Does this count as disadvantaged?

[ponybreeder4]

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At age 7 your family migrated to the USA from Serbia where they had high ranking positions. In the united states they could not find adequate work up until you were 19. Your family income from 0-18 was about 40k for a household of 5. Your parents still managed to save money to have you enroled in various ec classes, however you lived off section 8 housing, free government medical insurance, and welfare. Friend without an account is asking. So basically in his case, he didn't feel much from the economical position his family was in since they used what little money they had wisely, however, the reality was this household of 5 was living off of 40k. Does he qualify as disadvantaged?

 

[Excelsius]

At age 7 your family migrated to the USA from Serbia where they had high ranking positions. In the united states they could not find adequate work up until you were 19. Your family income from 0-18 was about 40k for a household of 5. Your parents still managed to save money to have you enroled in various ec classes, however you lived off section 8 housing, free government medical insurance, and welfare. Friend without an account is asking. So basically in his case, he didn't feel much from the economical position his family was in since they used what little money they had wisely, however, the reality was this household of 5 was living off of 40k. Does he qualify as disadvantaged?

He should talk to a financial counselor. I don't know about income poverty levels (look it up), but receiving free government aid like Medical means that you are below poverty level, so by default that should be a qualification.

 

[NCDocWannabe]

My family has been on the same programs (section 8, free and reduced lunch, food stamps, etc.) for most of my life and have pondered this myself. just being elgible for such programs is not enough. According to the new poverty guidlines:
http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/09poverty.shtml
a family of 5 at 40K is not considered impoverished if I am reading the chart right. However I am not an adcomm and they are the people who make these decisions. As someone advised I would contact a financial advisor or shoot LizzyM or any of the other school administrators here a PM. Hope that helps.

 

[LizzyM]

AMCAS asks applicants to self-indentify if disadvantaged as a child. So, it isn't according to any particular formula. If the applicant feels that s/he was at a disadvantage as a child (before age 18), then check yes and respond to the prompts. Adcoms may take that information into account in determining whether to interview (I've seen it play less of a role in deciding to admit but it might be taken into account at some schools).

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

LizzyM is the oracle and what she says is always your best source. I would point out, though, that merely being working-class (5 people/$40K) does not necessarily make one disadvantaged, even though the family was accustomed to a higher social status. Just a thought.