If you qualify for FAP, do you have to check disadvantaged?

[UVAbme2009]

My family's financial status will definitely qualify me for the FAP. However, I've never felt truly "disadvantaged". Fortunately I came to UVA the first year AccessUVA started, and I've had everything paid for (tuition, housing, books, food, travel, etc.).

We've always been in this financial situation, but it's just something I'm used to I guess. I don't live in the projects; we're not on welfare; we don't get food stamps; we don't go on vacations; and we get help from family when we need it (like grandparents paying for braces).

So basically, if I don't feel disadvantaged, but qualify for the FAP, do I check the box? I wrote my personal statement on my financial situation and how it's shaped who I am (I'd prefer to work inner city at this point) and how it took me down my path to medicine (largely ignored even the possibility for years until I found out how much I loved it). Thanks for the help!

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[deuce924]

I don't know much on the subject but there is a section on SDN for Financial Aid. If you want to go check that out they may have information on it and this thread may get switched to Financial Aid where other people can answer your question.

 

[Jolie South]

I don't know much on the subject but there is a section on SDN for Financial Aid. If you want to go check that out they may have information on it and this thread may get switched to Financial Aid where other people can answer your question.

I think this is a relevant pre-allo question as it has more to deal with AMCAS than fin.aid. IIRC disadvantaged status is used to help in cases where people have dealt with significant financial/personal difficulties that may have negatively impacted academic success. FAP is used to help people with income below a certain level pay reduced MCAT fees and send their AMCAS to 13 schools free of charge. At some schools, applicants that qualify for FAP do not have to pay secondary application fees.

However, I personally don't happen to have much experience with disadvantaged status or how it would be viewed in relation to FAP.

Maybe someone more experienced *cough* LizzyM *cough* could tell us how these types of apps are dealt with at the adcom level.

 

[lord_jeebus]

No one is required to check that box.

If you don't want to, don't do it, but it may give you an edge. If you qualify for FAP, no one will fault you for choosing to do so.

 

[LizzyM]

If you don't feel as if you grew up "disadvantaged" then don't bother checking that box. It leads to a lot of additional questions about your annual household income, whether you worked before age 18, whether your earnings helped with the household expenses, whether you qualified for public assistance, etc. Qualifying for FAP does not automatically mean you must check the disadvantaged box.

The adcom might note that you overcame hardship but if your essay goes into that, you don't need the additional section as well.

 

[Bartelby]

Hey UVaBme, fellow AccessUVa recipient here, CLAS 07 (man I love that program!). I qualified for the FAP and I checked disadvantaged. It sounds like we were in somewhat similar situations, although my family did receive federal assistance at certain points and we did live in a crappy neighborhood. Basically if your impoverished background was so significant to you that you made it the focus of your personal statement, I think you should check the box. It is not like you are lying, so at worst I think it will just not matter. The choice is still, of course, ultimately up to you.

I did pretty well this cycle, and several of my interviewers (at places like UVa, Dartmouth, Harvard, Vanderbilt, and a few others) made at least a passing mention of my background. I think it is probably worth doing. Good luck with your applications!

 

[UFGatorMed]

When I saw the title I laughed. I'm going to be immature.

I qualify to FAP all the mother %$#@ing time. Would anyone like a list of my sites?

 

[UVAbme2009]

If you don't feel as if you grew up "disadvantaged" then don't bother checking that box. It leads to a lot of additional questions about your annual household income, whether you worked before age 18, whether your earnings helped with the household expenses, whether you qualified for public assistance, etc. Qualifying for FAP does not automatically mean you must check the disadvantaged box.

The adcom might note that you overcame hardship but if your essay goes into that, you don't need the additional section as well.

Thank you for all the help. I think I'll make the decision when the time comes. In terms of annual household income, there's no way I don't qualify for disadvantaged. But I think this all has to do with the fact that this is how it has been all my life, and it's something I've just gotten used to.

 

[axlaxl1]

My family's financial status will definitely qualify me for the FAP. However, I've never felt truly "disadvantaged". Fortunately I came to UVA the first year AccessUVA started, and I've had everything paid for (tuition, housing, books, food, travel, etc.).

We've always been in this financial situation, but it's just something I'm used to I guess. I don't live in the projects; we're not on welfare; we don't get food stamps; we don't go on vacations; and we get help from family when we need it (like grandparents paying for braces).

So basically, if I don't feel disadvantaged, but qualify for the FAP, do I check the box? I wrote my personal statement on my financial situation and how it's shaped who I am (I'd prefer to work inner city at this point) and how it took me down my path to medicine (largely ignored even the possibility for years until I found out how much I loved it). Thanks for the help!

how sure are you that you qualify for FAP? Didn't know they advertised the standards.
Ok, with that said, ask yourself this, when you were a child, what type of schools did you go to and what type education did you receive. You said you didn't live in the projects but did you live in a poor neighborhood? If you keep answering no to these questions and you don't feel disadvantaged then don't put it.

For me, I went to one of the worst high-schools in PA. i.e. they were trying to prevent the onslaught of people dropping out by having vocational schools that taught you how to bag groceries and work on "hair." Sorry, but this isn't normal. Was I disadvantaged, honestly yes. Were my numbers any lower because of it in the end, NO. But I still feel that what I accomplished was a lot more difficult and a whole lot more unique than a more traditional student. Not right or wrong but worth statistically documenting. So, I don't feel you should be ashamed to put that and talk it up. But in the end if it isn't your theme or what you're about then don't put it. It is up to you.

 

[UVAbme2009]

how sure are you that you qualify for FAP? Didn't know they advertised the standards.
Ok, with that said, ask yourself this, when you were a child, what type of schools did you go to and what type education did you receive. You said you didn't live in the projects but did you live in a poor neighborhood? If you keep answering no to these questions and you don't feel disadvantaged then don't put it.

I believe the cutoff is 300% below the poverty level, and I'll just say that we are actually below the poverty level.

I don't think economic hardships have hurt me in any way. Sure, I can't take MCAT classes, travel abroad, take summer classes without taking out large loans, amongst other things, but I just don't feel like that has put me at a major disadvantage. I don't think I'm going to end up checking it. I just didn't know if I'd get questioned about not checking it even after filing for FAP.

 

[axlaxl1]

I believe the cutoff is 300% below the poverty level, and I'll just say that we are actually below the poverty level.

I don't think economic hardships have hurt me in any way. Sure, I can't take MCAT classes, travel abroad, take summer classes without taking out large loans, amongst other things, but I just don't feel like that has put me at a major disadvantage. I don't think I'm going to end up checking it. I just didn't know if I'd get questioned about not checking it even after filing for FAP.

You never get questioned for checking a box. You are never going to get questioned for not checking a box. However, don't be so vein. A lot of the time the school gets extra money and perks per the amount of URM's or disadvantage students they bring aboard. If you fit the discription why wouldn't you want to help your chances? They are not going to phsycho analysis you in the sense of "oh he/she didn't check a box, they are TOUGH and can deal with anything." Nope not how it works. If it is an advantage for them it is an advantage for you.

Check the stupid box.

Cheers

 

[surfstarj]

You never get questioned for checking a box. You are never going to get questioned for not checking a box. However, don't be so vein. A lot of the time the school gets extra money and perks per the amount of URM's or disadvantage students they bring aboard. If you fit the discription why wouldn't you want to help your chances? They are not going to phsycho analysis you in the sense of "oh he/she didn't check a box, they are TOUGH and can deal with anything." Nope not how it works. If it is an advantage for them it is an advantage for you.

Check the stupid box.

Cheers

I qualified for FAP, i checked the box and I most definitely got asked about it. Not in a bad way, but they definitely ask...

Assuming you're comfortable talking about it, probably in less depth than you have in this thread, you might as well check it. I don't think it could hurt you. Even if it doesn't directly help you, it might add depth to whole picture of your personality and application.

 

[Lshapley]

I qualified for both FAP and disadvantaged status. The FAP was just incidental though, as I happened to have a very low income year (basically full time student) combined with a mom on public assistance. If it was any other year, I would not have been FAP.

Anyway, I am a proponent of checking the disadvantaged box if it applies to you. I don't think that you need to take this as a pity consideration. Rather, I think about it as another aspect of your application that the adcoms should know about because it will add a dimension to your application. Considering that during your training, and probably throughout your practice, you will be mostly interacting with middle to lower income people (they make up most of the population and are disproportionally affected by illnesses), it would be a bonus for you to have the same background.

Good luck to you and PM me if you have any questions.

 

[TexanGirl]

I believe the cutoff is 300% below the poverty level, and I'll just say that we are actually below the poverty level.

I don't think economic hardships have hurt me in any way. Sure, I can't take MCAT classes, travel abroad, take summer classes without taking out large loans, amongst other things, but I just don't feel like that has put me at a major disadvantage. I don't think I'm going to end up checking it. I just didn't know if I'd get questioned about not checking it even after filing for FAP.

😱 300% below the poverty level? I've always interpreted it to mean 300% above the poverty level. From AAMC:

FAP eligibility decisions are tied directly to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' poverty level guidelines. For the 2008 calendar year, applicants whose total family income is 300 percent or less of the poverty level for their family size will be approved for fee assistance.

Soo, wouldn't 300% of the poverty level be 3 times above the poverty level? 😕

(EDIT: This isn't to call you out, OP. I'm doing this for future reference for myself.)

 

[Lshapley]

It is, indeed, 3x the poverty level. The poster just mistyped. If it was 300% below the poverty level, almost no one in the entire country would qualify.

 

[TexanGirl]

It is, indeed, 3x the poverty level. The poster just mistyped. If it was 300% below the poverty level, almost no one in the entire country would qualify.

Exactly what I thought. 😀

 

[surfstarj]

It is, indeed, 3x the poverty level. The poster just mistyped. If it was 300% below the poverty level, almost no one in the entire country would qualify.

Actually, nobody would. At 100% below the poverty level, you'd have an income of $0. While I guess being 300% below the poverty level is possible if you consider debt, if you really were in that situation, you'd have bigger fish to fry (like surviving) than getting into med school.

300% of the poverty level is the right number. And all the information is listed on AAMC.

 

[TexanGirl]

Actually, nobody would. At 100% below the poverty level, you'd have an income of $0. While I guess being 300% below the poverty level is possible if you consider debt, if you really were in that situation, you'd have bigger fish to fry (like surviving) than getting into med school.

300% of the poverty level is the right number. And all the information is listed on AAMC.

It seems to me that with the current eligibility guidelines for FAP (300% of poverty level), many middle-class folks could qualify as well. I just checked the 300% of Poverty Threshold online for 2007, and my family could make way over 100k and still qualify -- that's very generous. 👍

 

[Lshapley]

I guess that you could have your own business and post a loss of greater than $18K (depending on family size) on your 1060 to be below that level...but I would really hope that you have some savings in that case!

 

[LizzyM]

You might be astounded at the proportion of applicants who have two parents who are both working in medicine and/or law. Add the applicants with at least one parent in a major corportate job and the number who qualify for FAP is small.

Still and all, 300% of the poverty line might sound like less than it is and many middle class applicants prefer to pay their own way rather than to accept the financial help.

300% of the poverty line means that many who qualify for FAP aren't so bad off that it makes sense to check "disadvantaged" (you never have to check the box but if you choose to check it, do so because you over came financial/socio-economic adversity and not for pity).

 

[Lshapley]

Still and all, 300% of the poverty line might sound like less than it is and many middle class applicants prefer to pay their own way rather than to accept the financial help.

As a side note, the FAP guideline for AACOMAS is much more stringent. In my case, it cost as much to apply to about 15 MD schools as it did to apply to 2 DO schools. The AMCAS is very generous with FAP.

 

[UVAbme2009]

I definitely meant 300% of the poverty level, not below. The current poverty level for two parents and two children is $20650. So 300% would be about $60000. Like I said, my family is below poverty level, so I definitely qualify for FAP.

you never have to check the box but if you choose to check it, do so because you over came financial/socio-economic adversity and not for pity

This is what I mean. What does overcoming financial adversity mean? Did I overcome financial diversity because I come from a low income background, made it to college, and am now trying to make it to medical school?

 

[Lshapley]

This is what I mean. What does overcoming financial adversity mean? Did I overcome financial diversity because I come from a low income background, made it to college, and am now trying to make it to medical school?

Um, yeah. I remember seeing an AMCAS table that showed med students broken down by family income. Judging by what you have just described, you are in the bracket that was less than 1% of medical students. Now, considering that about 15% of children in the states (read that in today's NYTimes) live below the poverty level, that gives you an idea of how unlikely it is to climb the ladder that you have scaled.

 

[axlaxl1]

Um, yeah. I remember seeing an AMCAS table that showed med students broken down by family income. Judging by what you have just described, you are in the bracket that was less than 1% of medical students. Now, considering that about 15% of children in the states (read that in today's NYTimes) live below the poverty level, that gives you an idea of how unlikely it is to climb the ladder that you have scaled.

Let me just throw this out there.

Is $7600 dollars per year below the poverty line?

 

[Lshapley]

Let me just throw this out there.

Is $7600 dollars per year below the poverty line?

Yes. I don't have the figures in front of me but I am 100% certain that is below the poverty level for pretty much any family size.

 

[surfstarj]

Yes. I don't have the figures in front of me but I am 100% certain that is below the poverty level for pretty much any family size.

It also depends on if anyone else can claim you as a dependent, i.e. if you receive support from someone else. You could have a personal income below the poverty line but if your parents pay your rent, etc, than not necessarily.

FAP considers both your and your parents income and your financial aid information if you were enrolled in school.

Yes, if you are not a student and make 7600/year, have little support from other sources, you are well below poverty level. But if you are a full-time student who does not have a bachelor's degree yet, it really only matters what your parents make.

 

[decafplease]

Ok, so here's a question. If you're married, have only one parent (for the sake of this calculation) and one sibling, does your family include 4 people, making the FAP cutoff $61950? Or is it just me, my husband, and my mom? (though I have a brother).

I'm guessing (since they don't consider dependent or independent status) that my brother would be included in the family size, as would my husband. Anyone know about this?

 

[surfstarj]

Ok, so here's a question. If you're married, have only one parent (for the sake of this calculation) and one sibling, does your family include 4 people, making the FAP cutoff $61950? Or is it just me, my husband, and my mom? (though I have a brother).

I'm guessing (since they don't consider dependent or independent status) that my brother would be included in the family size, as would my husband. Anyone know about this?

I have a feeling that once you're married, they will include your husband in the family size and probably your brother. But they will also consider your spouse's income as part of yours in addition to your and your mother's incomes. There's got to be a contact to clear up these questions for you though. I would check with AAMC since I am not married and this wasn't a consideration for me! Good luck.

 

[Lshapley]

I think that the brother question is highly dependent upon the age or your brother and whether he is considered a dependent of your parents. AMCAS doesn't care if you are poor, but your parents are well off. They do care if you are poor, or on a student's income (also poor) and your parents don't have any income to supplement you (i.e., poor).