Economically disadvantged?

[wiseman]

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Okay another 'am I ED' thread so here goes....

Father was enlisted in the army and grew up in Germany. Worked every summer since eight grade bagging groceries soley for tips for money. 5 people in my household until the age of 18. Went to university on full scholarship no cash from parents. Worked in University as well to support myself. Didn't learn to drive until age 21. Pops probably pulled in like 40k per year. Think I know what the responses will be.

 

[senorsquishie]

Being disadvangaed is a self reported status based on a defination. Do you feel disadvanged? Can you explain why in an interview?

 

[jhay]

Being disadvangaed is a self reported status based on a defination. Do you feel disadvanged? Can you explain why in an interview?

+1

👍

 

[LizzyM]

Were you deprived as a child and HS student of things other kids have and did that deprivation put you at a disadvantage when you enrolled in college?

Did you have access to the basics like nourishing food, safe shelter with utilities, warm clothing? Did you have access to books, a decent school, experiences such as, for example, hearing live music of any kind, visiting a zoo or circus, caring for a pet, learning to swim? (These types of experiences are enriching and contribute to one's broad education.)

In the end, every applicant is required this year (2012 application cycle) to answer questions about their childhood. In addition, you can provide some information about your disadvantage if you choose to self-identify as such. Some schools take this into account, particularly if you got off to a rough start in college as you made the adjustment but it can backfire if an adcom member reviewing your file thinks that you are whining or making excuses that are unfounded.

 

[Lil Mick]

Did it impact your life/schooling or your desire to practice in underserved areas? For instance, my schools didn't have heat, lab classes, or books for students, and some were in less-than-safe neighborhoods. It definitely impacted me when I entered college and had to learn how to use a computer for my classes, write lab reports... If you had little exposure to things taken for granted by other college students/professors or if people have been appalled by the lack of something when you were growing up, you're probably disadvantaged.

 

[Bmed]

Father was enlisted in the army and grew up in Germany.

Father being in the army or living in another country has really no bearing on being economically disadvantaged.

Worked every summer since eight grade bagging groceries soley for tips for money.

The working "soley for tips and money" part doesn't follow. Why else would you work? Countless teens and college students work during the summer so this is not really disadvantaged in any way. If you had to work significant hours during the year to support yourself and your family might be another matter.

5 people in my household until the age of 18.

Cool. You had two other siblings.

Went to university on full scholarship no cash from parents.

Cool. You were smart enough to get a full scholarship.

Didn't learn to drive until age 21.

Not learning to drive until age 21 makes you late in learning a basic adult skill. Not really relevant to being economically disadvantaged.

Worked in University as well to support myself.

How much did you have to "support" yourself? If you didn't work throughout the year and had to pay for most if not all your expenses, this would barely merit acknowledgement.

Pops probably pulled in like 40k per year.

40k makes you lower middle class. Your family made nearly twice as much as the 2009 poverty level for a family of four which objectively speaking, doesn't make you all that poor.

Think I know what the responses will be.

Was this along the line of what you were expecting?

 

[wiseman]

Father being in the army or living in another country has really no bearing on being economically disadvantaged.



The working "soley for tips and money" part doesn't follow. Why else would you work? Countless teens and college students work during the summer so this is not really disadvantaged in any way. If you had to work significant hours during the year to support yourself and your family might be another matter.



Cool. You had two other siblings.



Cool. You were smart enough to get a full scholarship.



Not learning to drive until age 21 makes you late in learning a basic adult skill. Not really relevant to being economically disadvantaged.



How much did you have to "support" yourself? If you didn't work throughout the year and had to pay for most if not all your expenses, this would barely merit acknowledgement.



40k makes you lower middle class. Your family made nearly twice as much as the 2009 poverty level for a family of four which objectively speaking, doesn't make you all that poor.



Was this along the line of what you were expecting?

Actually I wanted to thank everyone for their responses. I was expecting to be gangbangedby a bunch of 'screw you for even asking' responses but Ive come away quite impressed with the caliber of anwsers. Pat on the back SDNers.