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Started by Dunebugger12
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Assuming that you are not a diverse student by more traditional definitions (URM, first gen college student, etc.), the diversity essay can be used to show how you are unique and how your uniqueness would contribute to the class mix. Cliff diving is interesting and relatively unique, so it fits the bill.
sadpremed121
Full Member
Might make you sound like a risk taker tho, which some adcoms might not like.
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And this will appeal to predominantly older, staid adcomms as a desirable characteristic in a med student how?
I am neither first gen college student nor first gen American, but I am first gen born American. Would that be a traditional definition?
I was also worried about the other comment and adcoms seeing me as a risk taker. Any thoughts on this view?
Of course, it will depend on how the essay is framed, but I can see it being successful. Doesn't cliff diving require rigorous preparation, conditioning, coordination with others, focus under intense pressure, and precise execution--not unlike certain medical endeavors?
I don’t usually condition for it. Preparation includes scouting locations. It does require coordination and focus to prevent injury.
Fair point. Risk taking may not be too appealing.
Novel!
Cliff diving is a controlled risk, as are many medical endeavors. Written correctly, I still think it could make a memorable and effective essay.
D
deleted804295
How is it that older adcoms like more classical examples of diversity? Not to be offensive but didnt many of that generation grow up through Jim Crow era?
Hmmmm okay so if I’m able to speak about it beyond just the adrenaline rush and more focused on the values I developed and learned from it (i.e. overcoming fears,etc) that would make it an appropriate and unique topic.
Maybe more older adcomms have stories they can cite about risk-taking med students who came to grief. I don't think that in general nontraditional examples of diversity are an issue otherwise.
Aren't they both the same? We are not talking about first generation immigrant, so isn't a first generation american defined as the first generation born american? I hope so because I've been calling myself first generation in my diversity essays
It’s better than cow poo frisbee.
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I may be wrong but going off of google, a first generational American is someone who has migrated from a different country.
Yeh I googled it too and a few links said that, while other links (such as merriam webster dictionary) gave the definition of the first generation born in the US. Lets get expert opinions @gonnif @Goro @Moko.
If we mentioned in AMCAS that we were born in the US and referred to ourselves as first generation americans, do you know what we are talking about? Does it look like we are lying in any way?
That's what I thought, thanks gonnif.
Maybe you can speak about being first gen OP if it has impacted you in any way? While I am not URM, the culture/traditions my parents have brought over has had a very large impact in my life and has given me different perspectives on certain issues, which is why I'll be talking about it in my diversity essay.
The US Census Bureau technically defines the immigrant parents as being the first generation (i.e 'foreign-born'). In practice though, most people would also accept that the son/daughter of immigrants are the first generation. You will not be faulted for claiming that you are a first-generation American if your parents were immigrants. What we care about is the diversity of experiences that you bring from being the child of immigrants. Just my experience, by no means an expert on this topic.
I’m (asian) not URM as well, but my parents were refugees. So possibly speaking about what I’ve learned from their experiences while growing up may work. I guess this would be more traditional.
