Am I actually answering this prompt?

[respectedmadman]

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For the diversity prompt, I've been talking about being a first-gen American and an experience I had working with people in another country. I see people talking about playing an instrument or a sport and I'm wondering if I should be doing the same?

Thanks!

 

[respectedmadman]

give us the specific prompt

“How do you add to diversity at _____?”

 

[907914]

For the diversity prompt, I've been talking about being a first-gen American and an experience I had working with people in another country. I see people talking about playing an instrument or a sport and I'm wondering if I should be doing the same?

Thanks!

Most people talking about their sports or instruments makes sense. 84% of applicants have parents with bachelors degrees, 80%ish of applicants identify as white or Asian, less than 1% of applicants were military or peace corps, less than 25% have had any significant work experience that would contribute to leadership or the like, only like 8% of applicants identify as LGBT.....

Literally the vast majority of applicants do not meet any of the criteria that one would consider 'typical' diversity. So they talk about something completely tangential, but it is of significance to them and they can talk about it. Everyone brings something new to the table, and you are 'lucky' enough to have something that is a traditional diversity marker that you can talk about.

 

[respectedmadman]

Most people talking about their sports or instruments makes sense. 84% of applicants have parents with bachelors degrees, 80%ish of applicants identify as white or Asian, less than 1% of applicants were military or peace corps, less than 25% have had any significant work experience that would contribute to leadership or the like, only like 8% of applicants identify as LGBT.....

Literally the vast majority of applicants do not meet any of the criteria that one would consider 'typical' diversity. So they talk about something completely tangential, but it is of significance to them and they can talk about it. Everyone brings something new to the table, and you are 'lucky' enough to have something that is a traditional diversity marker that you can talk about.

I guess that's why I've been a bit confused. I thought more people were 1st-gen's so I felt like it wasn't really unique.

 

[907914]

I guess that's why I've been a bit confused. I thought more people were 1st-gen's so I felt like it wasn't really unique.

Nah, we are a rare breed. Not quite unicorns, but definitely uncommon. And that is across all applicants. Only like 11% of matriculants are first gen. And if you look at just T20 schools it is likely less than 5%...So yah, write about your first gen in there somewhere.

 

[LizzyM]

Nah, we are a rare breed. Not quite unicorns, but definitely uncommon. And that is across all applicants. Only like 11% of matriculants are first gen. And if you look at just T20 schools it is likely less than 5%...So yah, write about your first gen in there somewhere.

It is not that rare. A paper in 2015 looked at 2012 applicants and found that 23% were in the EO1 category meaning that neither parent had a bachelor's degree. Whether that is the same as "first generation college" could be debated (attended but didn't graduate, acheived associate degree only, etc). That said, it was more common for at least one parent to have a professional or doctoral degree and be working in a profession (27.9%) than to have less than a bachelors.

 

[mwsapphire]

It is not that rare. A paper in 2015 looked at 2012 applicants and found that 23% were in the EO1 category meaning that neither parent had a bachelor's degree. Whether that is the same as "first generation college" could be debated (attended but didn't graduate, acheived associate degree only, etc). That said, it was more common for at least one parent to have a professional or doctoral degree and be working in a profession (27.9%) than to have less than a bachelors.

Wait...I thought OP was talking about being first generation American, not first gen in college?

 

[907914]

It is not that rare. A paper in 2015 looked at 2012 applicants and found that 23% were in the EO1 category meaning that neither parent had a bachelor's degree. Whether that is the same as "first generation college" could be debated (attended but didn't graduate, acheived associate degree only, etc). That said, it was more common for at least one parent to have a professional or doctoral degree and be working in a profession (27.9%) than to have less than a bachelors.

Thank you for the correction, @LizzyM

The data I was looking at was from MCAT takers not MED school applicants:

https://www.aamc.org/download/462316/data/mcatguide.pdf

Wait...I thought OP was talking about being first generation American, not first gen in college?

Also, Yah OP is talking about first gen American...missed that too...that is def diversity, even if OP is ORM.

 

[LizzyM]

I have to say that at my T20 school first gen Americans are far, far more common that first gen-college students. There are tons of first gen Americans who parent(s) are physicians born and educated abroad.

 

[907914]

I have to say that at my T20 school first gen Americans are far, far more common that first gen-college students. There are tons of first gen Americans who parent(s) are physicians born and educated abroad.

Any idea about proportions by chance (that you are willing or able to share)?

 

[respectedmadman]

Thank you for the correction, @LizzyM

The data I was looking at was from MCAT takers not MED school applicants:

https://www.aamc.org/download/462316/data/mcatguide.pdf

Also, Yah OP is talking about first gen American...missed that too...that is def diversity, even if OP is ORM.

Yeah American, not college. I’m technically ORM tho but both parents came during adulthood.

 

[907914]

Yeah American, not college. I’m technically ORM tho but both parents came during adulthood.

Are they college educated or working class/impoverished/refugee type immigrants?

Edit: that came out a lot more bigoted in wording than intended. Not intended in the least.

 

[respectedmadman]

Are they college educated or working class/impoverished/refugee type immigrants?

Edit: that came out a lot more bigoted in wording than intended. Not intended in the least.

Lol you’re good, one graduated and one didn’t.