Help!! should I say that I am socio-economically disadvantaged

[kanaktime]

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I am wondering if I should mark on my application that I am socio-economically disadvantaged. First, a little history: Both of my parents had a ~12+ year battle with an addiction to heroin, they were in and out of jail and I was in the custody of the state, but lived with my grandparents. Once my mom got “clean”, she gained custody of us, but had a hard time obtaining a job (bad criminal record). I often had to chip in on bills when she did not have the money to pay the rent or electric. In addition, last year after ~20 years I have just reunited with my father. What do you guys think, I am Caucasian so I am not sure if this applies. But if it does, is it a benefit to do so? Any help would be great…I’m stuck on this part of the application!

 

[jochi1543]

Yes, I think you are the perfect example of socio-economically disadvantaged.

 

[OCallag]

I think they'd be surprised if you didn't. You're awesome.

 

[Ookluh]

Sounds disadvantaged to me. Kudos to you for making it this far!

 

[directdoc]

Wow. You're one tough cookie! Kudos is right!

 

[kanaktime]

Hey, Thanks a lot guys! I needed the reassurance; the AAMC definition is very brief.

 

[Meatwad]

Wow, yeah, I'd definitely say you are socio-economically disadvantaged. My family lived under the poverty line (ha... way under) for quite some time, but I don't think I'd apply as disadvantaged, because my story is nowhere near as complex as yours. Just straight up poor

 

[lodihi]

Wow, yeah, I'd definitely say you are socio-economically disadvantaged. My family lived under the poverty line (ha... way under) for quite some time, but I don't think I'd apply as disadvantaged, because my story is nowhere near as complex as yours. Just straight up poor

Same here, but I didn't apply as socio-economically disadvantaged because I don't think it had much of an effect on my academic career. It gave me lots of material for my secondary essays though.

 

[DoctaJay]

I am wondering if I should mark on my application that I am socio-economically disadvantaged. First, a little history: Both of my parents had a ~12+ year battle with an addiction to heroin, they were in and out of jail and I was in the custody of the state, but lived with my grandparents. Once my mom got “clean”, she gained custody of us, but had a hard time obtaining a job (bad criminal record). I often had to chip in on bills when she did not have the money to pay the rent or electric. In addition, last year after ~20 years I have just reunited with my father. What do you guys think, I am Caucasian so I am not sure if this applies. But if it does, is it a benefit to do so? Any help would be great…I’m stuck on this part of the application!

You can be white, black, green, yellow and still be considered economically disadvantaged. And as was mentioned before, you pretty much fit the bill for that title. Just don't depend on this status to get you in; still focus on your strong GPA, MCAT, ECs, etc. Interviewer's don't like when the "life story" is pushed so much that it becomes a sob story (not saying you are doing that, but just some future advice before you interview). Good luck!

 

[kevster2001]

dayum, yeah put it down

 

[jochi1543]

Wow, yeah, I'd definitely say you are socio-economically disadvantaged. My family lived under the poverty line (ha... way under) for quite some time, but I don't think I'd apply as disadvantaged, because my story is nowhere near as complex as yours. Just straight up poor

医者の卵

"A doctor's EGG/spawn"?😕

 

[Meatwad]

"A doctor's EGG/spawn"?😕

You know your kanji; very good.

"Doctor's egg," could be more colloquially translated as "doctor-in-the-making."

 

[DonnaKaren]

I would like to be considered disadvantaged. Could anyone reading this please provide feedback? thanks.

I have grown up in a single parent family my entire life without child support from my father. And while my mother has struggled to provide me with the opportunity to receive a superior education financial hardships remain an obstacle. Qualifying for the fee assistance program has greatly reduced the economic burden of applying to medical school but it has not eliminated it. I am currently working and doing the best that I can to save for medical school but I am often encumbered by basic living expenses and will need as much help as possible to pay for medical school.

 

[WinterLights]

I would like to be considered disadvantaged. Could anyone reading this please provide feedback? thanks.

I have grown up in a single parent family my entire life without child support from my father. And while my mother has struggled to provide me with the opportunity to receive a superior education financial hardships remain an obstacle. Qualifying for the fee assistance program has greatly reduced the economic burden of applying to medical school but it has not eliminated it. I am currently working and doing the best that I can to save for medical school but I am often encumbered by basic living expenses and will need as much help as possible to pay for medical school.

I don't think that you need to say anything about FAP in this section. Also, I would remove any talk about saving for medical school or paying for medical school specifically. Just focus on "single parent" and "financial hardships."

 

[Lacheln]

I would like to be considered disadvantaged. Could anyone reading this please provide feedback? thanks.

I have grown up in a single parent family my entire life without child support from my father. And while my mother has struggled to provide me with the opportunity to receive a superior education financial hardships remain an obstacle. Qualifying for the fee assistance program has greatly reduced the economic burden of applying to medical school but it has not eliminated it. I am currently working and doing the best that I can to save for medical school but I am often encumbered by basic living expenses and will need as much help as possible to pay for medical school.

#1, I don't think disadvantaged status has much to do with your finaid app, unless it makes a case for a merit scholarship. Instead I believe it is meant to highlight factors that might have contributed to academic difficulties, such as lack of access to decent schools or having to work to support the family while in school. It can also bolster an argument that you have an interest in underserved populations.

#2, take a look at the AMCAS disadvantaged section, the questions pretty much lead you through to determine if you are considered disadvantaged. What you've said above doesn't necessarily make it clear one way or another.

 

[lilfoot]

does disadvantaged have to do with how you grew up? or can it refer to other things:
I am a nontraditional app. I am a single mother.. did a post bac program and works. I do not get child support from the father. should I put disadvantaged?

 

[batman1983]

does disadvantaged have to do with how you grew up? or can it refer to other things:
I am a nontraditional app. I am a single mother.. did a post bac program and works. I do not get child support from the father. should I put disadvantaged?

Based on what you have provided, I would say that you arent considered disadvantaged. I think the timeframe for socioeconomic refers to applicant's status from birth to college. If you had sufficient socioeconomic hardships during that period, then you might be able to qualify.

 

[caseofthemndays]

How bout me? Raised by a single mother because my father passed away from substance abuse problems. I'm caucasian, and probably middle class. Am I disadvantaged?

 

[LizzyM]

How bout me? Raised by a single mother because my father passed away from substance abuse problems. I'm caucasian, and probably middle class. Am I disadvantaged?

Go to the AMCAS instructions

http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/amcas2010instructions060209.pdf

For applications for 2010, the disadvantaged section begins on page 44.

 

[AdemTD]

How bout me? Raised by a single mother because my father passed away from substance abuse problems. I'm caucasian, and probably middle class. Am I disadvantaged?

I talked to an admissions counselor at my state schools and they both said being raised by a single parent is one way of being disadvantaged...it doesn't just apply to being poor as many of us often think about when using the term "disadvantaged." Also, growing up in a medically under-served community is another disadvantage. Of course I'm talking about living in an area that is truly under-served, for example where your entire county has 3 hospitals that is basically a first aid stand and where all trauma has to be flown out to a major center several miles away, not Manhattan where there is a shortage of primary care physicians as LizzyM has pointed out before.

 

[batman1983]

I talked to an admissions counselor at my state schools and they both said being raised by a single parent is one way of being disadvantaged...it doesn't just apply to being poor as many of us often think about when using the term "disadvantaged." Also, growing up in a medically under-served community is another disadvantage. Of course I'm talking about living in an area that is truly under-served, for example where your entire county has 3 hospitals that is basically a first aid stand and where all trauma has to be flown out to a major center several miles away, not Manhattan where there is a shortage of primary care physicians as LizzyM has pointed out before.

Really? Single parent= disadvantaged? Damn, wish I knew that

 

[LizzyM]

I talked to an admissions counselor at my state schools and they both said being raised by a single parent is one way of being disadvantaged...it doesn't just apply to being poor as many of us often think about when using the term "disadvantaged." Also, growing up in a medically under-served community is another disadvantage. Of course I'm talking about living in an area that is truly under-served, for example where your entire county has 3 hospitals that is basically a first aid stand and where all trauma has to be flown out to a major center several miles away, not Manhattan where there is a shortage of primary care physicians as LizzyM has pointed out before.

state medical schools?

I don't see single parent as meeting the definition of "disadvantaged" but it is self-identification. If you claim this and the adcom thinks that you are trying to get an advantage, it could provide you with the real "disadvantage".

 

[PinkIvy08]

Whaaat?!? There is no way being raised by a single parent alone can be considered disadvantaged - I feel that it is (sadly) ridiculously common nowadays.

...guess I would have "qualified" too, at least by your school's standards

 

[buffywannabe]

Now I am nervous that maybe I shouldn't have put it... I was raised by a single 17year old mother (highschool drop out). She lived with random people and worked at McDonalds to support us until we moved in with my future step father.

 

[LizzyM]

Now I am nervous that maybe I shouldn't have put it... I was raised by a single 17year old mother (highschool drop out). She lived with random people and worked at McDonalds to support us until we moved in with my future step father.

If your mom didn't finish HS and was raising you alone for years at low wages, you may have a better case than someone who has two parents with professional degrees who called it splitsville when the applicant was 10.