Childhood Income and DS Forum

vested · Post by **vested** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 10:39 pm

I've read some guidelines about when a DS is appropriate, and one example is for a low-income childhood. In all seriousness, I don't know where to draw the line here and could use some guidance. Anyone know a rule of thumb for what income range would warrant a DS?

benwyatt · Post by **benwyatt** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 10:41 pm

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vested · Post by **vested** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 10:45 pm

I respect that perspective, but unfortunately it's not helpful here. My gut feeling is that I should allude to it (I plan on incorporating it into my PS), but at the same time it's not really something I've leaned on/mentioned in the past. Call me crazy, but despite what was more than likely a far below average upbringing, I have a hard time understanding how it compares to others', and isn't determining that really the crux of the decision?

benwyatt · Post by **benwyatt** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 10:51 pm

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vested · Post by **vested** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 10:55 pm

That's reasonable, and I agree re: redundancy. I'm weighing two different PS approaches, which is why I'm debating it.

benwyatt · Post by **benwyatt** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 10:57 pm

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vested · Post by **vested** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 11:01 pm

That's good to know, and I may do that. Seriously--thanks for the advice.

QuentonCassidy · Post by **QuentonCassidy** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 11:09 pm

For a little more perspective, I was in the same boat as you and I wrote up a DS and sent it to my pre-law adviser (I'm still in undergrad) to check. He said that he rarely approves a DS that isn't based on ethnicity but he thought that I should absolutely send it. Worth noting though is that I had a specific experience during UG where my socioeconomic diversity played a tangible role in encouraging academic discussion, and I wrote my statement around that experience, so it may be a case of yes if you can write about specific experiences, no if you can only write 'I grew up poor'.

My pre-law adviser works for a top-10 UG, has been doing this since before I was born, and I believe is very well-respected in regard to this stuff, so I trust his advice, but I'm just a random internet stranger.

Feel free to PM me if you want further info or want to check income levels to see if we are talking about the same sort of thing.

vested · Post by **vested** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 11:37 pm

Thanks for this--will shoot you a PM.

OLitch · Post by **OLitch** » Wed Oct 07, 2015 12:28 pm

If you grew up in poverty you can write about your experiences. Did you have to wear the same clothes everyday? Did you go to school hungry because your parents couldn't afford food? Were you cold because of lack of electricity or appropriate clothing? Hardships create diversity especially considering most people can't rise above their parent's socioeconomic status.

If you lived in an affluent area and your parents were only middle class, you may still have a story. What was it like being different from your peers? What did you learn? How did it impact you? How will this experience help you in law school?

Here is an example:

My parents worked hard to put me in a top private school. My Walmart clothing stood out like a sore thumb from the trendy brand names worn by the majority. My peers took lessons together at the country club. My parents couldn't afford a membership let alone lessons. My classmates excluded me from their reindeer games. I had to show them that I add value in other ways. I polished my intellect, handsome face, and superior sense of humor to prove myself. I became prom king, captain of the football team, valedictorian... There is more to life than money and material advantages. Limited resources taught me to be resourceful. I'm a problem solving super star. I have compassion/empathy so I help those less fortunate than myself. I was able to make it so I will share my vast knowledge of surviving high school as a less-than. Now I want to go to law school to save the world.

I am in no way suggesting the above format. I am simply saying that you don't have to be super poor to bring diversity. The lower-middle class/middle class stories will probably be a lot more common.

lymenheimer · Post by **lymenheimer** » Wed Oct 07, 2015 12:37 pm

I think financial struggles are often under the category of "statement of hardship/disadvantage".