I'd like your opinions on whether this is a valid "hardship/disadvantage" in adcoms eyes. On my AMCAS I did not indicate that I had a hardship because I felt I did not fall into either extremely poor (my parents combined make ~$30,000 while I make ~$7,000 for a household of four) or medically underserved. But this question is coming up in the secondaries and some are purely for need-based scholarships while others may "improve your competitive standing in the applicant pool." So my first question is if it would seem weird to have not included it in my AMCAS but include it in the secondaries.
Secondly, I've attached my narrative for you to judge whether it is valid:
As far back as I can remember my father has turned to alcohol to dissolve his troubles. His problem has deeply impacted his life and the lives of those that love him most. When I was five, my mother forced him to live separately from us in hopes he would realize the severity of his condition. Instead, he was imprisoned for drunk driving. After four years of separation, my mother, unable to find a job in California, informed him that we would be moving to Louisiana where she would work with her sister. She gave him one last opportunity to be with his two sons. He agreed.
However, my fathers problem only worsened when we arrived in Louisiana. Before then, I had never witnessed his intoxication. It was troubling and there were nights I feared for my familys safety in my own home. In addition, his problem interfered with his ability to maintain a job. During my freshman year of college, he had been drinking on his way back from work when he ran into the woods. His truck was totaled, but thankfully, he was not seriously injured nor did he endanger anyone elses life. Yet, without health insurance, my family was in a difficult financial situation. My father was unable to work and he had spent the majority of his past paychecks on beer and cigarettes. My mom was left to pay his hospital bills and legal fines in addition to the mortgage, car notes, and daily living expenses.
During this time, in addition to school, both my brother and I worked extra hours to assist my mom, who already worked as a manicurist twelve hours a day, six days a week. When he returned to work six months after the accident, he continued his cycle of working a few months, getting fired, and remaining unemployed for several more months until he decided to cease working indefinitely in February 2011. The stress at home and the need to financially support my family was initially difficult for me to manage. However, reflecting on my parents background, I realized how important education is to maintain a familys dreams and happiness. I took every opportunity to focus on my academics, and, as a result, my grades for the remainder of my college career were perfect.
Please be as harsh as you can!
Secondly, I've attached my narrative for you to judge whether it is valid:
As far back as I can remember my father has turned to alcohol to dissolve his troubles. His problem has deeply impacted his life and the lives of those that love him most. When I was five, my mother forced him to live separately from us in hopes he would realize the severity of his condition. Instead, he was imprisoned for drunk driving. After four years of separation, my mother, unable to find a job in California, informed him that we would be moving to Louisiana where she would work with her sister. She gave him one last opportunity to be with his two sons. He agreed.
However, my fathers problem only worsened when we arrived in Louisiana. Before then, I had never witnessed his intoxication. It was troubling and there were nights I feared for my familys safety in my own home. In addition, his problem interfered with his ability to maintain a job. During my freshman year of college, he had been drinking on his way back from work when he ran into the woods. His truck was totaled, but thankfully, he was not seriously injured nor did he endanger anyone elses life. Yet, without health insurance, my family was in a difficult financial situation. My father was unable to work and he had spent the majority of his past paychecks on beer and cigarettes. My mom was left to pay his hospital bills and legal fines in addition to the mortgage, car notes, and daily living expenses.
During this time, in addition to school, both my brother and I worked extra hours to assist my mom, who already worked as a manicurist twelve hours a day, six days a week. When he returned to work six months after the accident, he continued his cycle of working a few months, getting fired, and remaining unemployed for several more months until he decided to cease working indefinitely in February 2011. The stress at home and the need to financially support my family was initially difficult for me to manage. However, reflecting on my parents background, I realized how important education is to maintain a familys dreams and happiness. I took every opportunity to focus on my academics, and, as a result, my grades for the remainder of my college career were perfect.
Please be as harsh as you can!
