Minority/Disadvantaged Students

[mohammadali99]

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Hello All,

I was wondering if anyone knows the definition of a minority student and disadvantaged student. I am personally from the middle east and on one application I saw that I have to mark WHITE but that doesn't make sense to me. With the disadvantaged, the defenition is;

An "individual from a disadvantaged background" is one who comes from a family with an annual income below a level based on low-income thresholds according to family size published by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, adjusted annually for changes in the Consumer Price Index, and adjusted by the Secretary for use in all health professions programs. The Secretary periodically publishes these income levels in the Federal Register.

but what falls under the first definition, and what is and how do i find the income considered to be low for a family of five?? I looked everywhere but couldn't fine it (well, obviously not everywhere)...

I would truely appreciate anyone's help....

Good luck to all with all your goals...

 

[InductionAgent]

With regard to minority student status, it is only a beneficial factor in admission for members of minority populations generally under-represented in the pool of medical school applicants, or that typically have lower-than-average grades and board scores. Namely, these are the African-American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American populations.

Middle Eastern students are not under-represented in medical schools compared to their overall population in this country. In addition, their grades and MCATs are likely to be as high or better than average. Thus in your case, minority status in itself is not a highly relevant indicator of being disadvantaged.

If you believe that your family's economic status is substandard, I would suggest contacting whatever program you are filling out the application for, and getting them to direct you to the appropriate income table.

By the way, here's the median income level nationally and by state.

http://www.census.gov/hhes/income/income03/statemhi.html

If your family is above both the national level and the level in your state of residence, I doubt you would qualify as economically disadvantaged.

By the way, note that West Virginia has surpassed Mississippi for the dubious honor of lowest median income! Almost heaven, indeed.