how should I write my economically disadvantaged status without sounding whiny?

[Prism328]

Explain below why you believe you should be considered a disadvantaged applicant by your designated medical schools. The space available for your explanation is 1325 characters, or approximately ¼ page. *
I immigrated to the United States with my parents at a very young age. Both my parents received only high school education in China. Both by parents went through many low income jobs in order to support the family. My father died in 1999 when I was 11 years old and my mother became a single parent who raised me alone ever since. My mother continues to work at a low income job at the Marriott in Banquet service. We continue to receive financial assistance such as from the Maryland Energy Assistance Program which helps pay for electrical utilities. During my K-12 education, I received benefits such as free or reduced price lunch and reduced fees on things like the SATs and Advanced Placement examinations. It would have been tough to attend college if it were not for financial assistance from the government such as the Federal Pell Grant or from generous people such as the Rattner Family Scholarship.
Well thats what I put down for that question
Although I did poorly in high school, I don't think high school matters for medical school so I don't know whether to mention that and besides, I blame myself more than I blame the economic situation. Sure I couldn't afford piano lessons or thing rich kids can afford but I don't know whatever opportunities I didn't have that rich kids had or I couldn't get for free from government assistance so I don't really feel economically disadvantaged. I just know I couldn't have gone to college without the free ride i'm getting. Also I worked 15 hours a week at the library to save up money for med school (I'd work more but I have to do research and teaching). I got a 4.0 that semester but I'm going to quit the library job because its just too much because i will be doing school, internship, and teaching and since its my last semester I want it to be perfect. Besides, I could always just take out a loan for medical school.
Life would have been harder if I had to pay full price for stuff like for my AP exams, but I didn't so I don't know how I should feel. Should I feel guilty trying to play the economically advantaged card? 🙁I mean, do URMs feel guilty playing the URM card?
PS-I had to drive to school everyday to college because I couldn't afford to live there. I live an hour away. Should I mention that? I don't know how much it affected me since I still got a 3.9 GPA as a bio major. I feel like the economically disadvantaged status is for people who did crappy in college to give an excuse to why they sucked. I blame myself for any short comings anyways.

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[Nuggles]

Well it does sound like you come from an economically disadvantaged family. If I was in your position I wouldn't feel guilty about talking about it, because all else being equal, you had to work harder for your grade than someone who came from a more financially well-off family. I'm lucky enough to not have to worry about finances and whatnot and I can honestly say that I wouldn't have been able to achieve the same grades if I had to work part-time in college. Obviously, you shouldn't use this to come off as saying "accept me because I had a hard life." But you definitely should mention it.

The only time I'd imagine a person feeling guilty about playing the URM card is if they really weren't deserving of the URM status (e.g. family very well off, grew up in great neighbourhoods etc.)

 

[Prism328]

Well it does sound like you come from an economically disadvantaged family. If I was in your position I wouldn't feel guilty about talking about it, because all else being equal, you had to work harder for your grade than someone who came from a more financially well-off family. I'm lucky enough to not have to worry about finances and whatnot and I can honestly say that I wouldn't have been able to achieve the same grades if I had to work part-time in college. Obviously, you shouldn't use this to come off as saying "accept me because I had a hard life." But you definitely should mention it.

The only time I'd imagine a person feeling guilty about playing the URM card is if they really weren't deserving of the URM status (e.g. family very well off, grew up in great neighbourhoods etc.)

yea but I only worked that one semester. The thing is, I didn't really have to work BECAUSE I got financial assistance. I just wanted to save for med school but i'm going to quit the job because I don't want to jepordize my grades and I feel like theres no point to saving up for med school since I could just take out crap loads of loans. I didn't have to pay a dime for college because of grants and scholarships. I would have had to work if I didn't recieve financial aid. Ironically I don't feel like I had a hard life because I got so many free stuff from being poor.

 

[Compass]

You should not feel guilty about being economically disadvantaged. Enroll in FAFSA, ask for financial aid from the FA office. You should not needlessly make medical school an even bigger economic hardship than it already is with your current economic status.

Check with the poverty lines as well: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/09poverty.shtml

As far as commuting an hour to school, I know many of my classmates, as well as myself, who commute to work and school an hour each way anyways. I've racked up about 20,000 miles on my car just driving to and from school and work.

Edit: Remember, you earned the scholarship. That counts as working for it as well.

 

[Nuggles]

Ironically I don't feel like I had a hard life because I got so many free stuff from being poor.

I can see what you're saying.. I would still mention your economic status though if I was in your situation; even though you may not feel like you had a hard life, your life probably would've been easier had your family been financially stable and had your father not passed away when you were younger etc (these events don't make life easier). It's possible to mention these things without coming off as "pity me.. NOW!" which is what I think you're afraid of sounding like.

So yea, like Compass said, things weren't just handed to you when you were growing up, you had to work hard for them and I think mentioning your background in a neutral manner wouldn't hurt you. If anything, it provides a context for others to view your accomplishments thus far. Good luck and don't feel guilty

Edit: And don't use the commuting thing as 'proof' of your disadvantaged status; you want to avoid appearing too nitpicky about these sort of things (e.g. "I got an A- for class X, but I really think I should've gotten an A so my GPA is really 3.99 instead of a--God forbid--3.98"). Just name the most important things

 

[Catalystik]

If your family got food stamps, or your medical care was paid for by a public assistance program, throw that in, too. Don't mention that you did poorly in HS. That is irrelevant in the med school application process.

 

[OddNath]

I immigrated to the United States with my parents at a very young age. Both my parents received only high school education in China. Both by parents went through many low income jobs in order to support the family. My father died in 1999 when I was 11 years old and my mother became a single parent who raised me alone ever since. My mother continues to work at a low income job at the Marriott in Banquet service. We continue to receive financial assistance such as from the Maryland Energy Assistance Program which helps pay for electrical utilities. During my K-12 education, I received benefits such as free or reduced price lunch and reduced fees on things like the SATs and Advanced Placement examinations. It would have been tough to attend college if it were not for financial assistance from the government such as the Federal Pell Grant or from generous people such as the Rattner Family Scholarship.

You could easily cut the 1st 3 sentences b/c you want the 1st sentence to give the primary story. The fact that you immigrated is not your disadvantage, and the fact that your parents didn't go to college is not the most compelling part of your story. I think the paragraph would make more sense starting off with "My father died in 1999..."

The high school stuff doesn't matter, and you will describe your work experience at the library in the activities portion of the AMCAS. Probably not worth mentioning your commute in college in the "Economic Disadvantage" paragraph-- you've got enough going on there.

Looks fine otherwise-- good luck!

 

[Janieve]

I don't think you need to put down anything about commuting an hour to school every day. It seems irrelevant. Besides, that just kind of seems like an arm-waving "but but!" type of added info, and it sounds very...high school of you. I know many people who commute to school every day - some of them take up to two hours one way - and they're from all ends of the rich-poor spectrum.

(And okay, I will admit this: I'm massively jealous that you're getting a 'free ride'. I've applied for 66 scholarships and been declined for each one. Now I'm about $25,000 in debt, work two jobs, and can't apply for 'need-based' scholarships because my parents earn too much. It's great you've got your Pell Grant and private scholarship. I just wish I could have one too. /whining)

 

[TheMightySmiter]

I think that whether or not it sounds "whiny" is all in the way you frame your essay. 🙂 You clearly come from a disadvantaged family, and having your father die at such a young age is an extremely difficult thing to go through. Most kids have no idea of the pain that can cause. But, I think it's best that instead of talking about how little money you had, talk about how grateful you are to have been supported the way you were. Have these experiences shaped your reasons for wanting to go into medicine? If they have, then discuss them. Talk about why these experiences have made you the person that you are today. Then it won't sound whiny, it will sound constructive--because it is. Instead of telling about how your money problems put you at a disadvantage, talk about how *you* got through them and how it impacted you.

Good luck with the essay!

 

[zetabetazeta]

I don't think you need to put down anything about commuting an hour to school every day. It seems irrelevant. Besides, that just kind of seems like an arm-waving "but but!" type of added info, and it sounds very...high school of you. I know many people who commute to school every day - some of them take up to two hours one way - and they're from all ends of the rich-poor spectrum.

(And okay, I will admit this: I'm massively jealous that you're getting a 'free ride'. I've applied for 66 scholarships and been declined for each one. Now I'm about $25,000 in debt, work two jobs, and can't apply for 'need-based' scholarships because my parents earn too much. It's great you've got your Pell Grant and private scholarship. I just wish I could have one too. /whining)

That's what I wanted to say too. I have to drive 3-4 hours (back and forth) everyday because I don't want to pay 14k for a %&&^* triple room. I never got any grants (only got 300 bucks sympathy money due to the fee-hike this year) or scholarships during my school year because they are all need-based..Fortunately my parents help me to pay for part of my tuitions so I don't have any debts at this moment. I wish I could get a scholarship too (BECAUSE I NEVER GOT ONE 🙁)

 

[Janieve]

Fortunately my parents help me to pay for part of my tuitions so I don't have any debts at this moment. I wish I could get a scholarship too (BECAUSE I NEVER GOT ONE 🙁)

(Soooooooooooo tempted to make a poll about this now.)

Anyway, I think the tone of the statement isn't that bad. I wouldn't count it as whiny - just rambling a bit. And when something like this sounds rambling, no matter what, it sounds like you're flailing your arms going 'but but but!' and regurgitating the same information over and over. Just cut the first few sentences and you'll be good!

 

[Catalystik]

You could easily cut the 1st 3 sentences b/c you want the 1st sentence to give the primary story. The fact that you immigrated is not your disadvantage, and the fact that your parents didn't go to college is not the most compelling part of your story. I think the paragraph would make more sense starting off with "My father died in 1999..."

I agree with this. Your birthplace and parental education are elsewhere on the application. You don't need to state it in this place.

 

[Compass]

I would simply recommend you start over fresh with this essay. Take all our advice into account, and see what you can get.

 

[Prism328]

how do this sound?

My father died in 1999 when I was 11 years old and my mother became a single parent who raised me alone ever since. After my father’s death, my mother continues to work at a low income job at the Marriott in Banquet service. She receives unemployment benefits when times are slow. We continue to receive financial assistance such as from the Maryland Energy Assistance Program which helps pay for electrical utilities. During my K-12 education, I received benefits such as free or reduced price lunch and reduced fees on things like the SATs and Advanced Placement examinations. It would have been tough to attend college were it not for financial aid from the government such as the Federal Pell Grant or from altruistic people such as the Rattner Family Scholarship. Although I did work part time during my senior year as a student assistant at the library to start saving for medical school, the financial aid I was given allowed me to pursue activities such as research, volunteering, and teaching that I might not have been able to do if I had to work to pay for the majority of my schooling. I am so grateful for all the generous financial assistance I received. Knowing that there are complete strangers committing so much to my future inspires me to continue pursuing a medical degree so that I too can give back to the community.

 

[LizzyM]

This is all you need:

My father died in 1999 when I was 11 years old. My mother has supported me through her job in banquet services at a Mariottt Hotel. When business is slow, we depend on her unemployment benefits to get us through.


Everything else (gov't support, scholarships, etc) is covered in the Yes/No questions in the disadvantaged section. You will also have a section where you can list your parents names, highest education acheived, and job title. There is also place to specify whether a parent has died.

 

[artx2008]

Explain below why you believe you should be considered a disadvantaged applicant by your designated medical schools. The space available for your explanation is 1325 characters, or approximately ¼ page. *
I immigrated to the United States with my parents at a very young age. Both my parents received only high school education in China. Both by parents went through many low income jobs in order to support the family. My father died in 1999 when I was 11 years old and my mother became a single parent who raised me alone ever since. My mother continues to work at a low income job at the Marriott in Banquet service. We continue to receive financial assistance such as from the Maryland Energy Assistance Program which helps pay for electrical utilities. During my K-12 education, I received benefits such as free or reduced price lunch and reduced fees on things like the SATs and Advanced Placement examinations. It would have been tough to attend college if it were not for financial assistance from the government such as the Federal Pell Grant or from generous people such as the Rattner Family Scholarship.
Well thats what I put down for that question
Although I did poorly in high school, I don't think high school matters for medical school so I don't know whether to mention that and besides, I blame myself more than I blame the economic situation. Sure I couldn't afford piano lessons or thing rich kids can afford but I don't know whatever opportunities I didn't have that rich kids had or I couldn't get for free from government assistance so I don't really feel economically disadvantaged. I just know I couldn't have gone to college without the free ride i'm getting. Also I worked 15 hours a week at the library to save up money for med school (I'd work more but I have to do research and teaching). I got a 4.0 that semester but I'm going to quit the library job because its just too much because i will be doing school, internship, and teaching and since its my last semester I want it to be perfect. Besides, I could always just take out a loan for medical school.
Life would have been harder if I had to pay full price for stuff like for my AP exams, but I didn't so I don't know how I should feel. Should I feel guilty trying to play the economically advantaged card? 🙁I mean, do URMs feel guilty playing the URM card?
PS-I had to drive to school everyday to college because I couldn't afford to live there. I live an hour away. Should I mention that? I don't know how much it affected me since I still got a 3.9 GPA as a bio major. I feel like the economically disadvantaged status is for people who did crappy in college to give an excuse to why they sucked. I blame myself for any short comings anyways.

You must be kidding. Is 15 hours per week job in the library too much for you? Many people work at least 20 hours per week while in college, and I know some who work much more than that in addition to other activities. Since I started college, I haven't stopped working for a week because my bills don't go away when I don't want to work. How can you be that disadvantaged if you can afford to stop working?

 

[RogueUnicorn]

You must be kidding. Is 15 hours per week job in the library too much for you? Many people work at least 20 hours per week while in college, and I know some who work much more than that in addition to other activities. Since I started college, I haven't stopped working for a week because my bills don't go away when I don't want to work. How can you be that disadvantaged if you can afford to stop working?

man you must really enjoy being better than everyone else

 

[dokein]

man you must really enjoy being better than everyone else

While rude, it is indicative. There are a lot of candidates that hard to work part-time, so you might want to think about the level of "exucse" you're giving (I realize that applying disadvantaged is not an excuse, but just for the OP when he's writing his PS and going through interviews, etc.)

 

[artx2008]

man you must really enjoy being better than everyone else

I just did not see that he experienced any disadvantage while he was at college. Working in the library is the easiest work on campus. I know some people who work at a pizza place to pay for rent.

 

[TDX]

I'll have to disagree with most of the others in here. Don't just leave things out because they're already mentioned elsewhere. Your goal is to make a point, and to make that point certain pieces of information need to be clear in the minds of the readers.

Also, there is absolutely no need to feel guilty. Milking whatever it is you've got is one of the key parts of being successful. Intelligence, skills, connections, background, looks - getting what you want requires using whatever is at your disposal.

Just remember not to sound whiny. Emphasize that you're in the business of overcoming obstacles, not succumbing to them. Focus on the positive and never make excuses.

 

[LizzyM]

I'll have to disagree with most of the others in here. Don't just leave things out because they're already mentioned elsewhere. Your goal is to make a point, and to make that point certain pieces of information need to be clear in the minds of the readers.

Also, there is absolutely no need to feel guilty. Milking whatever it is you've got is one of the key parts of being successful. Intelligence, skills, connections, background, looks - getting what you want requires using whatever is at your disposal.

Just remember not to sound whiny. Emphasize that you're in the business of overcoming obstacles, not succumbing to them. Focus on the positive and never make excuses.

I've looked at over 600 applications this year alone. I have 20 minutes or less to review an application. Don't waste my time by repeating material that appears elsewhere.

 

[Prism328]

You must be kidding. Is 15 hours per week job in the library too much for you? Many people work at least 20 hours per week while in college, and I know some who work much more than that in addition to other activities. Since I started college, I haven't stopped working for a week because my bills don't go away when I don't want to work. How can you be that disadvantaged if you can afford to stop working?

What activities do those people who work at least 20 hours do besides work? I have to work that 15 hours per week plus 15 hours for my research internship plus 3 hours a week of teaching, thats 33 hours a week. I am also in the student council and serve as the recruitment chair for the biology club. Besides, I don't have to work because I get scholarships and grants that cover everything. I agree I wasn't disadvantaged in college, at least I didn't feel like it, but I would have been if I didn't get a free ride. How come those people who are working 20 hours a week don't have financial aid? Not to sound like an ass, but it seems to me that the people who have to work part time to support themselves are either wealthy enough not to be eligible for financial aid (in which cause they probability shouldn't be applying as an economically disadvantaged student) OR they don't have the merit to get scholarships so they have to work which means that they can't do as well in school (see the circular argument?), in which case, this means that the economically disadvantaged status IS an excuse for poor performance in school.

PS-Working at the library isn't easy, at least not anymore. We don't sit at the desk all day on facebook or do our homework. We're reorganizing the library which requires us to move books, its definitely physical work, perhaps not as physical as other jobs, but nevertheless, we have to carry and move hundreds hundreds of books.

 

[Prism328]

I've looked at over 600 applications this year alone. I have 20 minutes or less to review an application. Don't waste my time by repeating material that appears elsewhere.

how come you guys want 1350 characters? It seems like everything could be found else where in the application, now i'm kinda confused as to what to put in this section. Should I be straight forward like Lizzy suggested, or should I elaborate on how these kinds of things influenced me? I don't see where else in the application besides maybe my main essay where I can express my gratitude.

 

[TDX]

I've looked at over 600 applications this year alone. I have 20 minutes or less to review an application. Don't waste my time by repeating material that appears elsewhere.

Have you quantified how application length (within the set limits) affects your decisions? Because while your time is undoubtedly valuable, the goal of applicants is to make it through selection and not to write an application that can quickly and efficiently be reviewed and rejected.

 

[LizzyM]

how come you guys want 1350 characters? It seems like everything could be found else where in the application, now i'm kinda confused as to what to put in this section. Should I be straight forward like Lizzy suggested, or should I elaborate on how these kinds of things influenced me?

Some people need more space to describe complicated situations related to step parents, physical abuse, parental drug abuse, foster care, etc. Don't use every character just because they are there, just use what you need in the disadvantaged section to state in what ways you were disadvantaged as a child (0-18 years of age).

 

[Prism328]

so basically, on this and other mini essays you have to write, like describing your activities, you're suppose to be straight forward about what you've done and not about how it influenced you or anything like that?

 

[circulus vitios]

You must be kidding. Is 15 hours per week job in the library too much for you? Many people work at least 20 hours per week while in college, and I know some who work much more than that in addition to other activities. Since I started college, I haven't stopped working for a week because my bills don't go away when I don't want to work. How can you be that disadvantaged if you can afford to stop working?

I was going to say that as well.

And your parent's education shouldn't be mentioned. My dad is a high school drop-out factory worker and my mom is a receptionist. Am I going to apply as disadvantaged? No.

 

[LizzyM]

so basically, on this and other mini essays you have to write, like describing your activities, you're suppose to be straight forward about what you've done and not about how it influenced you or anything like that?

There are differences of opinion about the descriptions in the experience section. Some of us like them short & factual, others suggest a "what I learned" or "what I got out of it". I like facts but they can be spun so that rather than saying "I worked in the library moving books" you state it highlighting the skills used, such as " tasks included reorganization of the physical space (shelving) requiring stamina and attention to detail".

And your parent's education shouldn't be mentioned. My dad is a high school drop-out factory worker and my mom is a receptionist. Am I going to apply as disadvantaged? No.

Even if you don't apply as disadvantaged, you will have the option of listing your parents names, county and state of residence (or country of residence if abroad), most recent alma mater, and job title (I think the last one is a pull down menu of types of jobs). Adcoms know that applicants whose parents didn't go to college don't have the same advantages growing up as applicants who come from households where both parents attended college. (I'd estimate that about 60% of the applications I see come from applicants where at least one parent has a doctoral or professional degree.)

 

[sumstorm]

How come those people who are working 20 hours a week don't have financial aid? Not to sound like an ass, but it seems to me that the people who have to work part time to support themselves are either wealthy enough not to be eligible for financial aid (in which cause they probability shouldn't be applying as an economically disadvantaged student) OR they don't have the merit to get scholarships so they have to work which means that they can't do as well in school (see the circular argument?), in which case, this means that the economically disadvantaged status IS an excuse for poor performance in school.

Really? My husband's parents were retirement age when he started college (he was born very late.) His mother worked for min wage at a variety of jobs, his father was a mail man who didn't ever make much more than min wage (we are a few generations older than you are.) His EFC (expected family contribution) INCLUDED the use of their entire retirement savings. I suppose it is ok to take hard working folks and take away their ability to retire because their adult child who can be sent to war wants to go to college. My husband took the military path to pay for school. His parents were only alive for another 7 years, and were in poor health (partly because of WWII injuries and exposures.)

My parents ran a working farm. All the profit from the farm was invested back into it, however, the holdings were considered part of the EFC. Again, they were expected to borrow against the farm or give it up to match the EFC. They had scraped the bottom, each working 2 FT jobs throughout my childhood just to operate the farm, and both were still working FT jobs and running the farm when I was in undergrad. I am also Oneida, and our cultural tradition believes adulthood occurs before 18, and that if we want to go to school, it is by our personal choices. In other words, I had to make it on my own. At the time, the state we lived in did NOT provide academic scholarships to more than 3 students a year. It was actually cheaper for me to attend out of state at a private school due to scholarships, but I still had to cover cost of living. So I worked 50-60 hours per week and still had to complete research (a requirement at my school) and do internships. I worked as a CNA on late stage cancer and alzheimer patients in hospice home health care. A tough as hell job, every night, from 4pm-midnight M-F, then as a welder 16-24 hours every weekend. Oh, neither of my parents have a HS education. Before that I have worked as a farm worker picking fields, a McD's cashier, a Walmart stocker. Sucky jobs for minimum pay.

I had financial aid, but if you look at how EFC is calculated, it doesn't account for a lot of issues like aged parents. So I got financial aid, but the government and my family and heitage disagreed about who is responsible for paying for an ADULT to attend school. So I couldn't even just take out enough in loans to cover it; it is unreasonable to expect ADULTS to be treated like financially dependent children. Oh, I was a 4.0 student at the top school in my state. But I guess I was too academicly poor to deserve even more scholarships. BTW, while pulling that hard work load, I made a 3.4 and was accepted to med school in 2001. I recieved a fellowship as well and pursued that. I was admitted to vet school this past year, with pre-reqs from a decade before.

I tend to ignore people who ask this sort of question about their financial difficulties because I do understand how hard it is, but there is an interesting level of arrogance and ignorance in your statement, with a lot of judgement and disparagement included. To think that everyone ELSE is given equally fair shots at financial aid when you KNOW you didn't have an equal shot (if you claim to be economically disadvantaged) at education is presumptous, doesn't deal with how different states deal with education, and doesn't account for changes in policy over time.

 

[LizzyM]

Have you quantified how application length (within the set limits) affects your decisions? Because while your time is undoubtedly valuable, the goal of applicants is to make it through selection and not to write an application that can quickly and efficiently be reviewed and rejected.

If what I'm looking for is easy to find, I'll find it more easily if the application isn't cluttered with a lot of filler. If after 20 minutes I'm still slogging through drivel, I'm less inclined to say, "this is an interesting applicant who I'd like to meet". Leave me wanting more and I'm likely to recommend an interview.

Some of the stuff in the OPs statement were not relevant to the disadvantage experienced between age 0-18. Being grateful for scholarships and working in college are irrelevant and a waste of my time in that section of the application.

 

[Prism328]

Really? My husband's parents were retirement age when he started college (he was born very late.) His mother worked for min wage at a variety of jobs, his father was a mail man who didn't ever make much more than min wage (we are a few generations older than you are.) His EFC (expected family contribution) INCLUDED the use of their entire retirement savings. I suppose it is ok to take hard working folks and take away their ability to retire because their adult child who can be sent to war wants to go to college. My husband took the military path to pay for school. His parents were only alive for another 7 years, and were in poor health (partly because of WWII injuries and exposures.)

My parents ran a working farm. All the profit from the farm was invested back into it, however, the holdings were considered part of the EFC. Again, they were expected to borrow against the farm or give it up to match the EFC. They had scraped the bottom, each working 2 FT jobs throughout my childhood just to operate the farm, and both were still working FT jobs and running the farm when I was in undergrad. I am also Oneida, and our cultural tradition believes adulthood occurs before 18, and that if we want to go to school, it is by our personal choices. In other words, I had to make it on my own. At the time, the state we lived in did NOT provide academic scholarships to more than 3 students a year. It was actually cheaper for me to attend out of state at a private school due to scholarships, but I still had to cover cost of living. So I worked 50-60 hours per week and still had to complete research (a requirement at my school) and do internships. I worked as a CNA on late stage cancer and alzheimer patients in hospice home health care. A tough as hell job, every night, from 4pm-midnight M-F, then as a welder 16-24 hours every weekend. Oh, neither of my parents have a HS education. Before that I have worked as a farm worker picking fields, a McD's cashier, a Walmart stocker. Sucky jobs for minimum pay.

I had financial aid, but if you look at how EFC is calculated, it doesn't account for a lot of issues like aged parents. So I got financial aid, but the government and my family and heitage disagreed about who is responsible for paying for an ADULT to attend school. So I couldn't even just take out enough in loans to cover it; it is unreasonable to expect ADULTS to be treated like financially dependent children. Oh, I was a 4.0 student at the top school in my state. But I guess I was too academicly poor to deserve even more scholarships. BTW, while pulling that hard work load, I made a 3.4 and was accepted to med school in 2001. I recieved a fellowship as well and pursued that. I was admitted to vet school this past year, with pre-reqs from a decade before.

I tend to ignore people who ask this sort of question about their financial difficulties because I do understand how hard it is, but there is an interesting level of arrogance and ignorance in your statement, with a lot of judgement and disparagement included. To think that everyone ELSE is given equally fair shots at financial aid when you KNOW you didn't have an equal shot (if you claim to be economically disadvantaged) at education is presumptous, doesn't deal with how different states deal with education, and doesn't account for changes in policy over time.

Well I apologize, I didn't mean to offend you or anything. I guess perhaps my state is a bit more generous. It seems like you had a harder life, I can't imagine 60 hours a week plus research and school. I personally know no one who managed to do that. I envy you and you deserve to be in med school.

 

[vin5cent0]

This almost sounds like abusing the system. OP, you would be disadvantaged IF you hadn't received all sorts of aid that leveled the playing field for you.

I come from a well off enough family. That being said, I've worked part time (25+) hours per week for a large amount of my high school and college education so far because I'm expected to earn my own keep. Yet, because I'm white, somehow my education has been less hindered by the OP's because he had to fill out gov't aid forms and I worked. Anyone else see what's wrong here?

 

[Prism328]

This almost sounds like abusing the system. OP, you would be disadvantaged IF you hadn't received all sorts of aid that leveled the playing field for you.

I come from a well off enough family. That being said, I've worked part time (25+) hours per week for a large amount of my high school and college education so far because I'm expected to earn my own keep. Yet, because I'm white, somehow my education has been less hindered by the OP's because he had to fill out gov't aid forms and I worked. Anyone else see what's wrong here?

Well, thats exactly my dilemma on whether I should apply as an economically disadvantaged student, but the requirements for economically disadvantaged status is low income and governmental aid, which I got, so...it would seem weird if someone who didn't get financial aid were applying for ED status and people who did get finanical aid didn't apply for ED status. I guess applying for ED status is as abusive to the system as a minority applying for URM and I agree that it some aspects of it may be unfair. I can definitely understand any resentment towards people who get an edge over being ED or URM especially since I know that some people may have a much harder life than I.

 

[vin5cent0]

Well, thats exactly my dilemma on whether I should apply as an economically disadvantaged student, but the requirements for economically disadvantaged status is low income and governmental aid, which I got, so...it would seem weird if someone who didn't get financial aid were applying for ED status and people who did get finanical aid didn't apply for ED status. I guess applying for ED status is as abusive to the system as a minority applying for URM and I agree that it some aspects of it may be unfair. I can definitely understand any resentment towards people who get an edge over being ED or URM especially since I know that some people may have a much harder life than I.

Well I won't knock you, anyone who can use something to their advantage should. I just think it's a very flawed system.

 

[bunnity]

I had to work at least 20 hours a week to pay for school. My parents paid some tuition (they don't make much and have four kids), which was great, but I paid at least half of it as well as rent and food. My school did not give financial aid to transfer students, so I was on my own in that respect and it was a state school, not some high priced place. I made 16k one year and that disqualified me from my state grant - my only financial aid. I had high need and high merit, and paid full tuition senior year. So it doesn't always work out nicely for everyone.

Sumstorm is in vet school 🙂

And somehow I don't think getting free school lunches puts you on the same page as someone whose family didn't have to rely on welfare. The OP was disadvantaged and the application actually uses the prior use of welfare as the determinant of the applicant's disadvantage (well the AMCAS does - the vet school app has no such section).

 

[TaylorMDhopeful]

I immigrated to the United States with my parents at a very young age. Both my parents received only high school education in China. Both by parents went through many low income jobs in order to support the family. My father died in 1999 when I was 11 years old and my mother became a single parent who raised me alone ever since. My mother continues to work at a low income job at the Marriott in Banquet service. We continue to receive financial assistance such as from the Maryland Energy Assistance Program which helps pay for electrical utilities. During my K-12 education, I received benefits such as free or reduced price lunch and reduced fees on things like the SATs and Advanced Placement examinations. It would have been tough to attend college if it were not for financial assistance from the government such as the Federal Pell Grant or from generous people such as the Rattner Family Scholarship.
Well thats what I put down for that question
Although I did poorly in high school, I don't think high school matters for medical school so I don't know whether to mention that and besides, I blame myself more than I blame the economic situation. Sure I couldn't afford piano lessons or thing rich kids can afford but I don't know whatever opportunities I didn't have that rich kids had or I couldn't get for free from government assistance so I don't really feel economically disadvantaged. I just know I couldn't have gone to college without the free ride i'm getting. Also I worked 15 hours a week at the library to save up money for med school (I'd work more but I have to do research and teaching). I got a 4.0 that semester but I'm going to quit the library job because its just too much because i will be doing school, internship, and teaching and since its my last semester I want it to be perfect. Besides, I could always just take out a loan for medical school.
Life would have been harder if I had to pay full price for stuff like for my AP exams, but I didn't so I don't know how I should feel. Should I feel guilty trying to play the economically advantaged card? 🙁I mean, do URMs feel guilty playing the URM card?

If that was your situation, then I don't see how it can be whiny if you tell medical schools exactly what affected your life and your situation. You were on financial assistance, received reduced fees for school exams and lunch and had a single parent working to take care of you. I would think that is something worth noting. Its not about being ashamed or feeling guilty. Not everyone grows up with well off families and socioeconomic levels play a large role in access to education and opportunities. If you feel you were truly disadvantaged then put it and it is no reason to feel guilty.

This almost sounds like abusing the system. OP, you would be disadvantaged IF you hadn't received all sorts of aid that leveled the playing field for you.

I come from a well off enough family. That being said, I've worked part time (25+) hours per week for a large amount of my high school and college education so far because I'm expected to earn my own keep. Yet, because I'm white, somehow my education has been less hindered by the OP's because he had to fill out gov't aid forms and I worked. Anyone else see what's wrong here?

Financial assistance does not "level the playing field". It goes to people who need it but it in no way levels any previous setbacks or disadvantages outside of helping them pay for school. You come from a well off family, you are expected to earn your keep but it is probably not necessary for you to work unlike those of a lower earning bracket. There is no need to inject race into it because it has nothing to do with race, it has to do with economic disadvantage but coming from a well off family, I guess that would not concern you. Money in this country will allow you many opportunities (better schools, resources, help, etc) that those without money have little access to. There has been many studies that show there are discrepancies in scores and grades when the variables are socioeconomic status and parental education.

 

[musafirah]

i love how this turned into a "my life is harder than yours" thread, lol.



i received the amcas fee waiver so i marked that i was disadvantaged simply so that the admissions people would see why i received the waiver, in case they were wondering. i donno if that helps you decide whether to use ED status or not (but you can).. anyway you have plenty of time to figure all this stuff out.

 

[LizzyM]

Just a few comments about the "disadvantaged" section:


This is self-designated and there is no specific hoops (having been on welfare, etc). However, you are asked to write a brief explanation so it is best not to self-designate if it feels like a stretch.

For those of you who may not be familiar with reduced price lunches, the current annual qualifying income for a family of two (mother and one child) is about $26,000 ($2247/mo). That doesn't leave much for cultural enrichment (music lessons, museum visits) or athletics (sports camps, equipment) or test preparation in HS. Many families at that income level don't have internet access at home or even easy access to a public library; in some cases they have suffered setbacks related to illness, death of a breadwinner, catastropic losses, abandonment, foster care. This is the sort of thing that the adcom is taking into account when looking at an applicant who self-designates as disadvantaged. That section of the AMCAS has a place to designate family size and annual household income as well as y/n answers to questions about government benefits, employment before age 18 and whether that income went to support the household (rather than the applicant's own "walking around" money). Finally, the applicant is also given a place to break out how college costs were covered (merit scholarship, need based aid, loans, applicant's contribution, family contribution)

Disadvantaged status refers to age 0 to 18. Even a non-trad career changer making a six figure income can self-designate as "disadvantaged" based on a childhood of deprivation. This might be used as a way of highlighting post-high school decisions such as an entry into the military or another non-traditional trajectory to medical school.

Identifying as disadvantaged is not the only way to get financial aid so don't feel like you need to complete this section in order to be offered financial assistance.