Should I check the 'disadvantaged' box?

[VirtualCell]

Hello! I'm applying to Computational Biology PhD programs this cycle.

On one of my applications, there's a "Do you consider yourself as coming from a disadvantaged background, where your pursuit of education was affected by social, cultural, or educational factors"?

It's just a check box without any space to write, with sub-checkmarks like "Had or currently have members of your immediate family who use government assistance programs". 

My family was on gov. assistance and below the poverty line for a few years in highschool, and that did cause me to only apply to schools where I could get scholarships, so I guess I technically qualify.

But I'm not disadvantaged--I'm a (white) cuban dude, my family made plenty of money for (most) of my life, and I'm generally pretty damn privileged--and my GPA/GREs are good.

Should I check that box because I might technically qualify? Does it even matter?

 

 

Edited September 5, 2019 by VirtualCell