Attempt at diversity essay

[Mr. Beefy Lion]

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I got recruited a little bit by MLB scouts and more so by some division 1 baseball programs in high school. Though I probably could have gotten a division 1 baseball scholarship I opted not to play in college so I could fully pursue medicine. Could this work as a diversity essay? Maybe talk a little about sacrifice, prioritize....idk what else I could talk about in this essay if I chose this topic though. What do you think?

 

[vellez]

The way I took diversity was as a unique perspective. That can be the result of many things, including your baseball experience. I had no choice to take it that way, since I am a white, middle class male.

 

[Mr. Beefy Lion]

The way I took diversity was as a unique perspective. That can be the result of many things, including your baseball experience. I had no choice to take it that way, since I am a white, middle class male.

I am also a white, middle class applicant and finding this essay difficult. This is the only angle I have left at this essay

 

[md-2020]

I am also a white, middle class applicant and finding this essay difficult. This is the only angle I have left at this essay

Go for it. I had an identical experience, except I got injured in college (was thinking/fantasizing about going pro) and I wrote some terrific essays for MPH apps last year and it worked out great.

 

[Caffein3]

I got recruited a little bit by MLB scouts and more so by some division 1 baseball programs in high school. Though I probably could have gotten a division 1 baseball scholarship I opted not to play in college so I could fully pursue medicine. Could this work as a diversity essay? Maybe talk a little about sacrifice, prioritize....idk what else I could talk about in this essay if I chose this topic though. What do you think?

I do feel your struggle on this one. If anything, pick the unique event that you want adcoms to know about you! I think this could definitely work if you think it adds some "spice" to the class and is meaningful to you.

 

[nwts]

I got recruited a little bit by MLB scouts and more so by some division 1 baseball programs in high school. Though I probably could have gotten a division 1 baseball scholarship I opted not to play in college so I could fully pursue medicine. Could this work as a diversity essay? Maybe talk a little about sacrifice, prioritize....idk what else I could talk about in this essay if I chose this topic though. What do you think?

I think it sounds like a great diversity essay. However, I wouldn't talk about how it's helped you in terms of just generic sacrifice and prioritizing. Many medical school applicants have had to make significant sacrifices, and all medical school applicants have to prioritize. Make sure the way you talk about your experiences with baseball is more specific to your particular experiences and not something that could just as easily be describing a litany of different life experiences.

 

[Doug Underhill]

This looks like a good topic if you are a white straight middle-class male and don't really have a lot to write about. The hardcore sports fans on the adcom will probably view it positively.

Last year, we had a former MLB player post on SDN about his efforts to get into med school. I forgot his username.

 

[Mr. Beefy Lion]

This looks like a good topic if you are a white straight middle-class male and don't really have a lot to write about. The hardcore sports fans on the adcom will probably view it positively.

Last year, we had a former MLB player post on SDN about his efforts to get into med school. I forgot his username.

I should add I never actually got drafted and did not play college baseball. Only that I probably could have, I made it clear to scouts from the beginning I wasn't really interested in pursuing baseball any further as I wanted to pursue medicine with 100% effort. I was thinking of talking about how other applicants may have been pressured by family/friends to pursue medicine, whereas I was pressured to pursue a career as an athlete but opted not to. Thoughts?

 

[md-2020]

I should add I never actually got drafted and did not play college baseball. Only that I probably could have, I made it clear to scouts from the beginning I wasn't really interested in pursuing baseball any further as I wanted to pursue medicine with 100% effort. I was thinking of talking about how other applicants may have been pressured by family/friends to pursue medicine, whereas I was pressured to pursue a career as an athlete but opted not to. Thoughts?

Were you atleast All-State/All-American/Under Armour? You need stats to back up your story of achievement.

 

[Mr. Beefy Lion]

Were you atleast All-State/All-American/Under Armour? You need stats to back up your story of achievement.

Those stats entail top draft picks...which I would not have been. That's the problem I'm having here, their isn't any tangible way to prove this other than my word. I was talked to by scouts for mlb teams and division 1 programs after show case tournaments and after these conversations I decided I did not want to pursue baseball any further. As a result it didn't go too much further so I'm not even sure how much an ad com would be able to find online about it


Edit: just googled my name and baseball and A lot of articles about me playing well in HS came up. Would this be sufficient proof?

 

[Rainbow Zebra]

This looks like a good topic if you are a white straight middle-class male and don't really have a lot to write about. The hardcore sports fans on the adcom will probably view it positively.

Last year, we had a former MLB player post on SDN about his efforts to get into med school. I forgot his username.

@Willy38, quite an entertaining guy. Going to Yale, got into a lot of great schools.

 

[md-2020]

Those stats entail top draft picks...which I would not have been. That's the problem I'm having here, their isn't any tangible way to prove this other than my word. I was talked to by scouts for mlb teams and division 1 programs after show case tournaments and after these conversations I decided I did not want to pursue baseball any further. As a result it didn't go too much further so I'm not even sure how much an ad com would be able to find online about it


Edit: just googled my name and baseball and A lot of articles about me playing well in HS came up. Would this be sufficient proof?

That's enough proof/backup. Though being named UA All-American/All-State doesn't necessarily mean high draft picks nowadays. Teams are looking way more at college players and international prospects. Even if you're good enough for those honors, chances of going undrafted are high.

But you should have enough for a cool essay.

 

[PREDOCSIMP]

I am also a white, middle class applicant and finding this essay difficult. This is the only angle I have left at this essay

I am white, born in a nation of poverty , moved to a new nation, adopted their customs, changed my way of thinking. Try something like mine 🙂

 

[Mr. Beefy Lion]

That's enough proof/backup. Though being named UA All-American/All-State doesn't necessarily mean high draft picks nowadays. Teams are looking way more at college players and international prospects. Even if you're good enough for those honors, chances of going undrafted are high.

But you should have enough for a cool essay.

I'm fairly certain my state gives out all state honors for each class of competition (1A-8A) so that could explain why some without that honor get drafted and some with do not. I appreciate the response, you have been very helpful!

 

[Mr. Beefy Lion]

I am white, born in a nation of poverty , moved to a new nation, adopted their customs, changed my way of thinking. Try something like mine 🙂

That would be cool and would love to write about that...but it would simply be untrue. I haven't experienced poverty or moving to a location with significantly different culture

 

[Goro]

Does this make you cool?

I got recruited a little bit by MLB scouts and more so by some division 1 baseball programs in high school. Though I probably could have gotten a division 1 baseball scholarship I opted not to play in college so I could fully pursue medicine. Could this work as a diversity essay? Maybe talk a little about sacrifice, prioritize....idk what else I could talk about in this essay if I chose this topic though. What do you think?

 

[Mr. Beefy Lion]

Does this make you cool?

I think so, I was just worried about the proof aspect of writing about this.

 

[Willy38]

@Willy38, quite an entertaining guy. Going to Yale, got into a lot of great schools.

Thanks for the kind words.

As for the diversity essays, I would say write about you and whatever makes you tick. Sometimes its hard to think about how you are unique if you buy into these generalities and describe yourself that way (middle class, white, etc.). Everyone has unique experiences that make up who they are as people and how they think. These can range from interesting hobbies, to experiences with siblings, to race or socioeconomic status etc. Really dig deep and think about why you think the way you do and what you can offer to a discussion.

A lot of schools can fill their classes with any combination of nominal social groups but in my humble opinion that's not who they are looking for. They are looking for unique genuine people who can come together, discuss issues and contribute in their own way to enrich the lives of their classmates and patients. In short, there is only one you, all you have to do is be transparent and articulate who that is.

And kudos on the baseball @dickfacedan ! (Its really hard for me to write that username without chuckling lol ) It sounds like that's contributed to who you are so I say go for it regarding the essay.

 

[Mr. Beefy Lion]

Thanks for the kind words.

As for the diversity essays, I would say write about you and whatever makes you tick. Sometimes its hard to think about how you are unique if you buy into these generalities and describe yourself that way (middle class, white, etc.). Everyone has unique experiences that make up who they are as people and how they think. These can range from interesting hobbies, to experiences with siblings, to race or socioeconomic status etc. Really dig deep and think about why you think the way you do and what you can offer to a discussion.

A lot of schools can fill their classes with any combination of nominal social groups but in my humble opinion that's not who they are looking for. They are looking for unique genuine people who can come together, discuss issues and contribute in their own way to enrich the lives of their classmates and patients. In short, there is only one you, all you have to do is be transparent and articulate who that is.

And kudos on the baseball @dickfacedan ! (Its really hard for me to write that username without chuckling lol ) It sounds like that's contributed to who you are so I say go for it regarding the essay.

I appreciate it and congrats on your great accomplishments, so seem like a great guy! Hahah I thought it was a goofy username so I just went for it

 

[Mr. Beefy Lion]

Would anyone be willing to read my diversity essay if I PM them?

 

[nwts]

I should add I never actually got drafted and did not play college baseball. Only that I probably could have, I made it clear to scouts from the beginning I wasn't really interested in pursuing baseball any further as I wanted to pursue medicine with 100% effort. I was thinking of talking about how other applicants may have been pressured by family/friends to pursue medicine, whereas I was pressured to pursue a career as an athlete but opted not to. Thoughts?

You need to be REALLY careful with the tone of this one. Depending upon how exactly you write about how your pressures were away from medicine instead of toward it, you can sound like you're saying: "Way cooler people wanted me to be in their profession, but I chose you guys instead. Don't you feel lucky?" I am certain this isn't at all what you mean, but be very careful that it isn't what you convey.

 

[Mr. Beefy Lion]

You need to be REALLY careful with the tone of this one. Depending upon how exactly you write about how your pressures were away from medicine instead of toward it, you can sound like you're saying: "Way cooler people wanted me to be in their profession, but I chose you guys instead. Don't you feel lucky?" I am certain this isn't at all what you mean, but be very careful that it isn't what you convey.

I understand what you mean. Any interest in reviewing it quick to make sure it didn't come off this way? I'm obviously very worried about how these secondaries should be

 

[nwts]

I understand what you mean. Any interest in reviewing it quick to make sure it didn't come off this way? I'm obviously very worried about how these secondaries should be

I can take a look.

 

[hopefulERdoc251]

Reiterating what everybody said, I read a quote by LizzyM on one of these posts that went something along the lines of:

If you were at a table of 5 or 6 people, what experience or perspective you have that nobody else could have.

For me, even though I am of Asian decent, I wrote about my diverse educational background studying Neuroscience (individual) and Public Health (population). I explained how I will bring both inclusion from my neuroscience major and diveristy from my Public Health background, and contribute to the diversity at said school.

Hope this helps!

 

[Mr. Beefy Lion]

Why do so many applicants seem to think this way? Defining diversity as having a unique perspective isn't an "angle." It's the whole point.

If you were a gay, low SES, transgender green Martian but had no unique perspectives to offer as a result, you would have just as little to write about in your essay (and contribute to your future class) as you would as a white, middle class, straight male.

Talking about a unique perspective, not checking off boxes based on your skin color etc., is what the essay is asking for. Whether you do that by discussing your struggles as a person of color in America or as a former baseball player doesn't matter.

I appreciate the response. I should clarify that I don't think being white and a part of the middle class doesn't mean I don't have any unique experiences. I feel that being from a different SES or ethnicity often entails a different and possibly difficult circumstance which is often very unique and interesting. As such, I am simply trying to choose an experience in which I wouldn't be stretching the significance/diversity and would be competitive with other applicants in terms of quality. I do understand your point though, and frankly my post did not come off the way I wanted it to.