Question about Disadvantaged Status

[mackkdad]

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Hello,

I just have a quick question about the disadvantaged status portion on the application.

My family came to America 10 years ago and since my parents didn't speak any English, I often assumed the role as the head of the household. Then during senior year, my grandma suffered a series of health problems and I had to drive back and forth to take care of her and help her with her hospital visits. Needless to say, this affected my performance during the last quarter tremendously so I'm thinking about mentioning it here in the Disadvantaged section since it is related to the fact that I had to balance between my family issues and academic since my parents can't speak the language.

What do you guys think? I don't want to put it in my personal statement because it does not go well with the general theme that I'm trying to get at. Please give me an idea whether it's okay or whether you've known anyone who's done it. Thank you!

 

[DokterMom]

Sounds reasonable to me -- Do also acknowledge some of the advantages gained though through early exposure to the 'business side' of running a family.

 

[mackkdad]

Sounds reasonable to me -- Do also acknowledge some of the advantages gained though through early exposure to the 'business side' of running a family.

Thank you! I did talk about what I learned from the experience. So I guess the Disadvantaged status is not all about childhood hardships and it can be extended to difficulties during your undergrad?

 

[DokterMom]

Thank you! I did talk about what I learned from the experience. So I guess the Disadvantaged status is not all about childhood hardships and it can be extended to difficulties during your undergrad?

In your case, they happen to overlap --

Edit -- I should clarify. I was referring to describing your upbringing in a non-English-speaking household as the disadvantage, not your senior-year academic difficulties due to family responsibilities.

 

[LizzyM]

Hello,

I just have a quick question about the disadvantaged status portion on the application.

My family came to America 10 years ago and since my parents didn't speak any English, I often assumed the role as the head of the household. Then during senior year, my grandma suffered a series of health problems and I had to drive back and forth to take care of her and help her with her hospital visits. Needless to say, this affected my performance during the last quarter tremendously so I'm thinking about mentioning it here in the Disadvantaged section since it is related to the fact that I had to balance between my family issues and academic since my parents can't speak the language.

What do you guys think? I don't want to put it in my personal statement because it does not go well with the general theme that I'm trying to get at. Please give me an idea whether it's okay or whether you've known anyone who's done it. Thank you!

Disadvantaged refers to age 0-18 so unless you were an 18 year old senior, it really doesn't belong in the disadvantaged section. The purpose, as it has been explained to me is to identify students who were disadvantaged as children in such a way that they were behind their peers when starting college or why they delayed college.

 

[moisne]

Tho - there are a lot of students who come from non-english speaking families... I don't know how much weight they will put on that.