MD Socioeconomic status

[4forsmores]

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How does socioeconomic status factor into the application/admissions process? For example had many abusive step fathers/lots of drugs and violence around as a child. Divorced family neither parent has more than high school education one doesn't have highschool diploma. Eligible for FAP and Pell grants. Work 20-30 hours a week during semester.

 

[Catalystik]

Disadvantaged status:

Why claim it: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=10462557

When to claim it: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=10697896

Writing about Assault: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=11425115&postcount=23

 

[gyngyn]

All the things you mention provide context. Data without context cannot be interpreted.

 

[Tarasaurusrex]

You sort of seem like you are asking if your past misfortunes can atone for any and all future shortcomings.....it doesn't work that way. You can't just "hold onto the extra-hard-life card in case you screw up to excuse you as to why you screwed up" you need to have a specific issue that is a perceived shortcoming, but in fact, would be a non-issue if not for your disadvantaged position. Just because your past was bad doesn't mean you get to have an easier future, life isn't a set constant ratio of good vs. bad universally proportional to all people; some people have much more good, some more bad. Unfortunately no one will respect you if you claim victim status over every little thing, they will keep treating you as a victim.

 

[Goro]

I have seen discussions during AdCom meetings where a borderline candidate can be pushed over the accept line by an interviewer who was impressed with the candidate's story about overcomign many obstacles.

The "I'm the first one from my family to go to college" story doesn't impress me anymore. It's quite common.

caveat: sometimes these candidates do well, and sometimes they fail out. 100% agree with the sentiment that a hard life story doesn't make up for a poor GPA or MCAT, or lack of necessary ECs.

How does socioeconomic status factor into the application/admissions process? For example had many abusive step fathers/lots of drugs and violence around as a child. Divorced family neither parent has more than high school education one doesn't have highschool diploma. Eligible for FAP and Pell grants. Work 20-30 hours a week during semester.

 

[4forsmores]

Thanks for the input guys. Just to clarify I'm not trying to play the " woe is me" card. Everything on my application is stellar except for my gpa which stems from my first freshman semester (1.85) gpa and last semester when I made all C's. I work a lot at well as volunteer and unfortunately last semester my jobless ex - mother (long story) was having trouble feeding my two disabled brothers ( ages 6 and 4) and was on the verge of going to jail for backed child support so with trying to keep food on the table and keeping my ex mom out of jail so that my brothers didnt have to stay with there meth dealing father I got a little behind in my classes last semester. I've definitely learned a lot about digging deeper. Anyways my gpa will be 3.3 for both cumulative and science when I apply in may. That's if I make a 4.0 this semester and the next. Which I will! Also, will the steep upward trend and heavy science course load look good as well? Thanks for all the advice.