactly the same experience that a typical applicant would have.

 

[Affiche]

Provided that this isn't a troll thread, you guys are heavily discounting how it is growing up as an orphan... especially on education and development at a young age. For all we know he could have had a very hard time coming to terms with not having parents. Children are easily traumatized. A good portion of the earlier part of his life would have been spent adapting to a new family and a new culture, which isn't exactly the same experience that a typical applicant would have.

Someone who is adopted by parents isn't an orphan. Come on, now.

 

[MareNostrummm]

Surely you jest! I was an orphan, meaning I lost my parents and didn't have any. Someone who is adopted by parents isn't an orphan. Come on, now.

lol...

 

[Affiche]

lol...

Well, seriously. Someone who legally has parents isn't an orphan, boo boo. That was a dumb comment.

 

[Lawpy]

This thread is concerning in so many ways

 

[MareNostrummm]

Well, seriously. Someone who legally has parents isn't an orphan, boo boo. That was a dumb comment.

lol...

 

[paul2752]

Hell, if you get plus for being adopted(which you barely have anything to do), I should have a guaranteed admission because I had to adjust to language barrier, culture, financial difficulties, something I actually have been doing for a long time! Instead, I will be asked to show an escro of FOUR YEARS OF TUITION at worst scenario.

 

[Pusheen]

Surely you jest! I was an orphan, meaning I lost my parents and didn't have any. Someone who is adopted by parents isn't an orphan. Come on, now.

I think the point was that he was an orphan until the age of 7, which is indeed a very formative time. Being an orphan during the economic and social upheaval in 90s Russia couldn't have been that great

 

[MareNostrummm]

I think the point was that he was an orphan until the age of 7, which is indeed a very formative time. Being an orphan during the economic and social upheaval in 90s Russia couldn't have been that great

Dat developmental psychology lol

 

[Affiche]

I think the point was that he was an orphan until the age of 7, which is indeed a very formative time. Being an orphan during the economic and social upheaval in 90s Russia couldn't have been that great

He said ''growing up as an orphan''. OP grew up with parents and is looking for a way to spin that and get some points for an application. Low. This guy's comment made the argument that we were discounting OP's background (oh, the irony) because it's hard being an orphan and adjusting to parents. That doesn't even make sense.

 

[wizzed101]

How long ago did you regain this new memory ?

 

[NotYou20]

Because your name is Malkin... You're a penguins fan and nobody likes penguins fans.

Kessel is God. Pens became lovable the second that trade went down

 

[Pusheen]

He said ''growing up as an orphan''. OP grew up with parents and is looking for a way to spin that and get some points for an application. Low. This guy's comment made the argument that we were discounting OP's background (oh, the irony) because it's hard being an orphan and adjusting to parents. That doesn't even make sense.

Part of his growing up happened while he was an orphan. I agree that he wasn't an orphan after being adopted, but surely 7 years of being an orphan is an atypical experience for most applicants.
If I was OP, I would mention it if I had significant experience or was an important part of my identity, but it looks like that's not the case

 

[Malkin.12]

How long ago did you regain this new memory ?

Memory of being an orphan, what do you mean? I never forgot about my experiences as an orphan, it always stuck with me.

 

[Malkin.12]

Kessel is God. Pens became lovable the second that trade went down

It definitely helped the Penguins for sure!

 

[Malkin.12]

He said ''growing up as an orphan''. OP grew up with parents and is looking for a way to spin that and get some points for an application. Low. This guy's comment made the argument that we were discounting OP's background (oh, the irony) because it's hard being an orphan and adjusting to parents. That doesn't even make sense.

"because it's hard being an orphan and adjusting to parents. That doesn't even make sense". Actually you wouldn't understand. Sometimes it was difficult as an orphan, I didn't have many advantages as a child like most children did. That just shows how far I have come. I mean, come on who starts leaning English at the age of 7, not that many.

 

[candbgirl]

Lots of kids start learning English at age seven. It's not that uncommon. I know people who have done international adoptions and it wasn't easy and it wasn't cheap. I'm sure you have had a multitude of experience some of those other kids learning English at age seven can only dream about. Did being adopted help get you into college.Did you even mention it in your college applications? I think you should mention it in detail
Since it seems so important to you. But remember you are one of the lucky Russian orphans,


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

 

[Malkin.12]

Lots of kids start learning English at age seven. It's not that uncommon. I know people who have done international adoptions and it wasn't easy and it wasn't cheap. I'm sure you have had a multitude of experience some of those other kids learning English at age seven can only dream about. Did being adopted help get you into college.Did you even mention it in your college applications? I think you should mention it in detail
Since it seems so important to you. But remember you are one of the lucky Russian orphans,


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

Ever sense the Russian president banned U.S adoptions of Russian orphans, I even feel more lucky! I actually did not mention it throughout the college applications. Only my nationality.

 

[Affiche]

"because it's hard being an orphan and adjusting to parents. That doesn't even make sense". Actually you wouldn't understand. Sometimes it was difficult as an orphan, I didn't have many advantages as a child like most children did. That just shows how far I have come. I mean, come on who starts leaning English at the age of 7, not that many.

You're twisting my words mean something they don't. It doesn't make sense to call someone an orphan once they have parents, as the definition of an orphan literally means they do not have parents. You can discuss that it was difficult adjusting to a new adoptive family if you want, but it won't be any different than other kids who had to adjust to living with family members, an adoptive family, a legal guardian, etc.

 

[wizzed101]

"because it's hard being an orphan and adjusting to parents. That doesn't even make sense". Actually you wouldn't understand. Sometimes it was difficult as an orphan, I didn't have many advantages as a child like most children did. That just shows how far I have come. I mean, come on who starts leaning English at the age of 7, not that many.

If you are already dead set on suddenly feeling wronged, by all means, mention it.

Be sure to do a lot of research on possible disadvantages.

 

[Malkin.12]

You're twisting my words mean something they don't. It doesn't make sense to call someone an orphan once they have parents, as the definition of an orphan literally means they do not have parents. You can discuss that it was difficult adjusting to a new adoptive family if you want, but it won't be any different than other kids who had to adjust to living with family members, an adoptive family, a legal guardian, etc.

I understand your first point. I don't want you to have misconceptions. I never claimed that once I had parents I was an orphan, but at the time in the orphanage obviously I didn't have any parents. I think the biggest factor is that how far I have come to this day. And how those life experiences changed me into an understanding individual. That right there is atypical medical school applicant.

 

[MareNostrummm]

He said ''growing up as an orphan''. OP grew up with parents and is looking for a way to spin that and get some points for an application. Low. This guy's comment made the argument that we were discounting OP's background (oh, the irony) because it's hard being an orphan and adjusting to parents. That doesn't even make sense.

Wtf? How is this so hard to understand? He was an orphan. He was adopted. Oh wow he's not an "orphan" anymore, big deal. Just because he has "parents" now does not mean everything is well and done... The literal meaning of orphan does not matter. You're assuming biological parents and adopted parents do not have any differential impact on a child's development, in addition to the 7 years or so where he did not have any parents at all.

 

[studentdocftw]

I can't tell if your being sarcastic or not.

 

[Affiche]

I understand your first point. I don't want you to have misconceptions. I never claimed that once I had parents I was an orphan, but at the time in the orphanage obviously I didn't have any parents. I think the biggest factor is that how far I have come to this day. And how those life experiences changed me into an understanding individual. That right there is atypical medical school applicant.

Sure, but keep in mind that there will be plenty of students applying who weren't fortunate enough to land in a functional family situation and by painting your childhood as dire you may be compared to them. Another pre-med in this thread doesn't seem to grasp that this could actually hurt you if not done very, very carefully. If you want to write about your experience pre-age 7, go ahead and do so, but I caution you against using those years as a means to get an advantage with your application, which your initial posts have indicated is exactly what you're trying to do. Just be aware that since you were adopted and raised by stable parents, it could come off in poor taste to then turn around and paint your childhood as largely deprived, especially if you were adopted into a relatively high SES.

You can write about it as more of an interesting fact rather than an attempt to get sympathy points or an advantage and still get your point across.

To give you an anecdote, one of my best friends was adopted from Russia when he was between 6-8 years old (I don't remember exactly the age). He only remembers very, very basic Russian and won't claim that he knows it at all. He identifies as American. He was adopted into a pretty well-to-do family and hasn't looked back. He performed well in high school, took plenty of AP courses, and went on to do very well in college. His first few years in a Russian orphanage never come up. Ever. So I apologize if I've offended you, but I find your sudden interest in using this adoption to paint your early years as disadvantaged to gain an advantage as...odd. And as someone who applied as very disadvantaged, I find if off-putting that someone whose childhood was largely stable and well-resourced would try to get an advantage on their application.

 

[Malkin.12]

Sure, but keep in mind that there will be plenty of students applying who weren't fortunate enough to land in a functional family situation and by painting your childhood as dire you may be compared to them. Another pre-med in this thread doesn't seem to grasp that this could actually hurt you if not done very, very carefully. If you want to write about your experience pre-age 7, go ahead and do so, but I caution you against using those years as a means to get an advantage with your application, which your initial posts have indicated is exactly what you're trying to do. Just be aware that since you were adopted and raised by stable parents, it could come off in poor taste to then turn around and paint your childhood as largely deprived, especially if you were adopted into a relatively high SES.

You can write about it as more of an interesting fact rather than an attempt to get sympathy points or an advantage and still get your point across.

To give you an anecdote, one of my best friends was adopted from Russia when he was between 6-8 years old (I don't remember exactly the age). He only remembers very, very basic Russian and won't claim that he knows it at all. He identifies as American. He was adopted into a pretty well-to-do family and hasn't looked back. He performed well in high school, took plenty of AP courses, and went on to do very well in college. His first few years in a Russian orphanage never come up. Ever. So I apologize if I've offended you, but I find your sudden interest in using this adoption to paint your early years as disadvantaged to gain an advantage as...odd. And as someone who applied as very disadvantaged, I find if off-putting that someone whose childhood was largely stable and well-resourced would try to get an advantage on their application.[/QUOTE
Your feedback is very helpful. I questioned this scenario because I wasn't quite sure about it. I really don't think it's unusual. I feel like it's important, and there has to be a story about it; the past developed me. I'll just have to write my past experience very informative, and cautiously well written. More than likely to be on the safe side, just state it as a fact like you mentioned. That's awesome of your best friend. Just curious, did he also attend medical school after undergrad?