"Underpriviledged?"

[Exalya]

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I've been looking into internships and I want to know... what exactly does "underprivileged" constitute? Many of the sites I read were vague and kind of hinted that it might include those who are from poor backgrounds, but mostly focussed on race.

I am Caucasian, but I was raised by a single parent with a mental disease making less than $24,000/year. Neither of my parents went to college. I have a good academic record, I'm a junior with a 3.6, but some things on my record (having to transfer schools twice, for example) look strange unless a person knows my background (kicked out when I was 15). That's why I'm interested in applying underprivileged.

Would I be considered? Or would I not qualify because I'm white?

 

[DrMattOglesby]

I'm not clear what programs you were looking into...'internships' (?) or medical school (MD/DO) programs?

There currently stands one organization that I know of which addresses the issue of race/ethnicity in your application. This is Med-MAR (Medical Minority Applicant Registry). When you take the MCAT, you are asked if you would like to be included in this system. Those that do are considered URM (underrepresented minorities). Yet it is not clear to me that: if you do not register with Med-MAR, then schools will not consider your ethnicity because there is still a place on the AMCAS/AACOMAS application that asks you to identify your race/ethnicity.

Another factor that influences your application is identifying yourself as Disadvantaged. This is mostly due to socioeconomic stresses experienced regardless of biological heritage. I am not as familiar with this system.

 

[psipsina]

I've been looking into internships and I want to know... what exactly does "underprivileged" constitute? Many of the sites I read were vague and kind of hinted that it might include those who are from poor backgrounds, but mostly focussed on race.

I am Caucasian, but I was raised by a single parent with a mental disease making less than $24,000/year. Neither of my parents went to college. I have a good academic record, I'm a junior with a 3.6, but some things on my record (having to transfer schools twice, for example) look strange unless a person knows my background (kicked out when I was 15). That's why I'm interested in applying underprivileged.

Would I be considered? Or would I not qualify because I'm white?

I have a similar background to you and I applied as "disadvantaged" on medschool apps. As long as you can explain clearly how your background affected your academics in some tangible way its usually acceptable. I'm not sure how much impact it has but if you can talk about it no one is going to get upset that you applied under that status.

 

[Exalya]

Sorry: to clarify, I am applying for pre-medical undergraduate summer internships. They were just very vague about being underprivileged, so... wasn't sure I could apply for them or not. >.>

 

[LizzyM]

Apply. The worst that can happen is that you are turned down. Some of these internships, I think, started out as being for URM but as often happens with targeting by race and ethnicity, someone pipes up (and rightly so) and says, what about the non-URM who is first in the family to attend college, who comes from a low income family, maybe attended a HS that did not have all the science classes (AP and otherwise) that are available to students of means.

 

[pianola]

I'd go for it if I were you. I guess if they ask you to explain the situation, make sure you're ready...

Good luck .

 

[flaahless]

Apply. The worst that can happen is that you are turned down. Some of these internships, I think, started out as being for URM but as often happens with targeting by race and ethnicity, someone pipes up (and rightly so) and says, what about the non-URM who is first in the family to attend college, who comes from a low income family, maybe attended a HS that did not have all the science classes (AP and otherwise) that are available to students of means.

OP, underprivileged means underprivileged. If you feel that you had an underprivileged upbringing then apply. Simple as that.

 

[txprodigal]

OP, underprivileged means underprivileged. If you feel that you had an underprivileged upbringing then apply. Simple as that.

would living in government subsidized housing as a young child but not in high school constitute being underpriveleged?

 

[LizzyM]

would living in government subsidized housing as a young child but not in high school constitute being underpriveleged?

For something like these summer research opportunities, you need to show that you didn't have the same opportuities in HS that other kids have. If you went to an excellent public or private high school,then the claim that you were underprivileged as a very young kid is attenuated by the opportunity you had for "catch up".