Writing the disadvantaged section

[aayz345]

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Not sure what to include here or if I’d even be considered disadvantaged. Grew up in an urban area. Both parents didn’t graduate high school and brought home less than 24k/year combined. My father had to retire early due to a work related injury and we received government assistance such as Medi-Cal. I had to work during my first 3 years of college in order to Cover personal expenses and help with the rent, which wound up taking a toll on my CC grades. Had a huge upward trend when I transferred to university. Should I write the disadvantaged essay?

 

[aayz345]

Bump

 

[deleted889094]

What's holding you back from saying it?

 

[aayz345]

What's holding you back from saying it?

Nothing really. I just read some posts about people being homeless at one point and clicking the disadvantaged box.

 

[deleted889094]

Nothing really. I just read some posts about people being homeless at one point and clicking the disadvantaged box.

Then go for it

 

[LizzyM]

Do you feel that you were "behind" your fellow students when you arrived at CC due to disadvantages you experienced up to that point? Did you attend under-performing schools, forego extracurricular activities because they cost money (didn't have fees for Scouts, sports, music or dance lessons, etc)? Did you lack advice regarding college admissions process because your school advisors had low expectations of kids in your school and/or your parents hadn't been to college? Any of those would be reasons to check the box and provide an explanation.

 

[Goro]

Not sure what to include here or if I’d even be considered disadvantaged. Grew up in an urban area. Both parents didn’t graduate high school and brought home less than 24k/year combined. My father had to retire early due to a work related injury and we received government assistance such as Medi-Cal. I had to work during my first 3 years of college in order to Cover personal expenses and help with the rent, which wound up taking a toll on my CC grades. Had a huge upward trend when I transferred to university. Should I write the disadvantaged essay?

Sounds disadvantaged to me.

The prompt is not meant to be competition of who had the worse life either

 

[Moko]

Yes, you would qualify as disadvantaged.

 

[aayz345]

Do you feel that you were "behind" your fellow students when you arrived at CC due to disadvantages you experienced up to that point? Did you attend under-performing schools, forego extracurricular activities because they cost money (didn't have fees for Scouts, sports, music or dance lessons, etc)? Did you lack advice regarding college admissions process because your school advisors had low expectations of kids in your school and/or your parents hadn't been to college? Any of those would be reasons to check the box and provide an explanation.

I did feel behind. Didn't know how to study properly during those 3 years, and frankly didn't know much if anything at all about the pre-med system because I was usually working during my free time and couldn't attend study groups/meetings. Didn't know what shadowing was until I transferred..

 

[LizzyM]

I did feel behind. Didn't know how to study properly during those 3 years, and frankly didn't know much if anything at all about the pre-med system because I was usually working during my free time and couldn't attend study groups/meetings. Didn't know what shadowing was until I transferred..

The disadvantaged section is meant for 0-18 years of age. It isn't about college/pre-med, etc. Were you behind your peers in college because you had a disadvantaged childhood? If you grew up in a low income household and were on government assistance then you might not be criticized for checking the box and explaining why you would describe your childhood as a disadvantaged one.