Immigration and Disadvantaged Status

[Tina3]

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Hi everyone,

My question concerns disadvantaged status. I am not sure if I fall into this category:

Facts about me:
1. Growing up, I was certainly economically disadvantaged in my country of origin (in Asia). However, I did well in school (mainly to rise out of the poverty that my family faced) and managed to get accepted into an elite institution in the U.S.

2. I am now unemployed (have been so since graduation 6 months ago) and moved in with my family in the U.S, who are in finacial straits themselves and live on government assistance. I am terrified about how I can afford to apply to med school this year even though I have all the pre-reqs and other extra curriculars.

I don't know if my going to an elite institution for college classifies me as advantaged. Also, as I am currently unemployed, does that compound my economic disadvantage? I am so confused.

Thanks for any input!

 

[sassilysweet]

Hi everyone,

My question concerns disadvantaged status. I am not sure if I fall into this category:

Facts about me:
1. Growing up, I was certainly economically disadvantaged in my country of origin (in Asia). However, I did well in school (mainly to rise out of the poverty that my family faced) and managed to get accepted into an elite institution in the U.S.

2. I am now unemployed (have been so since graduation 6 months ago) and moved in with my family in the U.S, who are in finacial straits themselves and live on government assistance. I am terrified about how I can afford to apply to med school this year even though I have all the pre-reqs and other extra curriculars.

I don't know if my going to an elite institution for college classifies me as advantaged. Also, as I am currently unemployed, does that compound my economic disadvantage? I am so confused.

Thanks for any input!

I do not believe current unemployment counts as anything towards disadvantaged status, nor does being an immigrant. I am not sure exactly how the disadvantaged background is defined for AMCAS, but I believe it related to receiving government assistance or being at/near the poverty line in your formative years. You are probably going to want to call AMCAS to get a better definition as your childhood was in a different country.

I have to admit, I find it hard to believe that you have been unemployed for 6 months if you have been actively job-hunting after graduating from an "elite institution". Most people would have been looking for a job during their senior year, and if they had not found one would do something along the lines of AmeriCorps if they were looking at applying for medical school. Not trying to be rude, just honest.

 

[Mister T]

Oh you're Asian? You're not a minority in the eyes of AMA.

You gotta be black or hispanic. Sorry kid, but that's the price that our people get, for working hard, being productive citizens, and earning success.

****ed up isn't it?

 

[Mister T]

I have to admit, I find it hard to believe that you have been unemployed for 6 months if you have been actively job-hunting after graduating from an "elite institution". Most people would have been looking for a job during their senior year, and if they had not found one would do something along the lines of AmeriCorps if they were looking at applying for medical school. Not trying to be rude, just honest.

I have to admit that you're terribly uninformed. We're going through a recession with double digit unemployment, the highest it's ever been and twenties and young thirties people have been hit the hardest.

There are job freezes everywhere, and companies simply aren't hiring.

 

[sassilysweet]

I have to admit that you're terribly uninformed. We're going through a recession with double digit unemployment, the highest it's ever been and twenties and young thirties people have been hit the hardest.

There are job freezes everywhere, and companies simply aren't hiring.

I got a job less than two weeks after I graduated (Dec 18 2009).

I am just wondering how "elite" of an institution it was if the OP can't find a job in six months. Or how much of an effort is being made. I know for a fact there are jobs out there, particularly in healthcare fields. There were also seasonal jobs for the holidays.

 

[Tina3]

I got a job less than two weeks after I graduated (Dec 18 2009).

I am just wondering how "elite" of an institution it was if the OP can't find a job in six months. Or how much of an effort is being made. I know for a fact there are jobs out there, particularly in healthcare fields. There were also seasonal jobs for the holidays.

What job did you get? How did you go about getting it? Was in related to your major? Did your major help you get this job?

My focus of study in college had nothing to do with healthcare or science. I was looking for jobs in nonprofits, mainly in development in Southern California. Though I've had several interviews, nothing ever came out of them. The lack of jobs coupled here with my not being bilingual appears to be working against me. I've tried networking and temp agencies but they haven't worked either.

 

[7starmantis]

Hi everyone,

My question concerns disadvantaged status. I am not sure if I fall into this category:

Facts about me:
1. Growing up, I was certainly economically disadvantaged in my country of origin (in Asia). However, I did well in school (mainly to rise out of the poverty that my family faced) and managed to get accepted into an elite institution in the U.S.

2. I am now unemployed (have been so since graduation 6 months ago) and moved in with my family in the U.S, who are in finacial straits themselves and live on government assistance. I am terrified about how I can afford to apply to med school this year even though I have all the pre-reqs and other extra curriculars.

I don't know if my going to an elite institution for college classifies me as advantaged. Also, as I am currently unemployed, does that compound my economic disadvantage? I am so confused.

Thanks for any input!

Is there really any set guidelines for what constitutes a "disadvantages student"? I thought the question was really more, "Do you consider yourself to be disadvantaged"? I can't remember if that was AMCAS or TMDSAS though, so I could be wrong.

 

[Rickybobby]

How often have you attempted to "get a job?" The average unemployed American spends 18 minutes looking for a job while they are unemployed which suggested that you may not spend much more, or less, time than this.

If you graduated from an "elite" american university it would suggest that you should have "networked," which is the real benefit from elite universities, with many successful people that could offer you a position or opportunity that isn't available to the people who didn't attend "elite" universities.

Given that you have been "searching" for a job for six months would suggest that either you didn't take advantage of the "networking" opportunities available to you or you simply wasn't successful enough during your time at "elite" university to make an impact on those around you.

To the conjecture...

To imply that you should get "disadvantaged" status applying to medical school due to the fact that you can't get a job would be silly given your assumed opportunities. Also, how different is getting a job from getting into medical school? Applying to medical school could be construed as a drawn out job application because in essence it is simply an application to a "trade" school that assumes employment to those willing to pursue it.

Maybe you should reevaluate the "victim" card and instead focus on all of the positives that you have going for you. Call some of those professors that you met during your time at "elite" university and get there opinion. If making money is the only thing keeping you from applying to medical school then for Christ's sake lower your standards and flip burgers, save money, and apply to medical school. Otherwise, continued to worry about this for another year and I will gladly take your place.

RB

 

[sassilysweet]

What job did you get? How did you go about getting it? Was in related to your major? Did your major help you get this job?

My focus of study in college had nothing to do with healthcare or science. I was looking for jobs in nonprofits, mainly in development in Southern California. Though I've had several interviews, nothing ever came out of them. The lack of jobs coupled here with my not being bilingual appears to be working against me. I've tried networking and temp agencies but they haven't worked either.

My job is directly related to my major--clinical laboratory science, and I work at a hospital laboratory.
What was your major? Business? Management? Adv?
I understand trying to find a job in what you like, but doesn't there come a point where you just need a job you can work at? The medical school applications process takes a LOT of money, at the least you are going to need about $3000 put aside for applications and travel expenses.
Did your college have a careers office that can help you network with alumni? Are there any job fairs there coming up that you could sneak into? Have you searched Monster.com, local newspaper want-ads, or just cold-calling businesses to see if they are hiring?
I am not as familiar with non-profits as with healthcares services, but one of my best friends graduated with a health education major and was trying to get into a nonprofit also. Either they are A) not hiring or B) hiring people with YEARS of experience. You are probably going to have to broaden your scope of applications. My friend ended up just getting a retail job, was hired as assistant manager about 4-5 months after starting, and is leveraging that management position into a team lead/assistant manager job with a local retail powerhouse (and could end up on the corporate side of things). Just getting that sort of management (or project lead) experience for a short while in a crappy job can open other doorways in a relatively short period of time.

Also, what sort of networking are you doing? Is there a professional organization you could join for your major? That will introduce you to many people within the profession.

I hope that helps a little. I'm sorry if I seem rude, but again I just find it hard to believe that there is absolutely no work to be found, even in this economy (well, maybe in cities like Flint, Mich. that has been failing for quite some time). It might not be your dream job, but if you are worried about paying for applications without any family support, you might need to eat some pride and get a crappy retail job until you can find something better.
Good luck, I hope you do find something soon.