Do I want to label myself as disadvantaged?

[woltej1]

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Before anyone may flame me, I never considered myself disadvantaged and no one ever told me that I should be considered. According to AMCAS though I am disadvantaged as I'm the first one in my family to get any level of a college degree. Do I want to label myself as this though? Plus I'm a reapplicant and didn't claim this the first time and i have 2 schools on my current list that I applied to already. Is it worth it for me to claim it? My hard stats are 3.6cgpa and 3.5sGPA, 27>33 mcat improvement and good ECs.

 

[DermViser]

Before anyone may flame me, I never considered myself disadvantaged and no one ever told me that I should be considered. According to AMCAS though I am disadvantaged as I'm the first one in my family to get any level of a college degree. Do I want to label myself as this though? Plus I'm a reapplicant and didn't claim this the first time and i have 2 schools on my current list that I applied to already. Is it worth it for me to claim it? My hard stats are 3.6cgpa and 3.5sGPA, 27>33 mcat improvement and good ECs.

Is that you in your avatar?

 

[woltej1]

Is that you in your avatar?

what does that have to do with the thread?

 

[drumstix]

what does that have to do with the thread?

He's saying if it's you, you don't look disadvantaged maybe lol

If AMCAS says you are by their definitions, why the F wouldn't you follow their guidelines and ask on SDN?

 

[DermViser]

what does that have to do with the thread?

It's probably not smart to put your picture identifying yourself on a thread in which you're asking whether you should label yourself as disadvantaged, in order to gain an edge in medical school admissions.

 

[PurpleLove]

Both my parents didn't go to college and they are middle to low class. I did just fine in life and college and felt that it did not interfere with any of my studies, if anything pushed me to succeed more. I will never understand why being disadvantaged (poor, URM, female) plays such a big role when it has little to do with your abilities.

 

[frosted_flake]

Is this what you guys are referring to?

 

[woltej1]

It's probably not smart to put your picture identifying yourself on a thread in which you're asking whether you should label yourself as disadvantaged, in order to gain an edge in medical school admissions.

1. It's a pic, you have no other information about me or even the schools I'm applying to to identify me. 2. I'm not lying about anything, I'm asking if it'd be a good idea to use this option, which would be appropriate for me, or if it might not serve me good. There's no difference between this or any advice about medical school.

View attachment 180993

Is this what you guys are referring to?

yes.

 

[darklabel]

Both my parents didn't go to college and they are middle to low class. I did just fine in life and college and felt that it did not interfere with any of my studies, if anything pushed me to succeed more. I will never understand why being disadvantaged (poor, URM, female) plays such a big role when it has little to do with your abilities.

I don't think being female is considered disadvantaged anymore. Most schools are reaching parity with # of females vs # of males applying.

 

[PurpleLove]

I don't think being female is considered disadvantaged anymore. Most schools are reaching parity with # of females vs # of males applying.

Good to know, look forward to the day when that is true across the board.

 

[Gauss44]

Both my parents didn't go to college and they are middle to low class. I did just fine in life and college and felt that it did not interfere with any of my studies, if anything pushed me to succeed more. I will never understand why being disadvantaged (poor, URM, female) plays such a big role when it has little to do with your abilities.

Just a thought that may or may not be accurate: Part of the reason for "disadvantage status" may or may not be that they want to make sure that people from all backgrounds are becoming doctors as to not alienate patients. It would be awful for poor people if most doctors were classist and devalued those with lessor means. The idea that poor = more useless = inferior = less important = less worthy of quality care = less important lives, etc. I believe that including people in the profession who use to be poor helps serve to combat that sort of thinking. (I still don't know if that has anything to do with disadvantage status. Disadvantage status might ONLY be around either because they want to be fair to the applicants, or because they want the STRONGEST applicant and starting point has to do with where one finishes, to use a race analogy.)

 

[darklabel]

Good to know, look forward to the day when that is true across the board.

Yup and I believe on average, women do better than men in school.

Maybe we're the ones that should be considered for disadvantaged status 😵

 

[Gauss44]

Yup and I believe on average, women do better than men in school.

Maybe we're the ones that should be considered for disadvantaged status 😵

I personally suspect that in the future there will be even more of an attempt at gender diversity (male, female, intersex, transgender), as well as, sexual orientation diversity. BTW, I think a credible source told me that the number of female applicants recently exceeded the number of male applicants. That might help guys to some minimal extent.

 

[woltej1]

So back on point, do you think applying as disadvantaged helps you out in the large pool of applicants or does it put you in a smaller pool that the colleges then pick from to keep their admission statistics up.

 

[Gauss44]

So back on point, do you think applying as disadvantaged helps you out in the large pool of applicants or does it put you in a smaller pool that the colleges then pick from to keep their admission statistics up.

Helps IMO. I believe (adcoms feel free to correct me on this one) that applying disadvantaged makes you stand out from the crowd. If your application is about equal to another applicant's, but you are disadvantaged, that might give you the edge (esp. if it were a major disadvantage, but I think I remember you saying it was a minor disadvantage).

 

[woltej1]

Helps IMO.

what about the fact that I applied to 2 schools already as not disadvantage and these are my top school choices also.

 

[darklabel]

So back on point, do you think applying as disadvantaged helps you out in the large pool of applicants or does it put you in a smaller pool that the colleges then pick from to keep their admission statistics up.

Sorry Op, I put Disadvantaged and I think it didn't really do much. It wasn't ever brought up in my interviews.

If you believe you were in life Disadvantaged and will include more in your P.S., then label it. Did you qualify for FAP or do you believe you're only disadvantaged because your parents don't have degrees? What will you write in the box if you do mark it?

 

[Gauss44]

what about the fact that I applied to 2 schools already as not disadvantage and these are my top school choices also.

If you get an interview, I would bring it up then. I think it's possible at some schools to get extra points for being disadvantaged.

 

[Aerus]

Both my parents didn't go to college and they are middle to low class. I did just fine in life and college and felt that it did not interfere with any of my studies, if anything pushed me to succeed more. I will never understand why being disadvantaged (poor, URM, female) plays such a big role when it has little to do with your abilities.

Very very very very people do so well in a top Chicago High School and kill the SAT to the point where they can get accepted to a top private institution without any advantages in life. That isn't to say that you didn't work extremely hard, but there are people out there who have much less resources than any of us.

 

[woltej1]

If you get an interview, I would bring it up then. I think it's possible at some schools to get extra points for being disadvantaged.

That's been my thought process so far as this time around I put a little more focus in my PS on the fact that I'm a first time college grad to show initiative.

Very very very very people do so well in a top Chicago High School and kill the SAT to the point where they can get accepted to a top private institution without any advantages in life. That isn't to say that you didn't work extremely hard, but there are people out there who have much less resources than any of us.

I agree completely and I've never self identified as disadvantaged. I feel like if you do you just walk around with the mindset that your problems are other peoples fault.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Both my parents didn't go to college and they are middle to low class. I did just fine in life and college and felt that it did not interfere with any of my studies, if anything pushed me to succeed more. I will never understand why being disadvantaged (poor, URM, female) plays such a big role when it has little to do with your abilities.

Just because you are blind to it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

 

[woltej1]

Both my parents didn't go to college and they are middle to low class. I did just fine in life and college and felt that it did not interfere with any of my studies, if anything pushed me to succeed more. I will never understand why being disadvantaged (poor, URM, female) plays such a big role when it has little to do with your abilities.

Imagine if you had the same abilities, but were put in a situation where from day 1 you were surrounded by people who were fully applying themselves to lucrative careers and your parents had money to allow you to explore a bunch of options. No imagine those same parents worked 12 hour days and just had enough time to come home, maintain their property, have a meal then go back to bed and repeat and also lived very frugal lives. Obviously one of those people will have an easier time learning more life skills, network better and have experiences.

 

[lnvictus]

Imagine if you had the same abilities, but were put in a situation where from day 1 you were surrounded by people who were fully applying themselves to lucrative careers and your parents had money to allow you to explore a bunch of options. No imagine those same parents worked 12 hour days and just had enough time to come home, maintain their property, have a meal then go back to bed and repeat and also lived very frugal lives. Obviously one of those people will have an easier time learning more life skills, network better and have experiences.

I have had the privilege to meet students who attend an Ivy League institution and grew up in the most dangerous parts in their area and every day they had to walk home with a fear in the back of their mind that they could become a victim of a crime (say, a robbery, or assault, etc). They were born to parents who struggled to make an income to support their family so moving out was impractical, and they worked at least 12 hour shifts almost 7 days a week. They lacked money to enjoy many foods that most of us on this site probably take for granted, and finding enough extra money to afford extra SAT classes that are required to get into their dream colleges, in hopes of getting a degree and supporting their own future families.

I understand that these students have had unique situations and my post is purely anecdotal, but in my opinion this is a fantastic example of "disadvantaged". If you can relate to them to a great enough degree, then by all means consider yourself "disadvantaged" on your app.

 

[LizzyM]

View attachment 180993

Is this what you guys are referring to?

That Chart was new in 2013-2014 and is used by AMCAS to classify applicants. "Disadvantaged" is an applicant's self- classification, separate from parents' SES. There are cases where one might have grown up poor despite not being in E1 or E2, for example if a parent with high educational attainment was disabled and unemployed for many years. More typically, the "disadvantaged" applicant is born to a single mom and raised in poverty, sometimes ending up in the foster care system for a time or cared for by relatives if mom isn't around or is irresponsible.

I have seen adcom members who have been very negative toward an applicant who they felt was inaccurately claiming to be disadvantaged.

If you think that you were at a disadvantage in terms of preparation for college based on your life circumstances from 0-18, then consider checking the box. Otherwise, know that AMCAS will classify you and you need not claim disadvantaged status to draw attention to your childhood circumstances.

 

[masaraksh]

That's been my thought process so far as this time around I put a little more focus in my PS on the fact that I'm a first time college grad to show initiative.

I agree completely and I've never self identified as disadvantaged. I feel like if you do you just walk around with the mindset that your problems are other peoples fault.

Sounds like you answered your question. Don't check the box because it can backfire on you (as @LizzyM has explained).

Also, I think that alone, the fact of being a first time college grad does not convince someone that you were disadvantaged. Plenty of students can be raised without strong disadvantage by parents without degrees. I know some - parents are successful in 'the trades' or run small businesses. My interpretation of that box is to only check it if you faced some 'legit' adversity in your life.


edit: FYI, I checked disadvantaged because my parents bought me a Lexus in high school. Talk about facing adversity 😀

 

[HeyNapkin]

If you have to ask then you're not disadvantaged. People like you make me sick. The only thing I hate more is rich URMs abusing affirmative action. Claiming fake disadvantaged status comes in at a close second though.

 

[DokterMom]

I'll say it -- If that is you in your avatar picture, you don't look disadvantaged, and those first impressions do matter. (See @LizzyM's post above) There are enough advantages that come with being a good-looking, athletic (?) white guy that those could easily outweigh the potential disadvantage of having parents who did not graduate from college. Unless, of course, there's a 'tough childhood' story to go with it... Let your SES (E1 or E2) do the talking for you, and be a humble 'boot-strapper'

 

[chenzt]

If you have to ask then you're not disadvantaged. People like you make me sick. The only thing I hate more is rich URMs abusing affirmative action. Claiming fake disadvantaged status comes in at a close second though.

Don't need to flame the OP, especially when AMCAS categorize him as SES disadvantaged. It's not that odd to wonder if he should also mark disadvantaged on his app.

 

[PreciousHamburgers]

Thank you for asking this question, since I am in a very similar situation. The SES Disadvantaged Status thing confuses me as well. I also will be a reapplicant, and did not identify as disadvantaged last time, since there are very few guidelines out there (there is always someone worse off, isn't there?). I am also a first generation college grad, low-income, parents were divorced, tough home life because my brother was a drug dealer and then an addict. I had identified as disadvantaged on this years application because of the recommendation of a couple people, but now I am having second thoughts due to @LizzyM comment. Perhaps I will just take the essay I wrote and integrate it into my personal statement...

 

[Mad Jack]

starting point has to do with where one finishes, to use a race analogy.

Lets not bring race into a disadvantaged status debate, we know where that one ends.

 

[vsa1991]

I'm in a somewhat similar situation. I applied to dental school last year and ended up withdrawing my application. My grades are very poor but I did get a secondary application request from my top choice. I did say that I was disadvantaged and mentioned it in my p.s. I want to better my chances of acceptance this year but I'm also scared to change anything about my p.s or disadvantage status just in case that was what caught their eye. Any advice?

 

[Wasted Energy]

Imagine if you had the same abilities, but were put in a situation where from day 1 you were surrounded by people who were fully applying themselves to lucrative careers and your parents had money to allow you to explore a bunch of options. No imagine those same parents worked 12 hour days and just had enough time to come home, maintain their property, have a meal then go back to bed and repeat and also lived very frugal lives. Obviously one of those people will have an easier time learning more life skills, network better and have experiences.

"Now imagine she's white"

 

[DermViser]

I will never understand why being disadvantaged (poor, URM, female) plays such a big role when it has little to do with your abilities.

I can't WAIT till you get on the wards and interact with Medicaid patients. You just contribute to the deluded, lacking in life experience premed.

 

[DermViser]

1. It's a pic, you have no other information about me or even the schools I'm applying to to identify me. 2. I'm not lying about anything, I'm asking if it'd be a good idea to use this option, which would be appropriate for me, or if it might not serve me good. There's no difference between this or any advice about medical school.

I don't have that info (and don't care). But medical schools do.

 

[Boolean]

Genuinely curious about this one. One of my parents has their PhD, the others has a bachelors but works in a job involving rough manual labor building houses and whatnot. I'm presuming as they both have degrees, I would be considered advantaged (which I certainly feel I am), but I just want to gain some clarification that I am correct in my assumption.

 

[nellbot2000]

Thank you for asking this question, since I am in a very similar situation. The SES Disadvantaged Status thing confuses me as well. I also will be a reapplicant, and did not identify as disadvantaged last time, since there are very few guidelines out there (there is always someone worse off, isn't there?). I am also a first generation college grad, low-income, parents were divorced, tough home life because my brother was a drug dealer and then an addict. I had identified as disadvantaged on this years application because of the recommendation of a couple people, but now I am having second thoughts due to @LizzyM comment. Perhaps I will just take the essay I wrote and integrate it into my personal statement...

I would not second guess self identifying as disadvantaged in your case. The SES will show up on your AMCAS regardless of if you're self identifying. Personally I think that your situation (single parents, difficult home situation, brother involved in unsavory activity), would potentially help you out. You can explain your situation and that can further show why you have been classified as E1 or E2 in the SES section.

I was a re-applicant last cycle, and the cycle previous did not have the SES designation. I was designated E1, and I also listed as disadvantaged but for reasons unrelated to the SES designation (related to my home life). It didn't hurt me, I got IIs and acceptances. Whether or not my self identifying as disadvantaged had anything to do with my success, I do not know. I would lean towards it not making much of a difference because I also did other things to improve my application.

 

[moisne]

Both my parents didn't go to college and they are middle to low class. I did just fine in life and college and felt that it did not interfere with any of my studies, if anything pushed me to succeed more. I will never understand why being disadvantaged (poor, URM, female) plays such a big role when it has little to do with your abilities.

Aren't you the one who's complaining about not getting a 4.0 and complaining that med schools will end up favoring those who have a higher GPA than you because they go to an easier school?

 

[lnvictus]

If you're disadvantaged then you should already know, it's not like you sit under a rock for 18 years and then you're like "oh I'm disadvantaged".

Why is SDN so entitled.

 

[masaraksh]

[X] Disadvantaged.
Relationship between parents strained during childhood

 

[PreciousHamburgers]

If you're disadvantaged then you should already know, it's not like you sit under a rock for 18 years and then you're like "oh I'm disadvantaged".

Why is SDN so entitled.

Because some people have a sense of humility and would not want to self-identify. "Disadvantaged" is a highly subjective word.

 

[hoihaie]

Actually I have a question regarding this. If my parents are separated (for 18+ years), but not divorced, should I still list both parents?

 

[DermViser]

If you're disadvantaged then you should already know, it's not like you sit under a rock for 18 years and then you're like "oh I'm disadvantaged".

Why is SDN so entitled.

Exactly, only in SDN does an applicant have to ask "Am I disadvantaged?"

 

[LizzyM]

Actually I have a question regarding this. If my parents are separated (for 18+ years), but not divorced, should I still list both parents?

Yes, they are still your parents. Nothing states that they have to be married, or living together. I've seen people list 4 parents! It is just biographical information that gives adcoms a picture of who you are. For example, if one of your parents (or step parents) is a physician, or a health care worker, this is a bit different than someone whose parents are police officers or teachers. It also provides topics for conversation at interview, e.g. "I see that your dad is a dentist; why have you chosen medicine over dentistry?" (a twist on the 'why medicine?' question)

 

[BeancheBlanco]

[X] Disadvantaged.
Relationship between parents strained during childhood

Yes because only disheveled, frowning, teary-eyed non-whites can be disadvantaged. Talk about making assumptions.

If you're disadvantaged then you should already know, it's not like you sit under a rock for 18 years and then you're like "oh I'm disadvantaged".
Why is SDN so entitled.

That is true but you have to remember that considering yourself disadvantaged is different than being AMCAS-classified as disadvantaged. Everyone has their own definition of disadvantaged and may or may not consider themselves so. However, AMCAS might view them differently. Additionally, "disadvantageness" is a spectrum whereas AMCAS considers it binary. Therefore, when you are close to that borderline, it becomes unclear which to choose. It's understandable why people ask. They want to add value to their applications.

 

[hoihaie]

Thanks @LizzyM!

 

[masaraksh]

Yes because only disheveled, frowning, teary-eyed non-whites can be disadvantaged. Talk about making assumptions.



That is true but you have to remember that considering yourself disadvantaged is different than being AMCAS-classified as disadvantaged. Everyone has their own definition of disadvantaged and may or may not consider themselves so. However, AMCAS might view them differently. Additionally, "disadvantageness" is a spectrum whereas AMCAS considers it binary. Therefore, when you are close to that borderline, it becomes unclear which to choose. It's understandable why people ask. They want to add value to their applications.

(Gurl) Please. My comment had nothing to do with race. You're the one bringing that in here. I just made a crude joke with the first 'really obviously without a doubt priviledged' person I could find. And poking fun at how the ex-POTUSs affair can be used to claim disadvantage!

 

[BeancheBlanco]

(Gurl) Please. My comment had nothing to do with race. You're the one bringing that in here. I just made a crude joke with the first 'really obviously without a doubt priviledged' person I could find. And poking fun at how the ex-POTUSs affair can be used to claim disadvantage!

So your idea of a "really obviously without a doubt privileged" person is a white girl who seems to care about her appearance and is smiling. Did I get that wrong? To me, those are all bs reasons to assume privilege so whichever it was doesn't make it any more funny or acceptable. Maybe I find this particularly annoying because I am so sick of people who assume you are rich because you wear clothes that fit you and do your hair in the morning.

 

[lnvictus]

So your idea of a "really obviously without a doubt privileged" person is a white girl who seems to care about her appearance and is smiling. Did I get that wrong? To me, those are all bs reasons to assume privilege so whichever it was doesn't make it any more funny or acceptable. Maybe I find this particularly annoying because I am so sick of people who assume you are rich because you wear clothes that fit you and do your hair in the morning.

masaraksh is making a joke based on the current context of the thread that Chelsea Clinton is "disadvantaged" because of how busy her parents are as politicians + the Lewinsky controversy, but you realize that correct?

 

[BeancheBlanco]

masaraksh is making a joke based on the current context of the thread that Chelsea Clinton is "disadvantaged" because of how busy her parents are as politicians + the Lewinsky controversy, but you realize that correct?

I didn't recognize Chelsea Clinton so I did not realize that. Makes more sense then. Sorry for being so edgy.

 

[DermViser]

So your idea of a "really obviously without a doubt privileged" person is a white girl who seems to care about her appearance and is smiling. Did I get that wrong? To me, those are all bs reasons to assume privilege so whichever it was doesn't make it any more funny or acceptable. Maybe I find this particularly annoying because I am so sick of people who assume you are rich because you wear clothes that fit you and do your hair in the morning.