amcas disadvantaged essay prompt

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AMCAS Statement of Disadvantage Examples

Reading some AMCAS statement of disadvantage examples will help you understand this baffling section of the AMCAS application . Understanding the different AMCAS sections and questions will help you understand how to prepare your med school application . A statement of disadvantage is a tool which can keep your application in the potentials pile by providing context of your personal situation and any barriers you face when applying to med school. If your application has any weak points, a statement of disadvantage can provide the necessary background information to explain them, leading to a better chance of being accepted to your chosen school. In this blog, we’ll look at what AMCAS considers a disadvantaged applicant, how applying as a disadvantaged student will affect your application and how to write a statement of disadvantage. You can also read some AMCAS statement of disadvantage examples to use as a guide.

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Article Contents 7 min read

What is a “disadvantaged” amcas applicant.

Preparing your application to medical school through the American Medical College Application System (AMCAS) is a lengthy process, and the application asks many detailed questions about your education, your most meaningful experiences , extracurriculars or hobbies , work activities as well as biographical and demographical questions. One question that might confuse students is about writing an AMCAS statement of disadvantage. The AMCAS application form asks students if they consider themselves disadvantaged, and to explain why.

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But what does being a disadvantaged AMCAS applicant mean? Should you mark yourself as disadvantaged? How will it affect your candidacy?

The explanation of being disadvantaged on the AMCAS website is a little vague, but essentially it is asking if there are personal circumstances or experiences you want the medical school admissions board to consider when reviewing your application. A disadvantage is any circumstance, barrier or obstacle which presented a roadblock to your schooling, academic development or ability to successfully apply to medical school. A statement of disadvantage is different from a diversity secondary essay or an AMCAS personal statement in that it outlines how you have overcome a hardship or difficulty in your life to apply for medical school or receive a formal education.

Marking yourself as a disadvantaged student will not otherwise affect your application or your time at your chosen medical school. If anything, it may help you get into the school of your choice even if your application has some weak points. A statement of disadvantage is designed to give student with barriers a fair shot at being accepted to the school of their choice. To qualify as a disadvantaged student, you’ll need to be able to explain in detail why your circumstances affected you and how you overcame them. For the statement of disadvantage on the AMCAS application, you’ll have just over 1,300 characters to write, so use as much space as you have available to explain your disadvantage.

A medical school advisor can assist you with a medical school application if you plan to apply as a disadvantaged student but aren’t sure what to include or what school resources there are to help you. An advisor will also know what medical school admission requirements (MSAR) are for your chosen schools. That way, if your application falls short in some way, for example your scores a below the average accepted threshold or your GPA is too low, they can advise you on how to get a better chance of applying as a disadvantaged student.

For example, if you are submitting a late medical school application because you have responsibilities at home which include caring for ill family members, as well as working a full-time job and applying to medical school, you can consider explaining these circumstances in a statement of disadvantage. It’s a good idea to have a medical school application timeline so you can begin putting together your application early, but of course this isn’t always possible.

Other options for disadvantaged medical school applicants who feel they cannot or don’t want to pursue traditional routes in the medical field can explore an application to AACOMAS instead with a DO school application to osteopathic medicine . You can always weigh the advantages of DO versus MD and decide which career path suits your situation.

Writing a good statement of disadvantage means writing clearly, to the point and with sufficient detail. You’ll only have about 250 words or so to explain your disadvantage, so keep to the facts and provide as much detail as you can on your situation. Keep your answers focused on the barriers you experience throughout your life which have presented obstacles to you getting into med school. Be sure to end your statement on a high note and include how you have worked to overcome your disadvantages and how you have risen above your circumstances.

Below we’ve included some important tips to keep in mind when writing your AMCAS statement of disadvantage.

Avoid veering off track by talking about your parents\u2019 struggles as immigrants or low-income earners. Don\u2019t talk about your siblings\u2019 illness extensively. Focus on how you weren\u2019t able to dedicate enough time to studying because you were caring for your sick sibling or how you worked a full-time job alongside your parents to help provide more money for the family. Be sure to highlight how you personally were affected by your disadvantage, not others around you. ","label":"Don't tell other's stories","title":"Don't tell other's stories"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

Below are three examples of AMCAS statement of disadvantages. We’ll take a look at three different disadvantages students might experience which present barriers to pursuing a medical education. Each example is under the 1,325-character limit AMCAS imposes, but be sure to use as much space as you are able when writing your own statement of disadvantage.

Statement of Disadvantage Example #1 – Economic

I grew up in an economically depressed area, where there were few work opportunities for the adults and the nearest school for me and my siblings was over an hour-long bus ride away. My parents both worked at one of the only factories still open in the area that paid enough to provide for the family. When I was old enough, I also began applying for work to help bring in supplementary income. Because of the long commute to and from school, and then to my part-time job, I had less time for homework and studying than my peers. My grades did slip, as I had to prioritize working over schoolwork. I managed to complete my high school courses, though with a lower GPA than I had wanted to achieve. Despite this, I started preparing for college applications and chose to apply to the schools I thought I had a reasonable chance of being accepted to with my GPA and test scores. My college required me to move into dorm living, and I wasn’t able to stay at my part-time job any longer. I found a new position in the same area as my college so I could continue to send money home to my family while I studied at college. I am happy to say that I completed my degree despite having to work long hours to achieve my goals.

My high school education was delayed in the middle of my junior year thanks to a tornado tearing through our community and destroying countless homes, including our own. For over a year, we moved from place to place, staying with family or friends or even in motels when we could afford it. This also meant my sister and I weren’t able to attend school regularly, if at all. Between my sister and I, we were temporarily placed in 5 different schools. I was enrolled in online schooling for a brief period when it became too difficult to move from school to school and I was missing large pieces of the curriculum. As a result of missing so many classes, I was held back and graduated almost 2 years after my peers did. Because of my age and falling behind in my coursework, I faced some difficulties in applying to college with a low GPA and late applications, and I started later in the year than the other students. Our housing situation has thankfully been stabilized, but I will not be able to recover the year of missing out on school. I have been able to attend college regularly and have made a commitment to not miss any classes. This is a promise I have kept for myself as I do not want to miss any more opportunities for my education.

Statement of Disadvantage Example #3 – Social

My parents moved our family to the US when I was 13 years old. Although we were living in a largely immigrant populated community, and I could speak some English, it was still quite isolating when I started middle school. Learning in another language sometimes presented challenges for me, but socially it was even more difficult as I tried to make friends and learn about my new home. I still have troubles connecting with my peers at times or relating to them if I don’t understand the cultural or linguistic significance. My language barrier has also been an issue when applying for job positions or internships to gain some medical experience. I applied for a clerical position at a local medical center, which I did get accepted to. However, I still sometimes struggle when communicating with patients and my peers. Working at the medical center is providing me the opportunity to practice my language and communication skills, but again it has been somewhat isolating on a social level. I can communicate effectively in a professional setting when I need to, but socially it can still be challenging. I have wanted to be a doctor since before our family moved to the US, and I knew that I would need to learn to communicate in English, so I have joined a group of fellow students like myself to practice our conversational English to prepare me for the challenges of med school.

An AMCAS statement of disadvantage is an optional short essay where students can explain any circumstances where they experience a disadvantaged situation or circumstance in applying to medical school.

Disadvantages are considered any economic, educational or social hardships a student might face in getting their medical education or in applying to med school.

No; a statement of disadvantage is designed to aid students who experience barriers to their education to have a fair chance at being accepted to medical school.

For an AMCAS statement of disadvantage, be clear and keep to the facts of your situation. Also be sure to include details instead of just a summary of your barriers or disadvantages. AMCAS provides 1,325 characters for your statement.

Disadvantaged students are medical school applicants who have experienced any barriers or obstacles to their education or a lack of access to the same opportunities and resources as their peers.

Yes; writing a statement of disadvantage can help explain any gaps or weaknesses on your application and the admissions board will take these disadvantages into account when reviewing your application.

Yes; if you experience more than one disadvantage you can provide further information in your AMCAS application.

Disadvantages can include anything from parental unemployment to personal health problems, housing instability or lack of access to resources or healthcare facilities. Any significant barrier in your life to getting a formal education can be considered a disadvantage. 

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Personal Statement and Essay Prompts 2020: AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS

Looking for a comprehensive index of all required essay prompts for the AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS applications?

Look no further. Personal statements, short essays, experience descriptions - it’s all covered here.

All the prompts and character limits were gathered online from primary sources ( AAMC , AACOM , etc.) or from our past 2019 students. We’ve tried to ensure that this information is accurate and up-to-date, but please note that it’s subject to change.

We want to be a one-stop shop for all the medical school primary essay prompts, so please let us know if you notice any discrepancies. Don’t forget to brush up on the AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS Deadlines .

Oh, and if you’re looking for tips and examples, you’ll find those here, too.

Just follow the links:

Table of Contents

2020 AMCAS Essay Prompts

Personal Statement Prompt

Institutional Action Prompt

Disadvantaged Information Prompt

Experience Descriptions Prompt

Most Meaningful Remarks Prompt

2020 AACOMAS Essay Prompts

2020 tmdsas essay prompts.

Personal Characteristics Prompt

Optional Essay Prompt

Most Meaningful Essays Prompt

BONUS: All Medical School Secondary Essays 2019-2020 (by state)

2020 AMCAS PERSONAL STATEMENT PROMPT

(5300 characters max)

Use the space provided to explain why you want to go to medical school. The available space for your response is 5300 characters, or approximately one full page. You will receive an error message if you exceed the available space. For additional assistance, click "help" on the tool bar at the top of the screen.

There are a few follow up questions to help you:

• Why have you selected the field of medicine?
• What motivates you to learn more about medicine?
• What do you want medical schools to know about you that hasn't been disclosed in other sections of the application?
• Unique hardships, challenges, or obstacles that may have influenced your educational pursuits.
• Commentary on significant fluctuations in your academic record that are not explained elsewhere in your application.

SAVVY PRE-MED TIPS:

Whew, where to start? Hmm… probably here:

Savvy Pre-med's Ultimate Guide to Writing Your Personal Statement

But seriously, the personal statement is a complex, multifaceted process, so you might want to target certain areas. Here are some elements we’ve covered:

Getting Started on Your Draft

Writing Attention-Grabbing Hooks

Average vs. Compelling Personal Statements

Crafting Your “Why Medicine” Answer

Cliches to Avoid

How to Know Your Personal Statement is Finished

Our full archive of articles on the personal statement

Jump back to the Table of Contents .

2020 AMCAS INSTITUTIONAL ACTION PROMPT

(1325 characters max)

MILITARY DISCHARGE

The question asks if you’ve ever been discharged by the Armed Forces. If you answer Yes, you’ll be asked if you received an honorable discharge or discharge under honorable circumstances. If you answer No, you must explain in 1,325 characters the circumstances of your discharge, including the circumstances leading to your discharge, your period of service, and your rank at the time of discharge.

FELONIES AND MISDEMEANORS

You must indicate if you have ever been convicted of, or pleaded guilty or no contest to, a felony crime or misdemeanor, excluding

(1) Any offense for which you were adjudicated as a juvenile

(2) Convictions that have been expunged or sealed by a court (in states where applicable).

You need not disclose any instance in which you:

• Were arrested but not charged

• Were arrested and charged, with the charges dropped

• Were arrested and charged, but found not guilty by a judge or jury

• Were arrested and found guilty by a judge or jury, with the conviction overturned on appeal

• Were arrested and found guilty but received an executive pardon

If you answer Yes, you’ll have 1,325 characters to explain the circumstances of your conviction, including the number of conviction(s), the nature of the offense(s) leading to conviction(s), the date(s) and location(s) of conviction(s), the sentence(s) imposed, and the type(s) of rehabilitation.

Academic Probation

You must answer "Yes" if you were ever the recipient of any institutional action resulting from unacceptable academic performance or a conduct violation, even if such action did not interrupt your enrollment or require you to withdraw. You must answer "Yes" even if the action does not appear on or has been deleted from your official transcripts due to institutional policy or personal petition. If you answer Yes, you’ll have 1,325 characters to explain the circumstances.

If you are not certain whether or not you have been the subject of an institutional action, contact the registrar, student affairs officer, or other appropriate party at the institution for confirmation of your record. Applicants who become the subject of an institutional action after certifying and submitting the AMCAS application must inform their designated medical schools that an action has occurred.

Don't feel obligated to fill all 1325 characters for this essay:

PARAGRAPH 1

1-2 sentences to explain the factors that led to the institutional action

It's wise to let the facts speak for themselves. If there were extenuating circumstances that led to this anomalous blip in your record, make sure to include those as evidence, BUT DON'T editorialize or try to make direct excuses for what happened. The goal in the beginning is to just acknowledge and own up to the IA.

PARAGRAPH 2

3-4 sentences to explain how you've rectified the situation

This will depend a lot on your situation, but typically, it will involve some kind of probation, mandatory classes, written letters, court appearances, etc. Beyond explaining the requirements you fulfilled and your current good standing, discuss the ways you've sought to improve overall as a person.

PARAGRAPH 3

1-2 sentences to explain the growth, personal qualities, and lessons you’ve gained

Again, this will depend a lot on your situation. Perhaps there's some activity or endeavor that you can use as "proof" of your growth as a person (i.e. tutoring other struggling students or serving on the student judiciary board). If not, just explain what you learned from the experience and how it's turned you into a better person moving forward.

2020 AMCAS DISADVANTAGED INFORMATION PROMPT

When you click the box on the AMCAS application to see if the status applies to you, here is what AMCAS provides:

Underserved: Do you believe, based on your own experiences or the experiences of family and friends, that the area in which you grew up was adequately served by the available health care professionals? Were there enough physicians, nurses, hospitals, clinics, and other health care service providers?

Immediate Family: The Federal Government broadly defines “immediate family” as “spouse, parent, child, sibling, mother or father-in-law, son or daughter-in-law, or sister or brother-in-law, including step and adoptive relationships.”

State and Federal Assistance Programs: These programs are specifically defined as “Means-Tested Programs” under which the individual, family, or household income and assets must be below specified thresholds. The sponsoring agencies then provide cash and non-cash assistance to eligible individuals, families, or households. Such programs include welfare benefit programs (federal, state, and local) Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC or ADC); unemployment compensation; General Assistance (GA); food stamps; Supplemental Security Income (SSI); Medicaid; housing assistance; or other federal, state, or local financial assistance programs.

If you think there are other circumstances that have contributed to your disadvantaged status that are not listed, don't feel constrained by the above.

In addition to requesting family financial data, AMCAS provides the opportunity for a 1,325 character statement explaining why you should be considered disadvantaged.

EXAMPLE PARAGRAPH 1

2-3 sentences to explain the factors that contribute to your disadvantaged status

I am blessed to have been adopted by my grandparents, who provided a stable life by removing me from a destructive environment with an absent father and drug-addicted mother. However, due to my grandparents’ age and physical limits, I missed out on many things people take for granted, like playing catch with one’s father or enjoying student-parent activities.

EXAMPLE PARAGRAPH 2

5-6 sentences to illustrate the day-to-day struggles as a result of your status

I am a first-generation college student who has been financially independent since age 18. My discipline stems from my teenage years when I worked manual labor on construction sites. This translated into dedication and focus, as I later sought a scholarship to subsidize my schooling and worked full-time alongside a rigorous course load. To fund my college experience, I attended a local university and gained merit-based aid, balancing school (20+ unit semesters) and three jobs (totaling 40+ hours/week). My lack of expendable income prevented me from accessing certain opportunities off-campus. Luckily, the Wilkinson Honors Scholarship provided a dorm stipend that covered most of my living expenses. However, to further cut costs, I went without a car and obtained an on-campus job and research opportunity.

EXAMPLE CONCLUSION

1-2 sentences to explain the growth, personal qualities, and lessons you’ve gained as a result of your status

Overall, my obstacles have given me more resolve to plan ahead, meet my goals, and help others do the same.

2020 AMCAS EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTIONS PROMPT

(15 activities or less, 700 characters max for each)

The Work/Activities section of the application is designed to give you the opportunity to highlight your work experience, extracurricular activities, awards, honors, or publications that you would like to bring to the attention of the medical schools to which you are applying.

You may enter a maximum of 15 experiences, and you may enter four separate date ranges for recurring experiences. This section cannot be edited or updated after the original submission of your application. Work and activities will appear on your application in chronological order and may not be rearranged. However, please be aware that medical schools sort your entries and view them in a variety of different orders to suit their specific review processes.

Medical schools receive your Work/Activities descriptions as plain text. Therefore, formatting options such as bulleted lists, indented paragraphs, and bold/italic fonts do not appear for reviewers and are not available.

You have the opportunity to describe or summarize each experience. The space allotted for each description is 700 characters.

We often get questions about whether it’s better to use bullet points or paragraphs for these descriptions. Either is fine! The key is being consistent in the way you choose to format your descriptions. Here’s an example of both methods:

BULLET POINT EXAMPLE

Outreach Coordinator                St. Augustine Orphanage, Tijuana, Mexico

- Planned, fundraised, and led a volunteer service trip to impoverished communities in Mexico

- Coordinated and managed a team of 20 volunteers and faculty

- Executed simple, precise interventions to spread change across a population

- Improved communication and bedside manner while engaging locals about their health problems and barriers to care

- Lived alongside children in multiple orphanages in Tijuana and poorer rural areas

- Brought clothes and supplies and provided hygiene demos for the children

- Gained insight into disparities and social determinants of health in underserved populations

- Wrote detailed protocol and reflection exercises for future leaders to use on their trips  

PARAGRAPH EXAMPLE

As outreach coordinator, I fundraised and led a service trip to impoverished communities in Mexico. In this role, I managed a team of 20 volunteers and faculty to execute interventions and spread change across a population. As part of this experience, we lived alongside children in multiple orphanages in Tijuana while donating supplies and providing hygiene demos. I improved my communication and bedside manner while engaging locals about their health problems and barriers. During this time, I gained insight into disparities and social determinants of health for the underserved. After the trip, I wrote a detailed protocol and reflection exercises for future leaders to use on their trips.

In your experience descriptions, try to show your “Trackable Progress”:

“Trackable progress” can be any number of things:

- Earned promotion within first three months of working for Lab XYZ

- Assigned new responsibilities of training recent hires and creating orientation manuals

- Ran promotional campaign that tripled our club’s active membership

- Garnered over half of the company’s referrals during the last two years

- Updated and improved the lab’s protocols to cut costs by more than half

If possible, support these bullets with quantitative evidence and stats (EX: raised membership by 50%, trained 50+ employees, etc). This data will show a lot about your contributions without taking up too much space.

020 AMCAS MOST MEANINGFUL REMARKS PROMPT

(choose 3 of your activities, 1325 characters max for each)

You may identify up to three experiences that you consider to be the most meaningful. This designation will allow you an additional 1,325 characters to explain why the experience(s) was particularly meaningful to you.

When writing your summary, you may want to consider the transformative nature of the experience, the impact you made while engaging in the activity, and the personal growth you experienced as a result of your participation. If you have two or more experience entries, you will be required to identify at least one as the more or most meaningful.

You may change which experience(s) you designate as Most Meaningful until the initial submission of your application. The text you entered in the Experience Summary section will be lost if you remove an experience from those you have designated as Most Meaningful. Your Most Meaningful selection(s) will be designated as such by a check-mark in the Work/Activities main screen.

If you’re in doubt about what to choose, many students will include one medically oriented activity, one leadership activity, and one extracurricular (research, service, etc). As long as you’ve invested significant time and energy into the activity (compared to your others), then it’s fair game for a most meaningful essay.  

Once you’ve narrowed down your possible choices based on time and commitment, you’ll want to ask yourself some brainstorming questions to determine the best activities and angles to explore in your most meaningful essays.

Remember that it’s okay to overlap the experiences of the personal statement and most meaningful essays, as long as you don’t repeat stories or lessons verbatim.

BRAINSTORMING QUESTIONS:

Which of the activities had the most setbacks or failures? Can you recall one or two specific moments that required your resilience?

Which of the activities presented the steepest learning curves? Why were they so challenging? Did you have to change something about yourself to succeed?

Did any of the activities expose you to people much different than yourself? Were their difficulties in communicating and collaborating with them?

Which of the activities most surprised you? Can you recall any moments within them when your perspective on medicine or life shifted?

Did you get more than expected out of a particular activity? Why? Vice versa, were there activities that disappointed you for some reason? How did you respond?

Which of the activities made you the most apprehensive? Why? Can you recall one or two moments that pushed you outside your comfort zone?

Which of the activities taught you a new skill that you otherwise wouldn’t have learned? Did you learn or realize how you could apply this skill moving forward?

How-to Guide and Most Meaningful Essay Example

5 Reasons You Should Apply to DO Schools - MUST READ!

2020 AACOMAS PERSONAL STATEMENT PROMPT

This section is where you can write a statement, which is shared with all your osteopathic medicine schools. Once you submit your application, you cannot edit this section.

• Keep your topic general : Keep the statement general as this essay is sent to all the programs you apply to. If you plan to only apply to one program, we still strongly recommend keeping your statement general in case you later apply to additional programs. Once you submit your application, the essay cannot be edited or changed.
• Do not exceed the maximum length : Refer to the number below the field in the application. This is the number of characters (not words) that you can use in your essay. As you type, you can see how many characters are still available. Characters include spaces, carriage returns, and punctuation. You cannot save your essay if it exceeds the character limit.
• Use your own words : Plagiarizing any part of your essay is a violation of the code of conduct and may subject you to sanctions.
• Use simple formatting : Formatting such as tabs, italics, multiple spaces, etc. will not be saved. To delineate paragraphs, type a double return between each paragraph.

Thankfully, the AACOMAS recently decided to give candidates more space, as compared to past years when you only had 4500 characters.

Still, most candidates face the challenge of converting an MD personal statement into a DO one. What to cut? What to add? What are the essentials to include?

We’ve distilled our years of wisdom from helping candidates down into:

5 Simple Steps to Turn Your AMCAS Essay into Your AACOMAS Essay

2020 AACOMAS DISADVANTAGED INFORMATION PROMPT

There is no essay on the AACOMAS to explain your disadvantaged status, but the application has a series of questions to categorize you:

(Yes/No) Your parent's family income falls within the table's guidelines and you are considered to have met the criteria for economically disadvantaged.

(Yes/No) I am from a family that lives in an area that is designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area or a Medically Underserved Area.

(Yes/No) I graduated from a high school at which many of the enrolled students are eligible for free or reduced price lunches.

(Yes/No) I am from a school district where 50% or less of graduates go to college or where college education is not encouraged.

(Yes/No) I am the first generation in my family to attend college (neither my mother nor my father attended college).

(Yes/No) English is not my primary language.

Savvy Pre-med Tips:

Use some space in the personal statement to elaborate on your disadvantaged background, especially if the circumstances require contextual explanation.

Also keep in mind that the DO secondary essays tend to be rather generous in the amount of space they provide (sometimes up to 500 words per essay). These essays will give you additional opportunities to discuss disadvantages.

Refer to our tips for the AMCAS Disadvantaged Information Prompt .

2020 AACOMAS INSTITUTIONAL ACTION PROMPT

(500 characters max)

Applicants will be asked to disclose information regarding prior criminal offenses. Failure to accurately and truthfully disclose such offenses on the AACOMAS application may result in an offer of admission being rescinded or, if the omission is discovered after enrollment in medical school, in dismissal.

Have you ever been disciplined for student conduct violations (e.g. academic probation, dismissal, suspension, disqualification, etc.) by any college or school?

Have you ever been disciplined for academic performance (e.g. academic probation, dismissal, suspension, disqualification, etc.) by any college or school?

Have you ever been convicted of a Felony?

Have you ever had any certification, registration, license or clinical privileges revoked, suspended or in any way restricted by an institution, state or locality?

Have you ever been convicted of a Misdemeanor?

If you answer Yes to any of these questions, you’ll have 500 characters to explain.

Refer to our tips for the AMCAS Institutional Action Prompt .

2020 AACOMAS EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTIONS PROMPT

(600 characters max for each entry)

Key differences between AACOMAS and AMCAS experience descriptions:

• AACOMAS does not have Most Meaningful Remarks
• AACOMAS gives you 100 fewer characters for your descriptions
• AACOMAS breaks its “Supporting Information” into Experiences and Achievements - no limit on the total number of entries for either
• AACOMAS has fewer category distinctions for Experiences (only volunteering, healthcare experience, or paid/non-healthcare experience)
• Achievements include honors/awards, presentations, or publications
• Distinguish your AACOMAS hobbies as “non-healthcare experience”

Refer to our tips for the AMCAS Experience Descriptions Prompt .

2020 TMDSAS PERSONAL STATEMENT PROMPT

(5000 characters max)

The personal statement essay is limited to 5000 characters, including spaces. Explain your motivation to seek a career in medicine. Be sure to include the value of your experiences that prepare you to be a physician.

Refer to our tips for the AMCAS Personal Statement Prompt .

2020 TMDSAS PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS PROMPT

(2500 characters max)

The personal characteristics essay is limited to 2500 characters, including spaces. Learning from others is enhanced in educational settings that include individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Please describe your personal characteristics (background, talents, skills, etc.) or experiences that would add to the educational experience of others.

It’s wise to choose one of your Most Meaningful AMCAS essays and expand upon it (from 1325 to 2500 characters).

Is one of your three Most Meaningfuls more distinct than the other two? Does one focus on a more atypical pre-med activity? If so, that’s probably the one to choose, since this prompt is looking for “diverse backgrounds and experiences.”

If all three of your Meaningfuls feel equally distinct (or equally average), pick the one that would give you the most useful insights to share with your future classmates (i.e. “add to the educational experience of others”).

When adding content (~1000 characters) to your Most Meaningful, here’s where to focus your attention:

Add 1-2 sentences to the “hook” of the essay (paragraph 1) to make the experience even more vivid and concrete for the reader

Add 3-4 sentences to the “plot” of the essay (paragraph 1 or 2) to expound on your biggest responsibilities, contributions, and accomplishments

Add 3-4 sentences to the “reflection” of the essay (paragraph 2 or 3) to explain how this activity and its lessons make you a diverse and valuable candidate

Refer to our tips for the AMCAS Most Meaningful Essays Prompt .

2020 TMDSAS OPTIONAL ESSAY PROMPT

The optional essay is limited to 2500 characters, including spaces. The optional essay is an opportunity to provide the admissions committee(s) with a broader picture of who you are as an applicant. This essay is optional; however, you are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. Briefly state any unique circumstances or life experiences that are relevant to your application. This is not an area to continue your essay or reiterate what you have previously stated - this area is provided to address any issues which have not previously been addressed.

If you’ve written or will be writing a Disadvantaged Essay for the MD application (discussed in the following module), then it makes sense to use that same essay here and expand upon it (from 1325 to 2500 characters).

When adding content (~1000 characters) to your Disadvantaged Essay, here’s where to focus your attention:

Add 1-2 sentences to the “hook” of the essay (paragraph 1) to make your backstory even more vivid and concrete for the reader

Add 3-4 sentences to the “plot” of the essay (paragraph 1 or 2) to expound on your biggest challenges, obstacles, limitations, etc.

Add 3-4 sentences to the “reflection” of the essay (paragraph 2 or 3) to explain how your hardships and their lessons make you a valuable candidate

Even if you’re not disadvantaged, you should still answer this TMDSAS Optional Essay by using another one of your Most Meaningfuls. With the two choices remaining, choose the one that has more autobiographical or personal relevance, or perhaps the one that better illustrates your exemplary qualities (leadership, creativity, problem solving, innovation, initiative, etc.).

Add 3-4 sentences to the “reflection” of the essay (paragraph 2 or 3) to explain how this activity and its lessons make you a valuable candidate

2020 TMDSAS DISADVANTAGED INFORMATION PROMPT

There is no essay on the TMDSAS to explain your disadvantaged status, but the application has a series of Yes/No questions to categorize your socioeconomic standing:

1st generation undergraduate:

1st generation graduate:

Parent/guardian of dependent children:

Primary language:

Bilingual or multilingual:

Fluent in languages other than English:

Household size:

Household income:

Residential property value:

Ever live in subsidized housing:

Ever receive benefits from the Federal Free and Reduced Meal program:

Responsibilities raising other children in household while attending elementary and/or high school:

Were you required to contribute to the overall family income (as opposed to working primarily for your own discretionary spending money) while attending high school:

Zip Code to age 18:

Lived outside US to age 18:

Percentage of college expenses provided by:

Academic scholarships:

Financial need-based scholarships:

Jobs/Employment:

Other Sources:

Received a Pell Grant during undergraduate education:

Still full-time student:

Use the TMDSAS Optional Essay to elaborate on your disadvantages.

Refer to our tips for the TMDSAS Optional Essay Prompt .

2020 TMDSAS INSTITUTIONAL ACTION PROMPT

(600 characters max)

If you answer Yes to any of the following questions, you’ll be given 600 characters to explain.

(Yes/No) Has your education ever been interrupted for any reason?

(Yes/No) Were you ever the recipient of any action by any college or professional school for unacceptable academic performance?

(Yes/No) Were you ever the recipient of any action by any college or professional school for conduct violations?

(Yes/No) Have you ever been sanctioned or received disciplinary action by a State Licensure Board of any kind (i.e., nursing, pharmacy, legal, etc.)?

(Yes/No) Are you currently under charge or have you ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, or have you ever received a felony or misdemeanor deferred adjudication?

2020 TMDSAS EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTIONS PROMPT

(300 characters max for each entry, no limit on number of entries)

Healthcare and Employment Activities may be listed in each category if the experience was a paid position; otherwise, do not list experiences in more than one section. For example, a scribing job would be listed in both Healthcare Activities and Employment. The Employment and Activities categories are as follows:

• Academic Recognition
• Non-Academic Recognition
• Research Activities
• Healthcare Activities
• Community Service
• Extracurricular & Leisure Activities
• Planned Activities
• Identifying Top Meaningful Activities

REFER TO OUR TIPS FOR THE AMCAS EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTIONS PROMPT .

2020 tmdsas most meaningful essays prompt.

(choose 3 of your activities, 500 characters max for each)

This section was recently added last cycle. The TMDSAS now asks you to identify three top meaningful activities.

With only 500 characters, try to capture the activity through an emotionally-gripping or inspirational scene:

As our team approached the scene, we were greeted by the scorched remnants of Dave’s trailer - four deflated tires and a melted frame - the result of an arsonist attack. This was my first ride-along with the American Red Cross. The Disaster Action Team provided clothes, water, blankets, and a few hundred dollars, but it was clear Dave needed more than temporary supplies. A humble realization set in - I will not be able to save everyone, but I will always strive to be a buoy to keep them afloat.

499 characters

END OF CONTENTS

We hope you find this resource useful. Make sure to bookmark it as a reference throughout your application cycle!

If these essays feel overwhelming, you can BOOK A FREE MEETING with our expert medical school advisors for more guidance. We’ve helped hundreds of students write their personal statements and essays, and we’d love to help you on your writing journey!

Good luck!  

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May 24, 2021

How to Write the Statement of Disadvantage

If you have experienced any form of social, economic or educational disadvantage—at any time in your life—you can apply to medical school as a disadvantaged applicant. To receive this designation means that you will need to complete an additional essay on the AMCAS application . The character limit for this short essay is 1,325. Examples of each of the three forms of disadvantage are listed below:

• Social: Being treated differently due to ethnicity, language, religion or sexual orientation.
• Economic: Receiving any form of government aid or growing up in a single parent household on one income that is below the poverty threshold.
• Educational: Overcoming a learning disability or attending low performing public schools.

What to include in a statement of disadvantage

It can be difficult to know what to include in the statement of disadvantage. I recommend approaching it by using the following strategies:

• Create a timeline that includes any forms of social, economic or educational barriers that you experienced, from the beginning of your life through college.
• State the facts, no need to express any emotions or to emphasize any details.
• End on a high note.

Be sure to include the details of the most significant obstacles that you have overcome to reach higher education. One benefit of applying to medical school as a disadvantaged applicant is that most medical schools will not reject your application until it has been reviewed by at least one admissions officer — no automatic rejections based on GPA or test scores.

It’s important to remember that your application will be treated with the utmost respect and that you are heroic for overcoming obstacles that would have prevented most people from applying to medical school. Congratulate yourself for making it to this point in your education!

Common disadvantage statement mistakes

When writing and editing your draft, there are some common errors people make that you can easily avoid. In the next section of this blog, I will cover what NOT to do in a statement of disadvantage.

Beware of making the following mistakes:

• DO NOT focus on unsubstantiated opinions, but rather on facts . Sharing your opinions here will not help to support or explain your status as a disadvantaged applicant. This paragraph allows you to state the facts of your experience. Did your family rely on food stamps? Did you live in Section 8 housing? Simply stating the facts will be the most helpful way to approach this area of the application. You may need to talk with family if you were too little to remember. Many families try to shield their children from this information. These details will simply provide the selection committee with the information that they need to understand just how hard you had to work to meet your educational goals. Listen: Facing Adversity as a Med School Applicant >>
• DO NOT focus on only one part of your life . You can include any details about your childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood that are relevant. Focusing only on college or not sharing information that may explain why you were not prepared to enter college, like attending low performing public schools that did not have enough materials for students, could hurt your application. You may need to start with your parents, especially if they immigrated to the U.S. before you were born or when you were a child. Any events that had a direct impact on the resources available to you should be included from before birth to graduation from college.
• DO NOT tell the story of parents or siblings . If the paragraph focuses only on the background and struggles of your parents or siblings, you may need to revise it to include more information about yourself. Many applicants prefer to write about other people. Did you work throughout high school to be able to afford applying to college? Stating what you did to advocate for yourself and how you found ways to be successful despite the obstacles will reveal your resilience. It’s heroic that you have made it this far in your application.
• DO NOT demonstrate bitterness . This short paragraph is not the space to begin to work through any family issues that you have not yet resolved. I don’t recommend complaining, accusing, or writing anything negative about other family members or people here. Those are valid emotions that you are experiencing, but journal about them elsewhere, go for a walk, or find other healthy ways to address them rather than sabotaging yourself by expressing them in your statement of disadvantage. Celebrate what has gone right or what you have been able to do despite the difficulties that have presented themselves.
• DO NOT elicit pity . The tone you establish in your essay will say a lot about your character. If the tone is one of gratitude, the selection committee may be impressed that you have found ways to thrive despite severe disadvantages. If you attempt to manipulate or elicit pity by exaggerating or telling the reader how to feel about the events of your life, the response will not be positive. Make conscious decisions about how you approach the tone of this essay.

Having read hundreds of these essays in over a decade of experience in admissions , these have been the most unsuccessful approaches that I’ve witnessed. Avoiding the common pitfalls listed above will help you provide the selection committee with the information that they need to give your application a fair evaluation.

It can be helpful to have another person review this essay to make sure that you have included all relevant information and avoided the pitfalls mentioned above.

Do you need help writing your statement of disadvantage or any other element of your medical school application? Explore our Med School Admissions Services and work one-on-one with an Accepted advisor who will help you create a strong, successful, admission-worthy application.

Related Resources:

• Ace the AMCAS Essay , free guide
• 4 Tips for Applying as an Underrepresented Applicant in Medicine
• Approaching the Diversity Essay Question

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"Disadvantaged" Essay and Caretaker Status?

• Thread starter oolongcutea
• Start date Oct 18, 2023

oolongcutea

• Oct 18, 2023

Other Impactful Experiences Essay: Exploring Your Unique Story - SDN

WildWing said: The "Other Impactful Experiences" essay, which is replacing the "Disadvantaged" essay, is likely the place to address this: Other Impactful Experiences Essay: Exploring Your Unique Story - SDN The Student Doctor Network provides free tools, resources, and advising services to help students become health professionals. www.studentdoctor.net @Mr.Smile12 , @LizzyM , @Goro ? Click to expand...

Admissions advisor

oolongcutea said: Even in the "Other Impactful Experiences" essay, would this be a legitimate set of facts to present, despite my lack of significant economic hardship? More saliently, should I check the box (if it's still there) indicating "disadvantaged status"? Click to expand...

Mr.Smile12 said: It's not all about your financial difficulties. Just make sure you can stay within the character limit. Read the article. Watch Click to expand...

oolongcutea said: Thank you both for your advice! I will be writing about these experiences in the OIE essay. One question does still remain, though -- should I check the box (if it's still there) indicating "disadvantaged status"? From reading previous threads on the topic, it seems like @LizzyM and @Goro defined disadvantaged status as almost exclusively dependent on finances, so I wanted to make sure I'm not overstepping the bounds of the definition. Click to expand...

Impactful Experiences

lesbianherbs

Full member.

• Oct 19, 2023

IIRC the OIE essay replaces the “disadvantaged box”.  

oolongcutea said: Hello everyone! I'm hoping you all have input on my situation, as I seem to check some boxes (but definitely not others) according to AAMC's updated guidance for the 2024 application cycle regarding "disadvantaged" status. The "example experiences" listed in the document include "serving as a caretaker for a family member," but I haven't met or heard of anyone else in circumstances similar to mine, so I was hoping for some feedback, given the following facts: My mother was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's when I was four, and beginning at age eight, I took on progressively greater responsibility for her care as her condition deteriorated. By the time I was in middle school, I was dressing, bathing, and feeding her, in addition to helping her move around the house and helping in the bathroom. Because my father was the breadwinner for the family (and needed an income high enough to keep up with the costs of my mother's medical care), he took to working more hours to cover shortfalls. By the time I was in high school, I was making meals for the family, cleaning the house, and buying groceries and other necessities in addition to my previous responsibilities (dressing, bathing, feeding, etc.). I estimate that I worked the equivalent of a full-time job caring for my mother between 7th and 12th grade (40+ hours/week). HOWEVER... My dad is currently a product manager at a large tech company, and makes very decent money. He has a Master's degree. My mother has a PhD, but she stopped working when I was five as a result of her illness. She gets a disability cheque each month. We are solidly middle class, and I went to a private 5-12 school on a partial scholarship. I go to a well-regarded private university on a full-tuition scholarship, but I do pay for living expenses, and my dad helps by paying for housing. YET... The time commitment of being a primary caretaker meant that educational and extracurricular options that were available to other students of a similar SES were not available to me. I didn't have access to private tutors or counselors because I was the primary caretaker for my mom while my dad worked. These circumstances have continued into college, though to a lesser degree. When I got to college, It felt like I had to work twice as hard to make up for not being able to take advantage of the opportunities someone of my SES would normally have access to when I was younger, despite the privilege I do possess. This circumstance in addition to an extended health issue has resulted in a spotty transcript during my first two years of college. It also means I'll have to take an extra year and a half to finish my degree (I needed to go part-time for multiple semesters). My question is simple: Should I check the "disadvantaged" box? Do I qualify? Edit: For context, I just wanted to add that my academic performance and extracurricular involvement in college improved drastically the semester after my mother underwent DBS surgery for her Parkinson's, which allowed her to be much more mobile (relatively speaking). Click to expand...

the evil queen of numbers

The 2024 AMCAS application has a few new features: ... • The self-reported "Disadvantaged Status" question has been replaced with "Other Impactful Experiences," with new corresponding help text. You should include your story in the "other impactful experiences" section. It is memorable and certainly had an impact on you as a person.  

Goro said: The disadvantage prompt is not about "what woes befell me or my family". Your family's circumstances didn't affect your precollege schooling, and hence, this story doesn't fall under disadvantaged. Click to expand...

The "disadvantaged" box is gone. Our opinions of who should or shouldn't check that box don't matter anymore because it is history and the new prompt is much more inclusive. I have no doubt that your experience fits the new prompt.  

oolongcutea said: @Goro , @LizzyM -- Thank you for your feedback. I had read in a few previous threads that any circumstances that placed a student at an educational disadvantage relative to their peers (within reason) would qualify. My status as a primary caregiver meant I had to miss a significant amount of school beginning in 10th grade. It had a significant impact on my grades as a result of the unpredictability of the responsibility and the time commitment involved. I was placed on warning due to my absences during my junior year of high school. During my senior year, I was forced to take a reduced course load my senior year in order to accommodate caring for my mom, and came very close to not graduating high school as a direct result of my caretaking responsibilities increasing exponentially during COVID. Standardized test prep was out of the question. I'm just confirming -- this does not qualify me as disadvantaged? Please know I'm not trying to fish for disadvantaged status, and that I'm trying to go about the application process in an open and ethical manner -- I just want to make sure all the facts are available when feedback is given. Thanks again for your time! Click to expand...

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6 Tips for Writing Your AMCAS® Personal Comments Essay

New section.

The Personal Comments Essay section of the American Medical College Application Service® (AMCAS®) application is your opportunity to tell medical school admissions officers who you are and what makes you unique. Here are some tips to help you as you write your essay.

The AMCAS® application to medical school asks for a lot of information about yourself. It includes biographical information, courses taken, and work experiences just to name a few.  The application also requires you to include a Personal Comments Essay, which is entered in Section 8 of the application. This essay provides an opportunity to distinguish yourself from other applicants and provide admissions officers with more insight into why you have chosen to pursue a career in medicine.

Many admissions committees place significant weight on this section, so we have compiled a list of tips to help you craft a well-organized and compelling essay.

• Take time to think about the content of your essay before writing a first draft. As you’re thinking about the structure of your essay, remember to keep the content general because it will go to all medical schools you apply to. Try not to duplicate information provided elsewhere in the application. Some questions you may want to consider before you begin writing include: What are some of your personal values and how have they influenced your desire to enter the medical profession? What motivates you to learn more about medicine? What should medical schools know about you that isn’t described in other sections of the application?
• Show, don't tell.  If challenges in your childhood or a defining experience led you to consider medicine, use details to describe those experiences and bring your essay to life. Try to include content that aligns with the premed competencies for entering medical students . Write in your authentic voice; your essay can help you contextualize and elaborate on topics during your interview.
• Stay on topic. There is a 5,300 character limit (including spaces) in this section. This equals about 1 1/2 pages of writing, single-spaced. Make sure your essay is interesting, follows a logical and orderly flow, relates to your reasons for choosing medicine, and describes why you believe you will be successful as a physician.
• Don’t be afraid of the editing process.  Be sure to write more than one draft and make edits to your essay. Find a reviewer who does not have a personal relationship with you, as an external reviewer will help you gain new perspectives on your writing and refine the story you want to tell admissions committees.
• Remember to proofread and be mindful of formatting. The AMCAS application does not include spell -check, so be sure to proofread your essay for any typos or grammatical errors. You will not be able to go back into this section to make any edits after submitting your application. To avoid formatting issues, we recommend that you draft your essay in text-only word processing software, such as Microsoft Notepad or Mac TextEdit, then copy and paste your essay into the application. You can also type your essay directly into the AMCAS application.
• If you are applying to MD-PhD programs, there are two additional essays you will need to complete. The first essay asks your reasons for pursuing the combined degree and is relatively short. The second essay asks you to describe your research activities and is about three pages long. You can read more about these additional essays in the 2024 AMCAS® Applicant Guide (PDF) or get further guidance from your prehealth advisor or career counselor.

For more AMCAS program-related tips, please check out the AMCAS Tools and Tutorials page . There, you’ll find video tutorials, presentations, guides, and recordings of past webinars. For further advice from current prehealth advisors, access our “Advisor Corner: Crafting Your Personal Statement” article .

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Should I fill out the disadvantaged essay?

I'm a first gen in the US, and most of my family is in India. During the pandemic my grandfather died and my grandmother, who has Alzheimer's, was then left all alone. My parents took an emergency trip back to their country to take care of her and set up care for her after they returned to the US. During this 3 month trip, I was alone, cooking, cleaning, paying bills, etc (I didn't have a job or anything though) and my grade in ochem suffered (I chose to use the COVID P/F option on chem during this quarter). In the essay I want to discuss being a first gen and how that directly impacted me during COVID. Is this a good enough essay topic? Or should I save this topic for secondaries.

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