Discussing diversity/multicultural experiences in SOP

[foremma]

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hey everyone - i've noticed many statement prompts ask to discuss how i would bring diversity and how my experiences have prepared me for multicultural atmospheres. obviously, it is hard to extend research experiences to diversity so i will rely on my actual experiences, but it brings a dilemma of where to actually put them in the statement. i have them in the intro paragraph and use them as a way to discuss my interests, but chronologically, they are out of order (most them in my 3rd/4th year). IMO, my first paragraph is forced because i just throw them all in there at once. does anyone have any comments or tips on making your "real world" & non psychology experiences flow in your SOP?

 

[G Costanza]

If you're taking the approach that diversity and multiculturalism are limited to "real world and non-psychology experiences", then you may be missing a lot of opportunities to integrate it throughtout the essay.

For example- you said it's hard to extend research experiences to diversity. What populations were you studying? Why was that pop chosen? How do your cultural identities influence you as a researcher or choice in research topics? How could you be more effective as a researcher in areas of diversity? What are you doing right now to be more sensitive to issues of privilege and oppression in research?

 

[MCParent]

If you're taking the approach that diversity and multiculturalism are limited to "real world and non-psychology experiences", then you may be missing a lot of opportunities to integrate it throughtout the essay.

For example- you said it's hard to extend research experiences to diversity. What populations were you studying? Why was that pop chosen? How do your cultural identities influence you as a researcher or choice in research topics? How could you be more effective as a researcher in areas of diversity? What are you doing right now to be more sensitive to issues of privilege and oppression in research?

Yup. The program giving that prompt obviously does not view mc experiences as "real world and non-psychology," so approaching it with that in mind will probably make the execution poor.