Having the hallmark 'disadvantaged' childhood, but doing well academically anyway?

[melbatoast]

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Final question (I hope) before submitting my app. I've gone back and forth on checking the disadvantaged box, and though many people I've talked with think I should I feel less comfortable doing it.

Grew up in single parent home, rural area, on govt assistance, below poverty line. Periods of housing instability. Worked in HS to help pay for my needs, underperforming school etc etc. However, though my immediate family and personal situation was poor, my parent was college educated, my extended family was middle class and educated - no financial help from them, but exposure to that 'world' including occasional opportunities my peers did not receive such as one summer of travel with grandparents - and due to this and maybe some lucky genetics I did not struggle in school. While I only applied to one college as I had no advisors or support to apply more widely, I did get in and was academically successful from the start. This seems to be the sticking point in much of the advice given to others with this issue. If I wasn't academically disadvantaged, but it's because I was lucky to have things come to me quickly and had parental education influence and support, does any of the rest even matter?

I'm leaning toward not checking the box, and highlighting some of the other struggles in adversity/diversity essays in secondaries. Guess I just wanted to make sure I'm not shooting myself in the foot right off the bat by not checking that box. Thanks all, this forum has been a life saver over the past year as I get ready for this beast of a process.

 

[LizzyM]

If your parents had college degrees and you had opportunities for things like summer travel, you may be criticized for checking the box.
You are able to answer questions about gov't assistance, family income in childhood, etc even if you don't check the box. Isn't that correct?

 

[melbatoast]

If your parents had college degrees and you had opportunities for things like summer travel, you may be criticized for checking the box.
You are able to answer questions about gov't assistance, family income in childhood, etc even if you don't check the box. Isn't that correct?

You are correct! That was my inclination, to answer those questions honestly but avoid declaring myself 'disadvantaged'. Thank you for confirming this decision for me, I truly appreciate it!

 

[Walter Raleigh]

Then again, LizzyM, OP was certainly materially disadvantaged (below the poverty line, government assistance), and could if they so chose check the box honestly. However, if they don't feel they were disadvantaged, it's better to err on the side of honesty.

 

[LizzyM]

Then again, LizzyM, OP was certainly materially disadvantaged (below the poverty line, government assistance), and could if they so chose check the box honestly. However, if they don't feel they were disadvantaged, it's better to err on the side of honesty.

There was a time when only applicants who checked the disadvantaged box could answer the questions about family income, etc. Now everyone gets those questions so if you don't check the box but list average yearly income as $19,000 and check the gov't assistance box the adcom can draw its own conclusions.