You're doing it wrong, part 3: disadvantaged

[Med Ed]

Does hx of child abuse count?

Depends on the sequela of said abuse.

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[teslawasrobbed]

Most of your AMCAS application is composed of facts. Your name is _. Your gender is _. You're address is _. You went to college at _. Your GPA is _. Your MCAT is _. Your grade in Dr. Frisbee's organic chemistry class is _. You shadowed Dr. _ for _ hours at_. Call _ if you don't believe me.

The space for emotive expression is quite limited. In fact, I would argue that the personal statement is the only place where appeals to subjectivity are unassailably allowed, although the most meaningful EC slots permit some latitude in this area.

The disadvantaged field is likewise not a place for emotional appeals. AMCAS instituted it as a mechanism for applicants to mitigate deficiencies that are beyond their control. We know some people fill it out without good reason. We also know that many people who could legitimately claim disadvantaged status choose not to. Put that in your pipe, George F. Will. The point is to keep it concise and factual. I go there looking for an answer to a specific question.

When deciding whether or not to declare as disadvantaged, please note the following:

- Age 0-18 only.
- Documentable evidence is key. It's not that you will ever be asked to produce documentation, but if your family was on government assistance, or you lived in a cruddy school district with a broom for a teacher and no AP credits, those are objective facts. A record of them exists somewhere.
- Hardships are common to all people. Having them does not necessarily make you disadvantaged. Your parents getting divorced does not confer disadvantaged status, unless the court proceedings forced you to live with your dad in a trailer outside of Bexar, Arkansas.
- It's possible to be disadvantaged without having suffered significant economic hardship. For example, I can think of an applicant from a solid upper middle class family who was raised in a rural area with underperforming schools. He had no alternatives other than being homeschooled, which was not a viable option.
- Finally, and most important, there is no singular gauge to determine disadvantaged status. You don't get a letter from AMCAS saying "Congratulations! You have been awarded disadvantaged!" What one school finds compelling another may find laughable. So tread carefully, but don't feel shy about claiming disadvantaged if you are doing so in good faith and with supporting evidence.

So I am somewhat new to this and would be interested in your opinion. I grew up with an alcoholic self-employed father. Which means for most of my life he didn't work or participate in our lives. We do have tax returns to prove it. We never did free lunch, or any kind of program since it would have required him to get his **** together and file taxes (they are all caught up now). He was arrested for drunk driving more than once, lost his business and went to jail. When he got out he got a good job (though still an alcoholic). So I went from getting the Pell grant junior year of college to nothing the next year. I no longer qualify for any low income programs, which I was counting on for summer research. However I was raised in poverty (food insecurity, house in foreclosure, electricity being turned off, limited access to medical & dental care, etc). Only half of our house has electricity and the roof leaks so bad when it rains, we call our hallway the car wash, also lets not forget not having enough money to take our dog to the vet and me just sitting with him while he dies. I also live in a rural area which is considered a healthcare desert. People dont go to Drs. They just work until they die. This is important because it explains why I don't have many ECs in HS or college, as things cost money. How do I address this within my application? Just because for the last two years he has made good money it doesn't change who I am or my experiences.

 

[LunaOri]

So I am somewhat new to this and would be interested in your opinion. I grew up with an alcoholic self-employed father. Which means for most of my life he didn't work or participate in our lives. We do have tax returns to prove it. We never did free lunch, or any kind of program since it would have required him to get his **** together and file taxes (they are all caught up now). He was arrested for drunk driving more than once, lost his business and went to jail. When he got out he got a good job (though still an alcoholic). So I went from getting the Pell grant junior year of college to nothing the next year. I no longer qualify for any low income programs, which I was counting on for summer research. However I was raised in poverty (food insecurity, house in foreclosure, electricity being turned off, limited access to medical & dental care, etc). Only half of our house has electricity and the roof leaks so bad when it rains, we call our hallway the car wash, also lets not forget not having enough money to take our dog to the vet and me just sitting with him while he dies. I also live in a rural area which is considered a healthcare desert. People dont go to Drs. They just work until they die. This is important because it explains why I don't have many ECs in HS or college, as things cost money. How do I address this within my application? Just because for the last two years he has made good money it doesn't change who I am or my experiences.

“Disadvantaged” is about your circumstances in childhood and adolescence.

 

[Med Ed]

So I am somewhat new to this and would be interested in your opinion. I grew up with an alcoholic self-employed father. Which means for most of my life he didn't work or participate in our lives. We do have tax returns to prove it. We never did free lunch, or any kind of program since it would have required him to get his **** together and file taxes (they are all caught up now). He was arrested for drunk driving more than once, lost his business and went to jail. When he got out he got a good job (though still an alcoholic). So I went from getting the Pell grant junior year of college to nothing the next year. I no longer qualify for any low income programs, which I was counting on for summer research. However I was raised in poverty (food insecurity, house in foreclosure, electricity being turned off, limited access to medical & dental care, etc). Only half of our house has electricity and the roof leaks so bad when it rains, we call our hallway the car wash, also lets not forget not having enough money to take our dog to the vet and me just sitting with him while he dies. I also live in a rural area which is considered a healthcare desert. People dont go to Drs. They just work until they die. This is important because it explains why I don't have many ECs in HS or college, as things cost money. How do I address this within my application? Just because for the last two years he has made good money it doesn't change who I am or my experiences.

What @LunaOri said.

You have a rough draft of your disadvantaged statement here:

I grew up with an alcoholic self-employed father. Which means for most of my life he didn't work or participate in our lives. We do have tax returns to prove it. We never did free lunch, or any kind of program since it would have required him to get his **** together and file taxes (they are all caught up now). He was arrested for drunk driving more than once, lost his business and went to jail.

I was raised in poverty (food insecurity, house in foreclosure, electricity being turned off, limited access to medical & dental care, etc). Only half of our house has electricity and the roof leaks so bad when it rains, we call our hallway the car wash, also lets not forget not having enough money to take our dog to the vet and me just sitting with him while he dies. I also live in a rural area which is considered a healthcare desert. People dont go to Drs. They just work until they die.

 

[teslawasrobbed]

“Disadvantaged” is about your circumstances in childhood and adolescence.

Thank you for responding and clarifying that for me. I really appreciate it.

 

[ridebiker]

Interested in whether my story/background would be considered disadvantaged, or better suited for an overcoming adversity essay. I was homeschooled for religious reasons (my parents were fundie-lite), in a home where we weren't allowed to go to the doctor either (no vaccines, etc). My mom doesn't believe in modern medicine, in fact thinks I shouldn't apply to medical school at all, because "don't you know you'll have to get vaccines to be a doctor!" . My school curriculum was completely bible based (young earth creationism, etc) and after the age of 10 I basically taught myself as my mom left me at home with my older brother so she could work during the day. I ended up enrolling in highschool for 11th/12th grade, and just barely scraped by to graduate and then struggled my way through the first two years of college while I figured out how to actually learn and study for real school material. I feel like in so many ways I was not disadvantaged, because I was allowed to play sports and took music lessons, etc during my childhood...but then again I feel like my long winding road to medicine could have been so much simpler/faster had I had the educational resources as a child/not had my education basically neglected by my parents until I was 16. I couldn't hang with pre-med curriculum my first time through college because I was just so overwhelmed with the real world and studying for the easiest classes...now I'm 31 and finally finishing my pre-reqs and realizing how much I missed out on because of the ground I had to make up when I started college after being homeschooled for so long. Anyway, just a thought I had....it's something I want to include in my app but I'm not sure where it's most appropriate

 

[Goro]

Yup, I'd say that you fit the bill for disadvantaged

 

[LunaOri]

Yes, you were educationally disadvantaged.

 

[LizzyM]

Interested in whether my story/background would be considered disadvantaged, or better suited for an overcoming adversity essay. I was homeschooled for religious reasons (my parents were fundie-lite), in a home where we weren't allowed to go to the doctor either (no vaccines, etc). My mom doesn't believe in modern medicine, in fact thinks I shouldn't apply to medical school at all, because "don't you know you'll have to get vaccines to be a doctor!" . My school curriculum was completely bible based (young earth creationism, etc) and after the age of 10 I basically taught myself as my mom left me at home with my older brother so she could work during the day. I ended up enrolling in highschool for 11th/12th grade, and just barely scraped by to graduate and then struggled my way through the first two years of college while I figured out how to actually learn and study for real school material. I feel like in so many ways I was not disadvantaged, because I was allowed to play sports and took music lessons, etc during my childhood...but then again I feel like my long winding road to medicine could have been so much simpler/faster had I had the educational resources as a child/not had my education basically neglected by my parents until I was 16. I couldn't hang with pre-med curriculum my first time through college because I was just so overwhelmed with the real world and studying for the easiest classes...now I'm 31 and finally finishing my pre-reqs and realizing how much I missed out on because of the ground I had to make up when I started college after being homeschooled for so long. Anyway, just a thought I had....it's something I want to include in my app but I'm not sure where it's most appropriate

Here's your disadvantaged statement:
"I was homeschooled for religious reasons and kept away from doctors and preventive services such as vaccines due to mistrust of modern medicine. My school curriculum was completely bible based (young earth creationism, etc) and, after the age of 10, I basically taught myself as my mom left me at home with my older brother so she could work during the day. I enrolled in school for 11th/12th grade, and just barely scraped by to graduate and then struggled my way through the first two years of college while I figured out how to actually learn and study real school material."

 

[ridebiker]

Thanks everyone for the response and clarification!

I hope it's ok to ask another question.....Is it ok to reflect on the challenges and how I overcame them in this statement, or is this supposed to be just a clear statement of the facts with no reflection? Would it be better to do reflecting in an overcoming adversity essay? Or, should you not talk about the same topic in multiple written areas of the application? I honestly have no idea how to approach this

 

[Goro]

Thanks everyone for the response and clarification!

I hope it's ok to ask another question.....Is it ok to reflect on the challenges and how I overcame them in this statement, or is this supposed to be just a clear statement of the facts with no reflection? Would it be better to do reflecting in an overcoming adversity essay? Or, should you not talk about the same topic in multiple written areas of the application? I honestly have no idea how to approach this

Just answer the prompt and don't give info that is irrelevant. Your app will speak for you on other issues.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Is it ok to reflect on the challenges and how I overcame them in this statement, or is this supposed to be just a clear statement of the facts with no reflection? Would it be better to do reflecting in an overcoming adversity essay? Or, should you not talk about the same topic in multiple written areas of the application? I honestly have no idea how to approach this

I think you are overthinking it but you are correct you need to be aware that schools may ask you for specific examples of how you overcame adversity. You don't want to sound like a one-note samba and repeat your story too many times.

As we advise, just answer the prompt.

 

[ridebiker]

I think you are overthinking it but you are correct you need to be aware that schools may ask you for specific examples of how you overcame adversity. You don't want to sound like a one-note samba and repeat your story too many times.

As we advise, just answer the prompt.

Thanks for clarifying, I really appreciate it. I'm definitely overthinking, as being a non-trad I don't have an advisor or anyone in my life who has any idea about this process.

 

[LizzyM]

We are here for you. You might want to choose some adversity that arose after the end of the time period covered by your disadvantage statement. Some schools will want to see how the "mature you" has coped with adversity whether or not that arose due to your unconventional upbringing.

 

[gohogwild]

Here is a resource posted by the NIH for what they constitute as disadvantaged:

Office of Intramural Training and Education

www.training.nih.gov

 

[RespectTheChemistry]

1. MedEd mentioned "documentable". Do you need to have specific corresponding documentation for the things you discuss in your disadvantaged statement? Is other documentation of coming from a lower-income family (i.e. FAP and Pell grant status) acceptable when discussing food insecurity? Do you necessarily have to have received SNAP or Free & Reduced Price lunch? (We were eligible, but my mom was paranoid about Child Protective Services and wouldn't fill out the form.)

2. I had a baby when I was 16. Is it a risky idea to mention the pregnancy? Does it add anything to the disadvantaged statement that is to my benefit?

3. I am just shy of 30. My mom has been able to get more education and a better job since I've been an adult. (Single mom that struggled a lot financially when she had a much worse job with less education when my brother and I were kids) Will they not believe me that we were in bad shape when I was a kiddo if they see Master's under parental education?

 

[LunaOri]

Yes, being pregnant and giving birth at age 16 counts as disadvantaged, because it interfered with your ability to get an education. (It also makes a great “challenge” essay).

 

[GrizzlyBR]

I never thought of myself as disadvantaged. I really think I have had a blessed life. Many people have more challenges than I did growing up. But as I come closer to applying to medical school, I have learned about this disadvantaged status. Just not sure what to make of it and if I need to talk about my circumstances.

Basically, I grew up in a small village with couple hundred citizens outside US. There was no healthcare facilities nearby within 100 miles or so. No doctors. My mom was helping other nurse to take care of people in the village. One small school. At 10 moved to US with parents and 7 other siblings. I had to work (as well as my older siblings) through high school and college years. We had SNAP, section 8, etc. until about couple years before I graduated from high school. My parents were able to do better since then. They still continue to live poorly but at least for the last 10-12 years they don't need any government assistance and are able to pay their bills and needs. They live in a rural area. I moved away for college.

I guess I could say that I was disadvantaged before coming to US, but not sure if overall status is changed after immigrating to US. Again, personally I always considered us to be blessed to be in US, being healthy and having work and education opportunities. My parents were persecuted and were not allowed to get education in our home country. So, I am not sure if I even need to mention my disadvantaged background. I think we were able to overcome most of it and make the best out of our situation.


Thank you for your input.

 

[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

Just checking to see if my situation applies:

- Parents got home foreclosed on in 08, we had to live with my extended family (9 people in a 3 bedroom house) for several years. I was, I suspect, probably clinically depressed most of this time though no diagnosis; my family is somewhat dysfunctional so lots of yelling and drunken injuries/fights and stuff between extended family. This was I believe my first two years of high school.
- Sister has severe BPD and was completely uncontrolled for several years as a teenager; routine violence and cops called multiple times a week for safety of all involved.
- I am trans and was basically brain fogged until I started medically transitioning after undergrad. I don't remember a vast majority of my childhood and adolescence, I suspect due to (undiagnosed) long-term depression or some related issue.

I don't know if I should put it down because I've done amazing in life post-transition. But I graduated undergrad with like a 3.3 in a very easy degree which I believe was strongly influenced by the events mentioned. I really floated through life until about 22, when my brain turned on. Since then I've gotten a MS, held engineering and instructor roles, make good money, etc.

Thoughts?

 

[Goro]

Just checking to see if my situation applies:

- Parents got home foreclosed on in 08, we had to live with my extended family (9 people in a 3 bedroom house) for several years. I was, I suspect, probably clinically depressed most of this time though no diagnosis; my family is somewhat dysfunctional so lots of yelling and drunken injuries/fights and stuff between extended family. This was I believe my first two years of high school.
- Sister has severe BPD and was completely uncontrolled for several years as a teenager; routine violence and cops called multiple times a week for safety of all involved.
- I am trans and was basically brain fogged until I started medically transitioning after undergrad. I don't remember a vast majority of my childhood and adolescence, I suspect due to (undiagnosed) long-term depression or some related issue.

I don't know if I should put it down because I've done amazing in life post-transition. But I graduated undergrad with like a 3.3 in a very easy degree which I believe was strongly influenced by the events mentioned. I really floated through life until about 22, when my brain turned on. Since then I've gotten a MS, held engineering and instructor roles, make good money, etc.

Thoughts?

Sounds like a disadvantaged to me. Great fodder for challenges and adversity prompts too.

 

[LizzyM]

Questions:
1. Do you need to have specific corresponding documentation for the things you discuss in your disadvantaged statement? Is other documentation of coming from a lower-income family (i.e. FAP and Pell grant status) acceptable when discussing food insecurity? Do you necessarily have to have received SNAP or Free & Reduced Price lunch? (As stated above, we were eligible, but my mom was paranoid about Child Protective Services.)

2. Is it a risky idea to mention the pregnancy? Does it add anything to the disadvantaged statement that is to my benefit? I have the same question about the healthcare disadvantage.

3. I am just shy of 30. My mom has been able to get more education and a better job since I've been an adult. (Single mom that struggled a lot financially when she had a much worse job with less education when my brother and I were kids) Will they not believe me that we were in bad shape when I was a kiddo if they see Master's under parental education? I didn't have any relationship with my dad until my 20s. He has a college degree too.

You won't be asked for documentation but it is best to be truthful.

If the experience of being pregnant had a negative effect on your HS experience and changed your trajectory to college, that could be mentioned. This is regardless of the outcome of the pregnancy. If you had childcare responsibilities while in HS, that could be mentioned and appears that it could be relevant.

In the explanation of your disadvantage, you should try to fit in a statement along the lines of "my Mom completed her master's and improved her economic situation in [year]." That's a pretty short statement that should be taken along with your own year of graduation etc to put your childhood situation in perspective.

 

[LizzyM]

I never thought of myself as disadvantaged. I really think I have had a blessed life. Many people have more challenges than I did growing up. But as I come closer to applying to medical school, I have learned about this disadvantaged status. Just not sure what to make of it and if I need to talk about my circumstances.

Basically, I grew up in a small village with couple hundred citizens outside US. There was no healthcare facilities nearby within 100 miles or so. No doctors. My mom was helping other nurse to take care of people in the village. One small school. At 10 moved to US with parents and 7 other siblings. I had to work (as well as my older siblings) through high school and college years. We had SNAP, section 8, etc. until about couple years before I graduated from high school. My parents were able to do better since then. They still continue to live poorly but at least for the last 10-12 years they don't need any government assistance and are able to pay their bills and needs. They live in a rural area. I moved away for college.

I guess I could say that I was disadvantaged before coming to US, but not sure if overall status is changed after immigrating to US. Again, personally I always considered us to be blessed to be in US, being healthy and having work and education opportunities. My parents were persecuted and were not allowed to get education in our home country. So, I am not sure if I even need to mention my disadvantaged background. I think we were able to overcome most of it and make the best out of our situation.


Thank you for your input.

You'll check the box for having received government assistance. You'll check the box for work before age 18. You might check the box for work contributing to the family's finances before age 18 (you helped pay the bills and didn't work just for your own spending money). If your permanent address is deemed rural by the US government, that will be noted on the application with "[R]" for rural. It might also be noted as U for underserved.

You could write, "While I considered myself lucky to move to the States from [country] in [year], my parents and 7 siblings faced challenges in rural [state name] and I began working as a [job title] at age [number] to help with expenses. While our circumstances have improved with time, I look back on the experiences as one that helped me develop empathy for children in circumstances similar to my own." (or whatever you want to say about an interest in working with immigrants and refugees or non-native speakers of English or whatever).

 

[Tbilisig]

Just keeping it short and sweet, if you entered college at a disadvantage compared with your fellow students in the classroom due to poverty, poor k-12 education, exceptional hardships (catastrophic family situation) then it might be worthwhile to consider checking that box and writing the <1325 characters for the prompt.

Do keep in mind that every student can list family income, work before age 18 (y/n), birthplace, hometown, high school alma mater, parents' highest level of education and occupation. All this also paints a picture that can be helpful. AMCAS also assigns you an EO category based on parents education and employment (if parents were educated in the US).

If one parent holds BS degree from underdeveloped country,( not sure if it would match BS in US) has never used her degree and works as a cleaning lady her entire life, would that degree still count? Other parent college dropout and worked in hotel maintenance ( retired now) EO -2? Thanks

 

[Goro]

If one parent holds BS degree from underdeveloped country,( not sure if it would match BS in US) has never used her degree and works as a cleaning lady her entire life, would that degree still count? Other parent college dropout and worked in hotel maintenance ( retired now) EO -2? Thanks

Yes, it still counts

 

[Tbilisig]

EO 2 ? Thank you

 

[Tbilisig]

Thanks for this. I needed the confirmation.

2023 disadvantage box also includes other impactful experiences, I'm assuming more story can be added to the facts ?

 

[LizzyM]

If one parent holds BS degree from underdeveloped country,( not sure if it would match BS in US) has never used her degree and works as a cleaning lady her entire life, would that degree still count? Other parent college dropout and worked in hotel maintenance ( retired now) EO -2? Thanks

If your parents were educated abroad, then no EO code is assigned. List your parents names, highest degree earned and profession. Anyone who puts eyeballs on the application will see the picture it paints even without an EO code.

 

[Tbilisig]

If your parents were educated abroad, then no EO code is assigned. List your parents names, highest degree earned and profession. Anyone who puts eyeballs on the application will see the picture it paints even without an EO code.

I would hope so. I don't even know name and location of the institution. Maybe just put unknown? Thank you

 

[LizzyM]

I would hope so. I don't even know name and location of the institution. Maybe just put unknown? Thank you

Do you have the application in front of you? I think that there is a pull-down menu. Otherwise, I suppose saying "unknown high school" is fine.

 

[Tbilisig]

Thank you very much.