Are these good "unique" aspects for diversity essays?

[OCDOCDOCD]

I'm prewriting secondaries right now and I noticed that one of the most common prompts asks how you'll contribute to the diversity of the school. I've been brainstorming about this and I've come up with a couple ideas, but I don't if either of these are good or not.

1) I could bring up the fact that I'm asexual. Normally I wouldn't bring that up at all, but the prompts often mention sexuality as one of the suggested ideas to talk about. Thing is, it's not what I would consider a huge part of my self-identity, I'm not part of any community like LGBT applicants often are, and I'm not even out (even most of family still thinks I'm straight). However, it is probably the most unique thing about me, and I can honestly say that because of this orientation I'm extremely accepting of others' sexual identities.

2) My biggest hobby is computer stuff. Programming, building computers, security, etc. I feel like this would be something I could share that would be of benefit to others. Programming is very useful in research, computer maintenance/repair is useful to everyone, and security is very relevant to HIPAA compliance (not a trivial thing imo since a lot of the physicians I interacted with while shadowing seemed to be woefully uninformed about proper data security). It also gives you a different perspective on biology, especially programming. Problem is, I don't know if this sort of thing is "unique" enough to be worth talking about in a diversity essay. Comp. sci. majors could probably run circles around me, for example, and being a nerdy hobby I'm not sure if it would be viewed as favorably as something like playing an instrument or a sport.

3) I have an impressive research background (multiple first author publications, conference poster presentations, 4+ years research experience). It's easily been my most productive EC. Of course, the problem here is that I'm applying MD/PhD, mostly to top schools, so I suspect this wouldn't really be too unique/noteworthy in that context.

What are your guys' thoughts?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Your first one seems like a... touchy subject and could bring down some weird impressions from adcoms. Asexuality is not something that's widely understood and might possibly be misconstrued for social awkwardness and/or some other type of social (psychological?) issue.

I don't know.

 

[siliconchins]

.

 

[Narmerguy]

You'll be hard pressed to find something they haven't seen before, so I wouldn't worry about trying to bring something no one else can (though the asexuality one may be pretty uncommon). I don't think there's anything wrong with the computer interests even if other people will have similar experiences. What matters is how you "sell" it. If you can show special ways that this interest has changed your thinking and how that translates into your interactions with others/medicine, I think that could still be useful to a medical school.

 

[SN12357]

Don't write about asexuality. Waaaaay too high a chance you'll get a reader who is confused/put-off by that discussion for both legitimate and less legitimate reasons. And by 'too high a chance' I mean 'far more likely than not'.

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

Alright, so sexual orientation (or rather lack thereof) appears to be off the table. Kind of funny considering how much adcoms hype up being accepting of LGBT students, but I can't say I didn't have the same worry that everyone in this thread has mentioned.

Better play it safe OP and write about something else. To be honest, none of your choices stand out to me as no doubt there will be a lot of others with comp experience like that and I think that the research isn't enough to make you stand out. I know that if all goes on plan for me, I'll be slated for similar research stats (hopefully).

Do you have any other ideas?

Only other idea I had was being an atheist growing up/living in the bible belt, but I know from another topic I found while searching the forums that that isn't a good choice.

I don't have anything like SES or racial/ethnic diversity seeing as how I'm white and middle class. Don't play an instrument or any other artsy hobby either.

You'll be hard pressed to find something they haven't seen before, so I wouldn't worry about trying to bring something no one else can (though the asexuality one may be pretty uncommon). I don't think there's anything wrong with the computer interests even if other people will have similar experiences. What matters is how you "sell" it. If you can show special ways that this interest has changed your thinking and how that translates into your interactions with others/medicine, I think that could still be useful to a medical school.

I can show how it changed my thinking, but I think I'd be hard pressed to come up with a way a technical hobby changed my interactions with others beyond becoming tech support for everyone I know and being able to readily connect with people who share the same hobby. As far as interactions with medicine go, I suppose I wouldn't have any trouble with the technological requirements of medicine, but that seems kind of trivial.

 

[cheerful85]

Alright, so sexual orientation (or rather lack thereof) appears to be off the table. Kind of funny considering how much adcoms hype up being accepting of LGBT students, but I can't say I didn't have the same worry that everyone in this thread has mentioned.



Only other idea I had was being an atheist growing up/living in the bible belt, but I know from another topic I found while searching the forums that that isn't a good choice.

I am going to deviate from the rest of the forum so far and say that I think writing about asexuality could be interesting, if handled with proper discretion, sensitivity, and tact. Your discussion of this aspect of your identity would most likely need to include an explanation of what the asexual orientation is (and probably also an acknowledgment that it is very widely illegible and misunderstood, even at times by persons who are very sensitive to and informed about LGBTQ issues). I will emphasize again that I think your sexual orientation would be an appropriate topic if and only if you feel that you would be able to write about it in a clear and sympathetic way.

I also think that writing about being an atheist in a predominantly Christian environment could also be interesting and appropriate -- but again -- if and only if you feel that you could discuss your experiences with discretion, sensitivity, and tact. I think asexuality would be a little more unique as a topic, however.

Taking some risks in your responses can pay off if you are capable of writing in a compelling and likeable way.

 

[Narmerguy]

Alright, so sexual orientation (or rather lack thereof) appears to be off the table. Kind of funny considering how much adcoms hype up being accepting of LGBT students, but I can't say I didn't have the same worry that everyone in this thread has mentioned.



Only other idea I had was being an atheist growing up/living in the bible belt, but I know from another topic I found while searching the forums that that isn't a good choice.

I don't have anything like SES or racial/ethnic diversity seeing as how I'm white and middle class. Don't play an instrument or any other artsy hobby either.



I can show how it changed my thinking, but I think I'd be hard pressed to come up with a way a technical hobby changed my interactions with others beyond becoming tech support for everyone I know and being able to readily connect with people who share the same hobby. As far as interactions with medicine go, I suppose I wouldn't have any trouble with the technological requirements of medicine, but that seems kind of trivial.

Yeah but none of these things are unique either though. I think you're setting the standard a bit too high for yourself, few applicants have something really unique. I often write about where I've lived as part of my diversity, but I know that there are people that have lived in more places and in more exotic places. I just show how I've incorporated that background into who I am today and how that plays out in my choices/beliefs going forward.

I think I can understand how the computer hobby can only go so far with respect to changing your viewpoints and those sorts of things. I tend to be one who is more "daring" with my essay choices so personally I would have written the topic on being asexual but made sure it really was really good and reflected me accurately. But I can understand why others choose not to take that risk, and I think there's nothing wrong with that.

 

[thisisansley]

I agree that the asexuality is really tricky to write about. I've always heard the rule that if it's controversial or political, you shouldn't write about since you never know who your reader will be. I think that goes for talking about being an atheist as well.

 

[Geebeejay]

Definitely leave 1 out....I never understood how writing about one's sexuality is always such a go-to subject, since it really has nothing to do at all with being a doctor.

Rest seem fine, but nothing is unique in medical school admissions, so you might find more success once you stop trying to sell yourself as some sort of unique butterfly

 

[HopefulReapp]

Definitely leave 1 out....I never understood how writing about one's sexuality is always such a go-to subject, since it really has nothing to do at all with being a doctor.

Rest seem fine, but nothing is unique in medical school admissions, so you might find more success once you stop trying to sell yourself as some sort of unique butterfly

I disagree with your argument, and would say that it has so many applications to becoming a great physician. If you are homosexual/bisexual/asexual and having issues, often a first point of contact will be your PCP. Would you find comfort finding counsel with a straight edged conservative physician, or one who is a little bit more liberal and welcoming? The fact that OP has gone through undoubtedly a few situations of "un-welcomed behavior" puts them in a perfect spot to help others like them in the future and advocate for social change to their peers.

 

[dahassa]

I am going to deviate from the rest of the forum so far and say that I think writing about asexuality could be interesting, if handled with proper discretion, sensitivity, and tact. Your discussion of this aspect of your identity would most likely need to include an explanation of what the asexual orientation is (and probably also an acknowledgment that it is very widely illegible and misunderstood, even at times by persons who are very sensitive to and informed about LGBTQ issues). I will emphasize again that I think your sexual orientation would be an appropriate topic if and only if you feel that you would be able to write about it in a clear and sympathetic way.

I also think that writing about being an atheist in a predominantly Christian environment could also be interesting and appropriate -- but again -- if and only if you feel that you could discuss your experiences with discretion, sensitivity, and tact. I think asexuality would be a little more unique as a topic, however.

Taking some risks in your responses can pay off if you are capable of writing in a compelling and likeable way.

I actually agree with this post. If you can approach asexuality in an appropriate manner then I would go with this topic. If it is well written I think it can really resonate with the reader. But I would also look at where I am applying. If it's NE or CA I think a piece about sexuality is fair game as much as say race or gender. But if you are applying to a small rural school or in the heart of the Bible Belt I would be more careful. You can totally tie it into being more sensitive of others. Perhaps you can talk about how as a white middle class male you were never challenged, but your asexuality has resulted in new challenges/discrimination because it is so little understood. You can totally tie it into being more sensitive to other genders, races, sexual preferences etc. It also doesn't have to be super preachy or a sob story. You can add humor and make interesting.

Being a middle class white applicant doesn't mean you are not diverse. Personally. I didn't mention being a minority in my diversity essay. There are so many other things that make you diverse. I also made it comical. I think the whole point of the essay to show that you are sensitive towards other cultures and races, while displaying some of your personality to the adcoms so they get a feel for you.

 

[GoPelicans]

...

 

[GoPelicans]

...

 

[PanRoasted]

It comes down to creating a diverse incoming class. LizzyM posted something from the LCME guidebook on what accredited institutions need to strive for, and a diverse class is one of them. Any given medical school can have any pick of straight, caucasian, middle class students they want. A low SES, homosexual latino/a applicant is going to be considered "diversifying" just about everywhere.

 

[cheerful85]

Don't want to steal OP's thread, but anybody have experience writing a diversity essay about being a minority? I'm Latino, but I am from a middle-class background and a household making 100K a year... I lived in a good neighborhood, went to good schools, etc. Will anyone care about my race in this context?/QUOTE]

Your race might still be pertinent to a diversity essay. It might be interesting to talk about experiences you've had as a middle-class or upper-middle-class Latino. An acquaintance of mine once wrote an extremely compelling essay about how her views on life were shaped by growing up as a very upper-income African American.

edit: and an amendment, what exactly is the benefit of a lower socioeconomic background student in a medical school class? I observed lots of medical students in a free clinic, and all their interactions with their patients were just fine. Any medical students have input or examples of why I should care that a certain classmate grew up poor?

These are a few of the arguments (but not the only ones) for SES diversity in medical school:
*It is thought that students of lower SES might be likelier to serve and give back to lower SES communities in their medical careers.
*Students of lower SES might be able to contribute different perspectives, in and out of the classroom, than students of middle and upper SES. It is thought that a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives is necessary for a vibrant medical school class. It's just that schools don't really need to worry about having enough qualified upper SES candidates.

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

I'm pretty good at writing so I think I have a good chance of pulling off an essay on asexuality correctly, as long as adcoms are open to it and won't instantly assume I'm an anti-social loser trying to make excuses about my lack of a sex life. Still, it's a risky topic, so I guess it'll be something that comes down to whether I think I can do better with a different topic or not, and how much risk I'm willing to accept.

As others have pointed out though, maybe I am trying too hard to find something unique. Another idea that just occurred to me is that as a neuroscience major I took enough psychology courses to double major in it (only reason I didn't get the double major is because I transferred and the psych department at my new university had a policy of not recognizing psych credits earned at other institutions for fulfillment of the major requirement). Obviously there are a lot of psych pre-meds, but maybe it would still be worth writing about? I know med schools are starting to place a lot of emphasis on the behavioral and social aspects of medicine, and I don't think it's a stretch to say that having that much psych exposure in undergrad has made me a lot more aware of the behavioral issues and psychological pitfalls that show up in medicine (treatment compliance, patients faking diseases, over-exaggerating symptoms, resistance to treatment for psychiatric conditions due to social stigma, etc). I also know that when shadowing I was able to empathize with patients that even the doctors were ranting about after we left the room since I understand how irrational behavior or thought processes can seem completely reasonable to that person. I also had some close family that had a lot of psychiatric issues that played in a role in that thinking, but I don't think it's a good idea to bring up medical issues related to direct family members in these essays so I'd most likely be leaving that part out.

 

[Imogen]

Alright, so sexual orientation (or rather lack thereof) appears to be off the table. Kind of funny considering how much adcoms hype up being accepting of LGBT students, but I can't say I didn't have the same worry that everyone in this thread has mentioned.

I just wanted to say, I think adcoms ARE accepting of LGBT students. It's just, they usually don't need to hear about your LGBT status to evaluate your fitness as an applicant unless that status directly interfered with your ambitions for medicine. Also, I think most people here are telling you not to write about it because ANY topic having to do with sexuality is a touchy subject. We live in America, land of the "blood, guts, and gore in movies, but no nips please." Sexuality is more of a private thing in our culture, so please don't feel like people are telling you not to include this for any discriminatory reason.

I do think that if you wanted to write about this, it could be great. But it'd need to be written carefully, as Cheerful said.

I don't think that being an atheist is very unique at all unfortunately, and to me, it's not worth mentioning. Many people are atheist. It's not really something that would make a good case for how you as an applicant, can add diversity to a school.

 

[Imogen]

Trying to sell your diversity by talking about your psych classes is a terrible idea. Lots of people apply to med school having taken psych classes, or majored in it.

I think your computer interests are a good idea, and just as valid as any instrument or sport for sure. Plus, many older docs are terrible with technology and so the idea of a computer-hobbyist may strike them as novel and interesting.

 

[ChemEngMD]

Don't want to steal OP's thread, but anybody have experience writing a diversity essay about being a minority? I'm Latino, but I am from a middle-class background and a household making 100K a year... I lived in a good neighborhood, went to good schools, etc. Will anyone care about my race in this context?

edit: and an amendment, what exactly is the benefit of a lower socioeconomic background student in a medical school class? I observed lots of medical students in a free clinic, and all their interactions with their patients were just fine. Any medical students have input or actual examples of why I should care that a certain classmate grew up poor?

No offense meant, but are you a very fair-skinned Latino? i.e. Just looking at you, you could pass for White? Because I have grown up as a Latino in a middle-class background, etc, etc. and I have had some very interesting experiences along the lines of "not belonging". Being the only minority in your hometown or school can provide a different look on diversity, especially with how it relates to people unlike you. My diversity essays will be about how looking different from everyone else (and being racially ambiguous lol) has made me able to relate to people from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Not jacking thread!

 

[Farmerboy]

I agree with Imogen on the CS skills. I think it has the potential to be the basis of an interesting essay, especially if you tie it into issues relating to changes in healthcare (wider use of EMR's or data-driven management in the context of ACO's).

 

[Lambda Phage]

I agree that the asexuality is really tricky to write about. I've always heard the rule that if it's controversial or political, you shouldn't write about since you never know who your reader will be. I think that goes for talking about being an atheist as well.

How is being an atheist controversial or political? In a field dominated by scientists and engineers, you'd think that lack of religiosity is a dime a dozen.

In fact, I intend to write about being raised by religious parents in a religious area and having to deal with the problems associated with being an atheist under such circumstances. Would something like that be off-limits for a medical school essay?

 

[Doctor Strange]

How is being an atheist controversial or political? In a field dominated by scientists and engineers, you'd think that lack of religiosity is a dime a dozen.

You'd think so, but no.

 

[cheerful85]

How is being an atheist controversial or political? In a field dominated by scientists and engineers, you'd think that lack of religiosity is a dime a dozen.

In fact, I intend to write about being raised by religious parents in a religious area and having to deal with the problems associated with being an atheist under such circumstances. Would something like that be off-limits for a medical school essay?

You'd think so, but no.

I do think writing about being an atheist in a religious household and community could serve as an interesting essay topic (again, so long as it is handled tactfully and respectfully).

It is true that there are many religious people in medicine and in the sciences broadly (and possibly on adcoms). However, I think we are really doing them a disservice in assuming that there is a reasonable probability that, because they are religious, they might react negatively or with bias to an essay about an individual's experiences of atheism, particularly if that essay were well-written and focused on general life lessons learned about holding a minority position, integrity to oneself, and interacting respecfully with people with different beliefs -- and not on minutiae of religious doctrine, arguing against the existence of God, portraying religious people negatively etc. (i.e. inflammatory topics people wouldn't actually include in their diversity essay). I think most religious adcom members would be more likely to send an II to a student with an insightful and mature essay on what they've learned about life through atheism than to a student with a poorly-written or underdeveloped essay expressing a religious background in line with theirs.

DISCLAIMER: A different approach is likely in order if applying to schools with a very strong religious mission such as Loma Linda.Tailoring your essays to the school is obviously also important. 😀

 

[Geebeejay]

I disagree with your argument, and would say that it has so many applications to becoming a great physician. If you are homosexual/bisexual/asexual and having issues, often a first point of contact will be your PCP. Would you find comfort finding counsel with a straight edged conservative physician, or one who is a little bit more liberal and welcoming? The fact that OP has gone through undoubtedly a few situations of "un-welcomed behavior" puts them in a perfect spot to help others like them in the future and advocate for social change to their peers.

How do either of these things have to do with your sexuality? The sexuality of a caregiver has no place in the physician/patient relationship.

 

[karafox]

#2 sounds promising.

Did/do you write any unique code? Make a program in response to a problem? Etc. (I program on the side (c-objective) and I've come with some apps that could potentially be useful to students.)

 

[PanRoasted]

How do either of these things have to do with your sexuality? The sexuality of a caregiver has no place in the physician/patient relationship.

That's a gross oversimplification of real life. All of your interactions with patients are influenced by past experiences and if you identify as LGBQT(A?), it can have a huge impact on who you are as a person. Or do you think that once you're in the room with a patient, all your past prejudices and conditioning are forgotten?

 

[Geebeejay]

That's a gross oversimplification of real life. All of your interactions with patients are influenced by past experiences and if you identify as LGBQT(A?), it can have a huge impact on who you are as a person. Or do you think that once you're in the room with a patient, all your past prejudices and conditioning are forgotten?

in theory, they should be. Are you saying that someone who does not identify with LGBQT will suffer as a caregiver compared to someone who does?

 

[PanRoasted]

in theory, they should be. Are you saying that someone who does not identify with LGBQT will suffer as a caregiver compared to someone who does?

Have fun practicing in your fantasy world.

I'm saying that it's impossible for you to expect a country made up of heterosexuals, homosexuals, and everything in between, to be served by physicians that are not as equally or close to as equally diverse. Your main argument is that any individual physician who does not identify as LGBQT is not disadvantaged compared to one who does. This simply doesn't cover the scope of the issue and is not a valid point for the argument. Of course, you cannot deem a physician more or less competent based solely on their sexuality. But a homosexual physician is going to be more cognizant of the struggles and perspective of a homosexual patient, the same way a heterosexual physician might be more cognizant of those of other heterosexuals. This applies to race, SES, religion; etc. That is why URM exists - if we were to be race or SES blind, now you're greatly favoring those with white*/middle class SES privilege, and you end up with a bunch of white, privileged physicians.

*pick whatever ORM race you'd like.

 

[Geebeejay]

Have fun practicing in your fantasy world.

I'm saying that it's impossible for you to expect a country made up of heterosexuals, homosexuals, and everything in between, to be served by physicians that are not as equally or close to as equally diverse. Your main argument is that any individual physician who does not identify as LGBQT is not disadvantaged compared to one who does. This simply doesn't cover the scope of the issue and is not a valid point for the argument. Of course, you cannot deem a physician more or less competent based solely on their sexuality. But a homosexual physician is going to be more cognizant of the struggles and perspective of a homosexual patient, the same way a heterosexual physician might be more cognizant of those of other heterosexuals. This applies to race, SES, religion; etc. That is why URM exists - if we were to be race or SES blind, now you're greatly favoring those with white*/middle class SES privilege, and you end up with a bunch of white, privileged physicians.

*pick whatever ORM race you'd like.

That's great, but what about homosexual physicians and bigoted, homophobic patients? What if your patient walks in with a "god hates ***s" shirt. If a medical school candidate is so deeply driven by his sexual orientation that he feels he must write essays about it, then how might he deal with this sort of patient? A foundation of medicine is that care should be without bias, so gay patients and homophobic, hateful patients should be treated with the same quality of care. If you think different, or that you will perform differently, then you should reconsider your career choices.

Hell, if a patient comes to you as a physician and says "I'm gay, what do I do?" it's really not your place to give advice that isn't medical in nature. In that same vein, the medical advice you give shouldn't really change based on your sexuality.

Sexuality, which is literally which gender or type of person you choose to have relationships with, is an issue of your personal life. How much you choose to involve your personal life with your career is up to you.

PS: your ignorant generalizations don't become you. You won't get very far in a small medical community if you think all white physicians are privileged and only liberals can identify with homosexuals.

 

[dahassa]

That's great, but what about homosexual physicians and bigoted, homophobic patients? What if your patient walks in with a "god hates ***s" shirt. If a medical school candidate is so deeply driven by his sexual orientation that he feels he must write essays about it, then how might he deal with this sort of patient? A foundation of medicine is that care should be without bias, so gay patients and homophobic, hateful patients should be treated with the same quality of care. If you think different, or that you will perform differently, then you should reconsider your career choices.

Hell, if a patient comes to you as a physician and says "I'm gay, what do I do?" it's really not your place to give advice that isn't medical in nature. In that same vein, the medical advice you give shouldn't really change based on your sexuality.

Sexuality, which is literally which gender or type of person you choose to have relationships with, is an issue of your personal life. How much you choose to involve your personal life with your career is up to you.

PS: your ignorant generalizations don't become you. You won't get very far in a small medical community if you think all white physicians are privileged and only liberals can identify with homosexuals.

What if a student who identifies as Mexican has a patient who has a shirt that says "secure the border. Latinos take American jobs." or a black student has a shirt that says "n-words are scum."

Bigots can be anti-gender, race or sexuality. That doesn't mean we shouldn't have doctors who identify with their gender or race. Your sexuality can effect your perspective and outlook as much as gender, race, or SES. Diversity essays are suppose to show open mindedness and an ability to work with different cultural groups. Having been discriminated against due to sexual preference can help provide that perpective.

 

[PanRoasted]

That's great, but what about homosexual physicians and bigoted, homophobic patients? What if your patient walks in with a "god hates ***s" shirt. If a medical school candidate is so deeply driven by his sexual orientation that he feels he must write essays about it, then how might he deal with this sort of patient? A foundation of medicine is that care should be without bias, so gay patients and homophobic, hateful patients should be treated with the same quality of care. If you think different, or that you will perform differently, then you should reconsider your career choices.

Hell, if a patient comes to you as a physician and says "I'm gay, what do I do?" it's really not your place to give advice that isn't medical in nature. In that same vein, the medical advice you give shouldn't really change based on your sexuality.

Sexuality, which is literally which gender or type of person you choose to have relationships with, is an issue of your personal life. How much you choose to involve your personal life with your career is up to you.

PS: your ignorant generalizations don't become you. You won't get very far in a small medical community if you think all white physicians are privileged and only liberals can identify with homosexuals.

Thank you for twisting my words and belittling LGBQT to simply "the gender or type of people you choose to have relationships with." I never said all white people were privileged, I said that ORMs from mid/high SES backgrounds are privileged. This. Is. Fact. Considering you have completely sidestepped all of my counterarguments by reiterating your own, I think it's best to leave our exchange as it is. Good luck with life.

P.S. I thought I was a bigger person, but I'm not. I stalked your MDApps and I see that you are a caucasian male, presumably straight. A heterosexual white male who doesn't believe white privilege exists. HAH! Never would've thought!

Thanks folks, I'll be here all week.

 

[eyebrowdoc]

asexual? what the....

 

[Geebeejay]

Thank you for twisting my words and belittling LGBQT to simply "the gender or type of people you choose to have relationships with." I never said all white people were privileged, I said that ORMs from mid/high SES backgrounds are privileged. This. Is. Fact. Considering you have completely sidestepped all of my counterarguments by reiterating your own, I think it's best to leave our exchange as it is. Good luck with life.

P.S. I thought I was a bigger person, but I'm not. I stalked your MDApps and I see that you are a caucasian male, presumably straight. A heterosexual white male who doesn't believe white privilege exists. HAH! Never would've thought!

Thanks folks, I'll be here all week.

Lol? 😕 I'm glad we were able to really hone in one exactly which enormous group of people you are making sweeping and offensive generalizations about.

 

[SpaceyWacey]

asexual? what the....

Little to no sexual attraction to either men or women, one of the four categories of sexual orientation (although sometimes it is not included). Google is your friend.

 

[eyebrowdoc]

Little to no sexual attraction to either men or women, one of the four categories of sexual orientation (although sometimes it is not included). Google is your friend.

how is that biologically possible? isn't that sex hormones are for?

 

[SpaceyWacey]

how is that biologically possible? isn't that sex hormones are for?

There's lots of research being done on it and I'm no expert so again, Google.

 

[Narmerguy]

Don't want to steal OP's thread, but anybody have experience writing a diversity essay about being a minority? I'm Latino, but I am from a middle-class background and a household making 100K a year... I lived in a good neighborhood, went to good schools, etc. Will anyone care about my race in this context?

Don't want to steal OP's thread, but anybody have experience writing a diversity essay about being a minority? I'm Latino, but I am from a middle-class background and a household making 100K a year... I lived in a good neighborhood, went to good schools, etc. Will anyone care about my race in this context?

edit: and an amendment, what exactly is the benefit of a lower socioeconomic background student in a medical school class? I observed lots of medical students in a free clinic, and all their interactions with their patients were just fine. Any medical students have input or actual examples of why I should care that a certain classmate grew up poor?

No offense meant, but are you a very fair-skinned Latino? i.e. Just looking at you, you could pass for White? Because I have grown up as a Latino in a middle-class background, etc, etc. and I have had some very interesting experiences along the lines of "not belonging". Being the only minority in your hometown or school can provide a different look on diversity, especially with how it relates to people unlike you. My diversity essays will be about how looking different from everyone else (and being racially ambiguous lol) has made me able to relate to people from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Not jacking thread!

The benefit is that students from different backgrounds bring different backgrounds and perspectives to the classroom. School isn't always about what you learn from the lecturer or your textbook, but about what you learn from your peers and how your interactions with them contribute to your education inside and outside the classroom.

Despite coming from a middle class background, if you don't think your race has contributed or affected you in anyway, then don't write about it. There's no need to default to using your ethnicity as the target for your "diversity" essays. As an African American who also grew up in nice neighborhoods in a middle-class family, I chose not to write about my ethnicity as far as the diversity that I bring to my classes. However, this is not because I have not been significantly affected by my ethnicity. While it's encouraging that you haven't had much reason to pause and handle treatment from others as a result of being a minority, I think, as the poster above is trying to suggest, that that is atypical for most minorities.

Each of us internalizes who we are and how others treat us differently, and some simply don't notice or choose to ignore the sorts of things that can make others sad or frustrated for years. It's a personal experience, do with it what is most comfortable and true for you.

How is being an atheist controversial or political? In a field dominated by scientists and engineers, you'd think that lack of religiosity is a dime a dozen.

In fact, I intend to write about being raised by religious parents in a religious area and having to deal with the problems associated with being an atheist under such circumstances. Would something like that be off-limits for a medical school essay?

I think people are overly cautious about these topics and that you can write about it if you think you have the writing ability to pull it off. It's not difficult, in my opinion. Perhaps what some people don't understand is why some people's "religious" essays can rub people the wrong way. Consider the differences between:

• As an Athiest raised in a religious family and a religious community, I was persecuted a lot and learned that even though they are wrong, sometimes it's OK to let people cling to their beliefs because it gives them comfort.

vs

• Though I sometimes struggled as an Athiest raised in a religious family and a religious community, I learned to appreciate the personal meaning each of us extracts from our beliefs and how that meaning can even provide comfort.

Delivery matters.

 

[487806]

Little to no sexual attraction to either men or women, one of the four categories of sexual orientation (although sometimes it is not included). Google is your friend.

He was being sarcastic.

 

[487806]

how is that biologically possible? isn't that sex hormones are for?

There's lots of research being done on it and I'm no expert so again, Google.

Whoops, I overestimated a premed's knowledge again. Never mind.

eyebrowdoc, please don't use the biological argument to explain wny the LGBTQAW act the way they do. No one exactly knows.

 

[cheerful85]

How do either of these things have to do with your sexuality? The sexuality of a caregiver has no place in the physician/patient relationship.

The value of having LGBT students in a medical school class isn't only to ensure that there are a sufficient number of LGBT providers.

It is also to ensure that there are a sufficient number of students with different sexual orientations around during the training process for the benefit of everyone else (i.e. diversity in the medical school class). Why is this helpful? Let's agree that the sexuality of a caregiver has no place in the physician/patient relationship. Not every person who is admitted to medical school is going to possess, from the outset, the ability to take their biases/perspectives/privileges about sexuality out of the physician/patient relationship. Some new students might not even be aware of how their biases might be affecting their behavior and potential patient care. The idea is that, having LGBT students around and creating an environment in which straight and LGBT students are interacting and learning together, will increase the likelihood that straight students are sensitive to LGBT patients and are able to prevent issues around sexual orientation from affecting medical care. LGBT patients are also more likely to be able to point out (from their own background and experiences) situations when sexual orientation is pertinent to medicine. While, as you said, the physician's sexual orientation has no place in the physician/patient relationship, the patient's sexual orientation is often of some significance in delivering medical care and the physician will need to be tactful and sensitive in discussing sexuality. Questions about a patient's sexual history are a very frequent and at times very important part of medical care, and the way that a physician frames those questions and how they come across will affect whether a patient feels comfortable answering honestly or not, and potentially impact the physician-patient relationship overall. The idea is that the LGBT students in the classroom might be more able to raise points about ways of communicating tactfully about sexual orientation with patients and building a good rapport with them.

 

[487806]

What if a student who identifies as Mexican has a patient who has a shirt that says "secure the border. Latinos take American jobs." or a black student has a shirt that says "n-words are scum."

Bigots can be anti-gender, race or sexuality. That doesn't mean we shouldn't have doctors who identify with their gender or race. Your sexuality can effect your perspective and outlook as much as gender, race, or SES. Diversity essays are suppose to show open mindedness and an ability to work with different cultural groups. Having been discriminated against due to sexual preference can help provide that perpective.

in that case, isn't it obvious for these bigoted patients to refuse treatment from these doctors? I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't aware of this opportunity, since they clearly suffer from the Dunning-Kruger effect.

 

[dcc23]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but could being adopted fit a diversity prompt? I was very young and don't feel it's really completely defined me, but I could certainly discuss it.

 

[dahassa]

in that case, isn't it obvious for these bigoted patients to refuse treatment from these doctors? I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't aware of this opportunity, since they clearly suffer from the Dunning-Kruger effect.

Hahaha...you made my morning lol. Thanks

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

#2 sounds promising.

Did/do you write any unique code? Make a program in response to a problem? Etc. (I program on the side (c-objective) and I've come with some apps that could potentially be useful to students.)

Unfortunately I haven't made anything really impressive. I've made a few small programs to make my life a bit easier and some basic games and a basic RSS reader, but that's about it. So my programming background isn't terribly impressive.

how is that biologically possible? isn't that sex hormones are for?

Sex hormones, like all other signaling molecules, don't do anything on their own. You can have perfectly fine sex hormone levels and still be asexual (as is the case for most asexuals). I wouldn't even say that it's all that surprising. If an organism has some sort of functionality, there will always be a way in which it can not have that functionality.

 

[PanRoasted]

The value of having LGBT students in a medical school class isn't only to ensure that there are a sufficient number of LGBT providers.

It is also to ensure that there are a sufficient number of students with different sexual orientations around during the training process for the benefit of everyone else (i.e. diversity in the medical school class). Why is this helpful? Let's agree that the sexuality of a caregiver has no place in the physician/patient relationship. Not every person who is admitted to medical school is going to possess, from the outset, the ability to take their biases/perspectives/privileges about sexuality out of the physician/patient relationship. Some new students might not even be aware of how their biases might be affecting their behavior and potential patient care. The idea is that, having LGBT students around and creating an environment in which straight and LGBT students are interacting and learning together, will increase the likelihood that straight students are sensitive to LGBT patients and are able to prevent issues around sexual orientation from affecting medical care. LGBT patients are also more likely to be able to point out (from their own background and experiences) situations when sexual orientation is pertinent to medicine. While, as you said, the physician's sexual orientation has no place in the physician/patient relationship, the patient's sexual orientation is often of some significance in delivering medical care and the physician will need to be tactful and sensitive in discussing sexuality. Questions about a patient's sexual history are a very frequent and at times very important part of medical care, and the way that a physician frames those questions and how they come across will affect whether a patient feels comfortable answering honestly or not, and potentially impact the physician-patient relationship overall. The idea is that the LGBT students in the classroom might be more able to raise points about ways of communicating tactfully about sexual orientation with patients and building a good rapport with them.

"Sexuality, which is literally which gender or type of person you choose to have relationships with, is an issue of your personal life." -Geebeejay

This is the person you are trying to convince that sexuality can broaden one's perspective and has a place in medicine. It's a dead-end. When you bring no diversity to the table, it's hard to accept that others can.

🙄

 

[cheerful85]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but could being adopted fit a diversity prompt? I was very young and don't feel it's really completely defined me, but I could certainly discuss it.

If you feel that being adopted has given you unique insights that you would bring to your class, then it would be a good topic for a diversity essay. If having been adopted hasn't really shaped your perspectives on life, though, then other topics might be more successful for you.

 

[dcc23]

If you feel that being adopted has given you unique insights that you would bring to your class, then it would be a good topic for a diversity essay. If having been adopted hasn't really shaped your perspectives on life, though, then other topics might be more successful for you.

Thank you for your response, I'll have to reflect on it a little more.

 

[circulus vitios]

The benefit is that students from different backgrounds bring different backgrounds and perspectives to the classroom. School isn't always about what you learn from the lecturer or your textbook, but about what you learn from your peers and how your interactions with them contribute to your education inside and outside the classroom.

I always hear this but what does that even mean? A perspective on what, and could you give me a few concrete examples?

 

[Geebeejay]

"Sexuality, which is literally which gender or type of person you choose to have relationships with, is an issue of your personal life." -Geebeejay

This is the person you are trying to convince that sexuality can broaden one's perspective and has a place in medicine. It's a dead-end. When you bring no diversity to the table, it's hard to accept that others can.

🙄

Welcome back. Excluding gender-identity issues, that pretty much boils down to what it boils down to. I'm not saying that LGBT individuals haven't struggled with adversity, I'm sure they have. Most people have. To compare to what extent two entire groups of people have struggled isn't my place, nor is it yours.

The value of having LGBT students in a medical school class isn't only to ensure that there are a sufficient number of LGBT providers.

It is also to ensure that there are a sufficient number of students with different sexual orientations around during the training process for the benefit of everyone else (i.e. diversity in the medical school class). Why is this helpful? Let's agree that the sexuality of a caregiver has no place in the physician/patient relationship. Not every person who is admitted to medical school is going to possess, from the outset, the ability to take their biases/perspectives/privileges about sexuality out of the physician/patient relationship. Some new students might not even be aware of how their biases might be affecting their behavior and potential patient care. The idea is that, having LGBT students around and creating an environment in which straight and LGBT students are interacting and learning together, will increase the likelihood that straight students are sensitive to LGBT patients and are able to prevent issues around sexual orientation from affecting medical care. LGBT patients are also more likely to be able to point out (from their own background and experiences) situations when sexual orientation is pertinent to medicine. While, as you said, the physician's sexual orientation has no place in the physician/patient relationship, the patient's sexual orientation is often of some significance in delivering medical care and the physician will need to be tactful and sensitive in discussing sexuality. Questions about a patient's sexual history are a very frequent and at times very important part of medical care, and the way that a physician frames those questions and how they come across will affect whether a patient feels comfortable answering honestly or not, and potentially impact the physician-patient relationship overall. The idea is that the LGBT students in the classroom might be more able to raise points about ways of communicating tactfully about sexual orientation with patients and building a good rapport with them.

Agree moreorless, but stand by my original stance (you can read it up top). While sexual history is an important part of a medical history, sexuality issues still only cover a very small part of being a doctor, and I think there is more to write in a diversity essay than focusing on your own gender-identity. Focusing on why your sexuality helps you empathize with people unlike yourself, sure, that sounds like a good essay. What you wrote is pretty solid, but might be helped by broadening your outlook past only sexuality.

What it comes down to is that LGBT make up about 10% of the population, and at least in the northeast, isn't a very big deal anymore. So if 10% of medical school applicants are focusing on their sexuality in these essays, don't you think it might get old pretty quick? Socially, mentioning LGBT status is about a 20 second conversation and then it's over. And quite frankly, I don't need to be LGBT to effectively care for LGBT patients.

Again, I don't want to seem like I'm knocking on any populations....but the topic is what to write about in a diversity essays and that's what I'm trying to discuss.