Educationally disadvantaged?

[minplus]

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1) I went to a underserved middle school and high school (A). The problem is I was at the under served high school for only 3 years (9th-11th) before moving and having to go to a different high school (B) . I didn't realize my previous school A was underserved until I was in my new school B. School B had so many opportunities and even had a pretty steep learning curve from my previous school A. Because of this I was a little more prepared for college than I would've been. I did great my first semester with 3.5+ GPA. I want to claim educationally disadvantaged but not sure I should since I graduated from school B. School B is the one I would list on my AMCAS. I do have a little sentence in my PS that I transferred. Should I or should I not claim? I know there isn't any particular benefit to this since I am not URM.

2) For financial disadvantage, my life has been pretty much stable. Only certain instability which many people have naturally in their life. My efc is 10 and my financial aid covered all costs for my undergrad so I didn't not have to work. My family qualifies for food stamps. My father refuses to use them because well we can afford food and don't want to take advantage of the system. His income is about 20,000 -30,000 range (adjusted gross income). Which income do we report to AMCAS adjusted gross or gross income?

Thank you for your time.

 

[kyamh]

1) I went to a underserved middle school and high school (A). The problem is I was at the under served high school for only 3 years (9th-11th) before moving and having to go to a different high school (B) . I didn't realize my previous school A was underserved until I was in my new school B. School B had so many opportunities and even had a pretty steep learning curve from my previous school A. Because of this I was a little more prepared for college than I would've been. I did great my first semester with 3.5+ GPA. I want to claim educationally disadvantaged but not sure I should since I graduated from school B. School B is the one I would list on my AMCAS. I do have a little sentence in my PS that I transferred. Should I or should I not claim? I know there isn't any particular benefit to this since I am not URM.

2) For financial disadvantage, my life has been pretty much stable. Only certain instability which many people have naturally in their life. My efc is 10 and my financial aid covered all costs for my undergrad so I didn't not have to work. My family qualifies for food stamps. My father refuses to use them because well we can afford food and don't want to take advantage of the system. His income is about 20,000 -30,000 range (adjusted gross income). Which income do we report to AMCAS adjusted gross or gross income?

Thank you for your time.

It's all bout the essays, all about how you frame your story. Checking boxes doesn't give you any advantage, your story might. As for reporting income, AMCAS asks that you indicate the range f the average income in your household for the first 18 years of your life.

 

[okokok]

It's all bout the essays, all about how you frame your story. Checking boxes doesn't give you any advantage, your story might. As for reporting income, AMCAS asks that you indicate the range f the average income in your household for the first 18 years of your life.

I don't know, I agree your story is the main thing, but AMCAS deemed me SES and my parents' education levels (high school only) was mentioned in almost all of my interviews, even though I didn't write a single sentence about it.

As for the OP's questions: you can only put whatever you feel is accurate. Listen to your gut. Be ready to discuss your answers if they come up. I'd probably put AGI rather than gross income.

 

[darklabel]

Just put what you feel is most accurate since your SES is low enough for food stamps.

I honestly think saying you were financially disadvantaged is better than saying you were educationally disadvantaged.

 

[Mad Jack]

Just put what you feel is most accurate since your SES is low enough for food stamps.

I honestly think saying you were financially disadvantaged is better than saying you were educationally disadvantaged.

I got quite a few people that were interested in my educational background. But it's not every day a high school dropout walks into a med school interview. I had zero high school science courses and a single D in algebra 1 under my belt when I started college. Let's just say catching up was difficult.

OP, for your app I would work the SES angle a bit but only elaborate on the education side of things if you have space. If you felt adequately prepared for college, I wouldn't mention it at all. And, as a general tip for the SES/underserved angle, make sure you make your story about success despite your circumstances. Your goal should be to show your grit, not elicit pity from the adcoms. That's why I would only give a nod to the SES and not the education seperately- multiple hardships in an essay can often look more like a list of excuses than a valid reason to admit you to med school.

 

[minplus]

I got quite a few people that were interested in my educational background. But it's not every day a high school dropout walks into a med school interview. I had zero high school science courses and a single D in algebra 1 under my belt when I started college. Let's just say catching up was difficult.

OP, for your app I would work the SES angle a bit but only elaborate on the education side of things if you have space. If you felt adequately prepared for college, I wouldn't mention it at all. And, as a general tip for the SES/underserved angle, make sure you make your story about success despite your circumstances. Your goal should be to show your grit, not elicit pity from the adcoms. That's why I would only give a nod to the SES and not the education seperately- multiple hardships in an essay can often look more like a list of excuses than a valid reason to admit you to med school.

Thank you everyone for your input. As for making excuses, I have written my draft for my personal statement and I did not focus on my disadvantaged status at all. I don't plan on making excuses. I guess I might talk about it in the space provided on the AMCAS. I will focus on the positive side and not the whiny side. I don't feel entitled or anything like that. Once again thank you everyone for there input ! and good luck to all 🙂

 

[Mad Jack]

You didn't seem like you were whining, was just giving you a heads up to make sure you didn't come off that way on accident in your essay. Good luck with your first (and hopefully only) cycle!

 

[Zelda840]

I got quite a few people that were interested in my educational background. But it's not every day a high school dropout walks into a med school interview.

Same here. I only went on one interview but both of my interviewers seemed very interested in how I went from a high school dropout to a med school applicant....moreso than anything else about my application.