Who agrees, disagrees, and why?

[SigPi]

---

Members don't see this ad.

If i'm wondering about this topic than I'm certain some of you are as well. I am your average premed applicant. By average I mean that I am a white male with ok mcat, gpa, ex-c, lor, etc. I think that I can make a strong case for being considered a disadvantaged applicant, I will post my statement if anyone cares to read. I grew up in a poor family that has steadly risen to lower middle class status, neither of my parents have college educations, and neither are "connected" in the professional world. Throughout my lifetime my parents have worked extremely hard, and made many scarifices for me, my sister and our family. Therefore, I believe that as an applicant to one of the most prestegious professions in the world (considering my competition) I feel that my application would be more accurate if I designated myself disadvantaged. I welcome your responses.

 

[willthatsall]

I don't know about that, but I can tell you that you might want to bring up that MCAT a little bit. Also, does being disadvantaged have anything to do with being accepted to med school? I thought that was just to get a fee waiver, only URM status will help you get into med school. And you don't have that.

 

[Rugger81]

I would say go for it.

I think it's somewhat prejudiced to think that certain ethnic minorities shouldn't have the opportunity to explain how they are "disadvantaged" but I think it's just ignorant to assume that white people can't be disadvantaged as well.

If you're going to do it though, do it well. Make a good case. You don't want to do it on a whim.

 

[SigPi]

Yeah I'm not black or hispanic, but hey nobody is perfect. However, I'm pretty sure adcoms take this section into serious consideration.

 

[DualSuperLead]

I think being economically disadvatanged will work in your favor. I just finished the secondary application for Texas Tech, which contained several questions relating to financial background. Specifically, it asked if you have ever lived in subsidized housing, helped take care of siblings while in highschool, provided additional family income by working while in highschool, and if you have experience any other "difficulties. It also asks your family income and value of your home. I know that this is just an example of one school, but it does show that some schools take such things into consideration.

 

[SigPi]

d

 

[willthatsall]

I became the fourth and final member of my family in 1981. At that time one monthly house payment, a modest monthly vehicle payment, food and living expenses for two adults, a toddler, and now a high-risk neonate were dependent on an income of less than $8500 before taxes. I believe and thank my mother with all the love a son can offer when she recently told me, ?We made sacrifices for you that you?ll never know?.

As a young boy I became privy to the concept that when the weather was under the weather my father (as a laborer) had little work, if any. I also understood that when the weather was good he came home tired, tanned and sweat-drenched. Unemployment benefits and Women Infant and Child programs kept food on the table and formula in my mouth during lean winter months of my early years.

Later in college I learned the importance of networking. Certain students were able to procure wonderful shadowing experiences, even clinical research employment through the aid of their parent?s contacts in the professional arena. I personally pursued, and found, my opportunities by doing my own footwork.

And here I stand, the embodiment of my parents sacrifices, a product of the working poor/middle class, a first generation college graduate knocking on the door of the American medical school.

thoughts, comments?

I think it sounds good. The weather under the weather part was kind of weird though, never heard that expression. And when you talk finding opportunities on your own in college, I would leave out how you perceived it to be easier for other students with better financial backgrounds, etc. It sounds a little spiteful to me. But I think it sounds good. That is 8500 a year, I'm assuming right?

 

[SigPi]

yup, $8,500 for 1 year...it was rough times. Wasnt going for spite with that networking comment, this actually occured very often...aka, "my dad went to college with this guy who's an oral surgeon, sat in on some surgeries", or "My mom works with this woman at the medical school who got me cool research job"...def. not uncommon. I'll look into chaning the tone a bit, thanks! 👍

 

[willthatsall]

Yeah, I know exactly what you meant by your comment, but I was just thinking it could be more like, "because of my background and my family's lack of professional connections, I had to work very hard to find opportunities...etc, etc." instead of pointing out how easy it was for everyone else because then it kind of ****s your focus to how easy everyone else had it. So are you done with the MCAT now or are you going to take it again?


Edited: that word is supposed to be "shifts", but I typo'd it and it's funny to me so I'm just going to leave it.

 

[medic170]

I'm seriously considering applying under "disadvantaged status", parents didnt go to college, made less than 31000 year (average) from birth to 18 for a family of four....Anyone think this is pushing the disadvantaged envelop? Considering I'm an average white male...

26R (v:9, p:8, b:9)
gpa 3.9 from small liberal arts college

I'll put up what I had on your other post where you asked about this:

Do a search, there is actually a lot of info on sdn about this. After lengthy discussions, most of us concluded that the decision to apply disadvantaged is untimatley up to the individual and how s/he feels. However, you said your family's income was around $31,000 for a family of 4, which is far from rich, but is well above the poverty threshold, and IMHO marking disadvantaged is reserved for people who had some kind of severe barrier overcome like actual poverty, abuse, orphaned etc.

In my case, I am, like you, the first in my family to attend college. I worked a lot during high school and got a full time job after graduation because nobody encouraged me to apply to college. Even if they had, my parents could not have afforded to help pay for it. I have a family of my own to support. My parents made around $30,000 (family of 5) when I was growing up. they were on assistance at times too. They could not, did not, and do not now help we with college. After unfulfilling jobs took their toll on my happiness, I enrolled in paramedic school, and after that, I returned to college. rDespite Pell grants and stafford loans, I have had no choice but to work full-time throughout my undergrad to support my family and pay for school. However, after careful consideration, I did not mark disadvantaged for three reasons

1. I think this is for people who grew up in actual poverty or abuse or were unable to get essential medical care. Now, I have been dirt poor all my life, but i have never gone hungry. I have also been uninsured most of my life and medical bills have ensured i will stay poor for many years to come BUT, I have never gone without essential medical care.

2. I do feel that my circumstances have affected my access to higher education and my grades, so I addressed that in my personal statement. I think that is the place to talk about overcoming adversity when you have beat the odds to make it, but you are not invclined to mark the disadvantaged status.

3. My stats are a bit below average, but they are damn good for all i have overcome, but I do NOT want any ADCOM feeling sorry for me. I don't want them to think i feel sorry for myself, and I felt that marking disadvantaged when so many people actually grow up in true poverty, or endure abuse, or lose their parents, or grow up without proper medical care was just that. i discusses in my PS how I have overcome obstacles that most pre meds never even think about, and I thought that was enough. they know what they need to, and I still left the disadvantaged status for those who really need it.

So, thats my story and my opinion. Its up to you whether you think you were disadvantaged. If you decide to do it, be prepared to explain to adcoms why. Good Luck! and congrats on making it this far!

 

[willthatsall]

Very insightful.

 

[SigPi]

I'm finished with the MCAT for this year. Gonna roll the dice and see how the season goes. If things arent looking good by Jan05, i'll start plugging away for the April test. Based on past experiences (friends with similar stats from my school) I should have a chance...but in this crap shoot nothing is certain, eh?

 

[medic170]

I became the fourth and final member of my family in 1981. At that time one monthly house payment, a modest monthly vehicle payment, food and living expenses for two adults, a toddler, and now a high-risk neonate were dependent on an income of less than $8500 before taxes. I believe and thank my mother with all the love a son can offer when she recently told me, ?We made sacrifices for you that you?ll never know?.

As a young boy I became privy to the concept that when the weather was under the weather my father (as a laborer) had little work, if any. I also understood that when the weather was good he came home tired, tanned and sweat-drenched. Unemployment benefits and Women Infant and Child programs kept food on the table and formula in my mouth during lean winter months of my early years.

Later in college I learned the importance of networking. Certain students were able to procure wonderful shadowing experiences, even clinical research employment through the aid of their parent?s contacts in the professional arena. I personally pursued, and found, my opportunities by doing my own footwork.

And here I stand, the embodiment of my parents sacrifices, a product of the working poor/middle class, a first generation college graduate knocking on the door of the American medical school.

thoughts, comments?

If you do decide to do this, I really think you should talk more about things you can remember and about what disadvantages you had that acted as a barrier to your education and well being. IMHO, the struggles your parents had when you were a baby are not very relevent.

Also, many people use physical labor in their jobs and have used unemployment benefits at one time or another. My parents were working class stiffs, as am I today. Lots of people are. It kept formula in your mouth, but do you actually recall this? If you were still on formula, it seems unlikely that you would be able to remember the hardships of a time so early in your childhood? Your essay does not sound like you are recalling your disadvantaged experiences, rather, it just sound like a recount of what your parents told you happened. Talk more about the disadvantages YOU remember during your youth and how they affected your access to education. You need to talk about you and your expereinces, not your parent's experience. To me, the essay says "My parents worked hard through tough times so I would not have to be disadvantaged like they were". I hope this helps. Good luck!

 

[SigPi]

If you do decide to do this, I really think you should talk more about things you can remember and about what disadvantages you had that acted as a barrier to your education and well being. IMHO, the struggles your parents had when you were a baby are not very relevent.

Also, many people use physical labor in their jobs and have used unemployment benefits at one time or another. My parents were working class stiffs, as am I today. Lots of people are. It kept formula in your mouth, but do you actually recall this? If you were still on formula, it seems unlikely that you would be able to remember the hardships of a time so early in your childhood? Your essay does not sound like you are recalling your disadvantaged experiences, rather, it just sound like a recount of what your parents told you happened. Talk more about the disadvantages YOU remember during your youth and how they affected your access to education. You need to talk about you and your expereinces, not your parent's experience. To me, the essay says "My parents worked hard through tough times so I would not have to be disadvantaged like they were". I hope this helps. Good luck!

I am fully aware that there are many people, including yourself, who have had harder times than I. However, I feel that my situation warrants inclusion into the disadvanted category. I dont know if you have the numbers on your side (high MCAT, GPA, whatever) and you dont feel the need to include yourself in this category, maybe youre to proud to admit your hardships to an adcom, maybe you want to prove you can make it in without the extra consideration, whatever reasons you have they are yours.

Although I cannot recall walking up the unemployment line with my dad, or WIC line with my mother, it still doesnt change the fact that these programs were utilized by my family, we were poor. I believe that making this clear in the statement is important. Not having much growing up significantly affected my development (ie i DO remember feeling physical worry when my father was laid off, as I alluded to in the statement), including where I went to college and the experiences I had...all messages clearly conveyed in my statement. Not trying to be vindictive, just pleading my case

 

[willthatsall]

I'm with you on this; if it will help you get into med school, then it's worth talking about.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

As long as you can justify it, go for it.

 

[SigPi]

hell yeah. the more they know, the less I blow!

does anyony else feel that my statement doesnt justify my desiganted status besides Medic? You dont have to be all for me or all against me, I'm just looking for more elaborated opinions. 🙂

 

[KatieOConnor]

I liked your explanation of being disadvantaged. It certainly surpasses anything that I have been through and you are competing against people like me. I grew up in a wealthy suburb and had the option of being tutored in any subject. Then, I had college fully paid for, meaning I could spend my time studying or pursuing unpaid research opportunities. Then, when I wanted to take time off, I just emailed all my friends... and landed a research job with my friend's mother's friend. I had Princeton Review paid for when I wanted to take the MCAT, and I took some classes in a post bac program, also paid for fully.

I totally agree with what you said about networking... It's true, other people have it much easier. I've worked hard for what I have today, but I think any adcom should appreciate how much harder you've had to work. Good luck!

 

[Kazema]

I think you have a valid case for it; just make sure you don't come off as blaming anyone for your situation. Such as the part talking about how other kids could get jobs through networking; while true you risk coming off as bitter.

I also agree that you should focus more on personal experiences of hardship rather than the sacrifices your parents made. While admirable, it shows them as admirable people rather than you. Maybe focus on what opportunities were unavailable to you or something like that? And then talk about what you did instead because you were not afforded those opportunities.

 

[willthatsall]

hell yeah. the more they know, the less I blow!

does anyony else feel that my statement doesnt justify my desiganted status besides Medic? You dont have to be all for me or all against me, I'm just looking for more elaborated opinions. 🙂

I don't think Medic was really against you either, he was just saying to make sure that you truly feel you were disadvantaged if you are going to claim you were. Obviously, you two have slightly different opinions of what constitutes disadvantaged. I tend to agree with you that both of you are disadvantaged, but if he chooses to look at his situation differently and doesn't use disadvantaged status, more power to him.

 

[medic170]

Yeah, I am not against you doing it. I just gave you an honest assesment of what I thought-it doe not mean I am right or wrong. I am not saying you should not do it, but I do think you need to focus on yourself and not what your parents have done. Good luck!