Cultural Competence

[sorcerer365]

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[deleted407021]

I figure that demonstrating cultural competence is about being open and patient enough to empathize with groups of people who differ from you in how they approach and respond to problems, how they act toward you and others and what they consider to be normal and abnormal, relative to yourself and others like you. Even within a single demographic one can see all kinds of differences among these qualities.

I'm sure you can spin this tutoring experience (which is really cool) to express that you work to understand people different than yourself, but also look for answers to this prompt in your clinical volunteering. Pick the one that paints the most stark image of your abilities to navigate diversity.

 

[sorcerer365]

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[sorcerer365]

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[deleted407021]

I wrote about my medical brigade to nicaragua in my personal statement; however, it seems like the perfect place to tie in cultural competence, what do you think of that?

What did you do there? Beware of coming off as a "voluntourist". Maybe look up some of what @Goro and @gyngyn (both med school faculty) have said on the matter.

I'm sure it's a good start though. Even if you decide to go with a different topic, there's lots of shared concepts I'm sure you've already put down!

 

[sorcerer365]

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[deleted407021]

I am definitely aware of that stigma! So I'm hesitant, it just works quite well, I might go with the tutoring though, its not clinical but its been a bigger impact on me.

I would offer to read it, but I'm not sure how qualified I am to actually do that confidently. There are people on SDN at all educational levels who offer to read statements and essays. Also, try and get a few people outside the premed/Ned culture to read over it and give their thoughts. Put lots of eyes on your essays!


I tutored for years and it was definitely a topic for my cultural competence-related essays. I think that's a fine idea.