[answered]

[peachesandoranges]

[answered last year]

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[voxveritatisetlucis]

I would avoid talking about it altogether

 

[LunaOri]

I think it’s fine; alternatively, you could use a generic phrase such as “racial slur”.

 

[deleted1122679]

I believe the answer to this is dependent on a combination of the context in which it is used and your abilities as a writer. Could be powerful, but also could offend someone. Go for it if you are confident, but it could potentially rub someone the wrong way. I agree with the poster above that substituting it with “racial slur” could be a potential alternative.

 

[sirspamalot]

You got called a name and that is the focus of your essay about becoming a physician?


... Please..

Focus on your desire to become a physician, it will be better received.

 

[candylover1729391]

You got called a name and that is the focus of your essay about becoming a physician?


... Please..

Focus on your desire to become a physician, it will be better received.

The essay question literally asked about their experience as a minority…

 

[sirspamalot]

I'm a minority too, but we're already overrepresented in medicine, lol.

My point was: Use being "the other" for something powerful and positive: discrimination and being the first in my family etc...

Not, "I got called a bad name and that's why I want to be"

Just sayin'. I understand that those kind of slurs are.. frankly.. invitations to violence. Some folks just need a paddlin'. But they aren't what make us take the path to becoming a physician.

 

[chilly_md]

Questions like this come up now and then and can be found with the search feature. This is one thread from last year's cycle:

Is it okay to use a racial slur when quoting someone in my secondary application?

Basically, the question asks about a time I witnessed harassment or discrimination. I witnessed a customer call my manager a racial slur at a store I worked at. Would it be okay to include this derogatory term in my story? Or should I try to paraphrase the word?

forums.studentdoctor.net

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Yes, we discussed this last year.

I would not quote hate speech terms. Treat secondary essays like written interviews. If you wouldn't say it to an interviewer, don't write it "for effect." I agree with @sirspamalot 's suggestion to find a more positive perspective of being "the other," especially in creating an affirming community or culture.

 

[peachesandoranges]

I'm a minority too, but we're already overrepresented in medicine, lol.

My point was: Use being "the other" for something powerful and positive: discrimination and being the first in my family etc...

Not, "I got called a bad name and that's why I want to be"

Just sayin'. I understand that those kind of slurs are.. frankly.. invitations to violence. Some folks just need a paddlin'. But they aren't what make us take the path to becoming a physician.

I'm definitely not saying that my desire to be a physician stems from this experience, just that it did expand my perspective. Keeping my answer vague here intentionally. I also recognize I am ORM, and I note this.