underrepresented minority

[runie46]

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would the fact that I am an immigrant to the US (From the UK) and have grown up in several low-income areas classify me as an underrepresented minority?

 

[RySerr21]

no

 

[DLi]

would the fact that I am an immigrant to the US (From the UK) and have grown up in several low-income areas classify me as an underrepresented minority?

Roll up your sleeves and take a good look at your skin color. If it's very pale, you are not a underrepresented minority. However, if your parents don't make much money, you do qualify for financial aid from the government.

Apparently Asians like me are not underrepresented minorities and often have it worse than whites when it comes to affirmative action selections. I can't even hide the fact I'm Asian because of my very-foreign-sounding name.

 

[redlight]

not unless you are a US citizen and self identify yourself as mexican, native american, black, or mainland puerto rican.

edit: but as LizzyM points out, just point your background on the application if you want to. schools will do as they please with the info. some asians are considered minorities by some schools depending on their ethnicity.

if you think you are financially disadvantaged, there's room on the app to explain your circumstances.

 

[riceman04]

in before lock

 

[DrYoda]

If you come from a low income family, you may qualify as disadvantaged.

URM has a very specific definition which redlight stated above.

 

[searun]

It is hot and my t-shirt is soaked with sweat. I am going to take off my t-shirt and go outside on the deck and recline and allow the soft winds of May to caress me.

 

[riceman04]

It is hot and my t-shirt is soaked with sweat. I am going to take off my t-shirt and go outside on the deck and recline and allow the soft winds of May to caress me.

😕

 

[nick_carraway]

Roll up your sleeves and take a good look at your skin color. If it's very pale, you are not a underrepresented minority. However, if your parents don't make much money, you do qualify for financial aid from the government.

Apparently Asians like me are not underrepresented minorities and often have it worse than whites when it comes to affirmative action selections. I can't even hide the fact I'm Asian because of my very-foreign-sounding name.

Boohoo. OP, you may have a case for filling in the disadvantaged/underserved section of the AMCAS.

 

[batman1983]

would the fact that I am an immigrant to the US (From the UK) and have grown up in several low-income areas classify me as an underrepresented minority?

Underrepresented minority=black, hispanic, native american. Unless you are one of those 3, you are not underrepresented. However, you can argue for the hardship angle and financial aid for apps.

 

[dynezxice]

if you think you are financially disadvantaged, there's room on the app to explain your circumstances.

If you come from a low income family, you may qualify as disadvantaged.

Boohoo. OP, you may have a case for filling in the disadvantaged/underserved section of the AMCAS.

Speaking from experience, you can explain all you want, but it ain't gonna do squat. In fact, it may even hurt your chances of an interview/acceptance at most schools, esp state schools since they don't even have enough finaid to give out in the first place and if you come from a low-income level, they have to fund you well-enough due to your financial status and they may view that as a problem for them, financially. As for the top 50 schools, we know that there are more scholarships reserved for URMs and since URMs usually (NOT ALL) come from the low income bracket, they have to give them finaid aid if they accept them. Since that's the case, these schools might tend to overlook financially disadvantaged students. By doing so, they will have killed 2 birds with one stone - meeting the underrepresented minority quota AND providing finaid for an individual who is financially disadvantaged.

It is hot and my t-shirt is soaked with sweat. I am going to take off my t-shirt and go outside on the deck and recline and allow the soft winds of May to caress me.

LOL

 

[redlight]

Speaking from experience, you can explain all you want, but it ain't gonna do squat. In fact, it may even hurt your chances of an interview/acceptance at most schools, esp state schools since they don't even have enough finaid to give out in the first place and if you come from a low-income level, they have to fund you well-enough due to your financial status and they may view that as a problem for them, financially. As for the top 50 schools, we know that there are more scholarships reserved for URMs and since URMs usually (NOT ALL) come from the low income bracket, they have to give them finaid aid if they accept them. Since that's the case, these schools might tend to overlook financially disadvantaged students. By doing so, they will have killed 2 birds with one stone - meeting the underrepresented minority quota AND providing finaid for an individual who is financially disadvantaged.




LOL

can you elaborate on the "speaking from experience" bit or maybe provide stats/links? sounds interesting, though i cannot say i like what you are insinuating. i have no idea if you are accurate; from my vantage point i only see speculation and opinion.

 

[nick_carraway]

Speaking from experience, you can explain all you want, but it ain't gonna do squat. In fact, it may even hurt your chances of an interview/acceptance at most schools, esp state schools since they don't even have enough finaid to give out in the first place and if you come from a low-income level, they have to fund you well-enough due to your financial status and they may view that as a problem for them, financially. As for the top 50 schools, we know that there are more scholarships reserved for URMs and since URMs usually (NOT ALL) come from the low income bracket, they have to give them finaid aid if they accept them. Since that's the case, these schools might tend to overlook financially disadvantaged students. By doing so, they will have killed 2 birds with one stone - meeting the underrepresented minority quota AND providing finaid for an individual who is financially disadvantaged.




LOL

Ah true true. @redlight, I think you can refer to the MSAR to see which schools explicitly say that financial needs are not factored into admission decisions.

 

[WhizoMD]

Speaking from experience, you can explain all you want, but it ain't gonna do squat. In fact, it may even hurt your chances of an interview/acceptance at most schools, esp state schools since they don't even have enough finaid to give out in the first place and if you come from a low-income level, they have to fund you well-enough due to your financial status and they may view that as a problem for them, financially. As for the top 50 schools, we know that there are more scholarships reserved for URMs and since URMs usually (NOT ALL) come from the low income bracket, they have to give them finaid aid if they accept them. Since that's the case, these schools might tend to overlook financially disadvantaged students. By doing so, they will have killed 2 birds with one stone - meeting the underrepresented minority quota AND providing finaid for an individual who is financially disadvantaged.

I was under the impression that the admission and finaid committee's were different entities. Also most med students finance their education through loans and grants anyway, so I don't think adcoms take ability to pay into account.

 

[nick_carraway]

I was under the impression that the admission and finaid committee's were different entities. Also most med students finance their education through loans and grants anyway, so I don't think adcoms take ability to pay into account.

Similar to undergrad, many schools do factor it into admission decisions, FWIW.

Check MSAR for the schools that explicitly say they don't.

 

[batman1983]

Ah true true. @redlight, I think you can refer to the MSAR to see which schools explicitly say that financial needs are not factored into admission decisions.

I have heard about this for undergrad admissions (esp private schools), but was not aware of it for medical school since most students obtain loans and so forth. However, I cant recall any schools from MSAR mentioning financial status in their selection factors besides the “consideration given to disadvantaged backgrounds”, which would sound like a plus.

 

[nick_carraway]

I have heard about this for undergrad admissions (esp private schools), but was not aware of it for medical school since most students obtain loans and so forth. However, I cant recall any schools from MSAR mentioning financial status in their selection factors besides the “consideration given to disadvantaged backgrounds”, which would sound like a plus.

I agree with your recollection. However, I can remember schools that say that they don't take financial need into consideration. While that doesn't necessarily mean that some schools do take it into account, it does imply it.

You might be right. We'll have to see if dynezxice can offer more info.

 

[scarletgirl777]

Speaking from experience, you can explain all you want, but it ain't gonna do squat. In fact, it may even hurt your chances of an interview/acceptance at most schools, esp state schools since they don't even have enough finaid to give out in the first place and if you come from a low-income level, they have to fund you well-enough due to your financial status and they may view that as a problem for them, financially. As for the top 50 schools, we know that there are more scholarships reserved for URMs and since URMs usually (NOT ALL) come from the low income bracket, they have to give them finaid aid if they accept them. Since that's the case, these schools might tend to overlook financially disadvantaged students. By doing so, they will have killed 2 birds with one stone - meeting the underrepresented minority quota AND providing finaid for an individual who is financially disadvantaged.




LOL

Unlike undergrad, med schools don't lose anything from accepting poor students because all those students are guaranteed federal loans. I call