Diversity/Adversity Topics -

[keanureaves]

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Hi all, I was hoping for some thoughts on secondary topics for diversity and adversity. I've been brainstorming for a few weeks while waiting to get verified and now that secondaries are coming in I'm getting a bit anxious. Anyway, topics below, and the adversity one gets somewhat personal so I'll try to be vague -

1) Diversity / Adversity - Born in a third world country (mixed race - ORM/URM), raised in US where I was able to gain citizenship, lived in a predominantly white area. Like many others who have posted in the forum have said, felt some need to conform which lead to a split in cultural identity. At home in the US I felt I had to conform, and during trips back to my birth country also felt somewhat left out because I was a 'cousin from the states'.

2) Adversity - Father diagnosed with terminal illness during college, required a caretaker so constantly returned home so my mom could work weekends (he was the breadwinner) which affected academic performance negatively, and due to the requirement of a caretaker have relied on paid employment to support my family/get clinical hours

Regarding #1, is it okay to talk about in the same secondary for both diversity and adversity, or is it something best kept for either adversity or diversity? The subject can be evaluated from two different angles for adversity and diversity but is it best to avoid rehashing?

And for #2, would this be a stronger topic for adversity? I also wrote about this in my PS and its influence on 'Why Medicine?' and would like to avoid rehashing though this is for a different perspective. I know the general consensus is that the people who look at the secondary aren't always the people who look at the primary/PS, so wanted more thoughts on repeating this.

Edit: Another question I had regarding secondaries. For the very, very open question of "Is there anything else you'd like the adcom to know?" - Is there any consensus on what to include in this or just leave it blank to avoid making up a BS answer?

 

[Moko]

1) Diversity / Adversity - Born in a third world country (mixed race - ORM/URM), raised in US where I was able to gain citizenship, lived in a predominantly white area...

2) Adversity - Father diagnosed with terminal illness during college, required a caretaker so constantly returned home so my mom could work weekends (he was the breadwinner) which affected academic performance negatively, and due to the requirement of a caretaker have relied on paid employment to support my family/get clinical hours

Regarding #1, is it okay to talk about in the same secondary for both diversity and adversity, or is it something best kept for either adversity or diversity? The subject can be evaluated from two different angles for adversity and diversity but is it best to avoid rehashing?

And for #2, would this be a stronger topic for adversity? I also wrote about this in my PS and its influence on 'Why Medicine?' and would like to avoid rehashing though this is for a different perspective. I know the general consensus is that the people who look at the secondary aren't always the people who look at the primary/PS, so wanted more thoughts on repeating this.

Edit: Another question I had regarding secondaries. For the very, very open question of "Is there anything else you'd like the adcom to know?" - Is there any consensus on what to include in this or just leave it blank to avoid making up a BS answer?

My take:
1) I strongly advise AGAINST using the same topic for both the adversity and diversity essays in the same secondary. All primary / secondary essays are opportunities to showcase yourself. So using the same topic for both secondaries essays would be a missed opportunity, and make you seem lazy and/or one-dimensional. However, overlap between the primary and secondary application is acceptable and common, just make sure that the same topic is being addressed from different angles.

2) This is definitely a stronger topic for the adversity essay, though I am sorry that you had to go through such an experience. As above, this topic addressed "why medicine" in your primary application, but will be used to highlight your resilience, coping mechanisms, and support networks in the secondary applications. My general advice for writing about these situations is to avoid being too emotional and to not give the impression that you're making excuses for poor grades. Just state the facts and let us put 2 and 2 together. Instead, focus on what you've learned and how you plan on dealing with this in medical school (if your father is currently still alive).

3) In general, it's almost always better to leave the "anything else" question blank. However, in your case, there may be situations where using this space is appropriate. If your academic performance was actually poor (i.e not "SDN bad") and you have not already addressed the above elsewhere in the primary or school-specific secondary, briefly mentioning your familial responsibilities during this trying time (to give context to your bad grades), and caregiver plans (if he is still alive) would be very reasonable. Hopefully you have since had good grades to show that you have indeed bounced back, and that this would not weigh on you should you be accepted. Best of luck to you and your family.

 

[keanureaves]

My take:
1) I strongly advise AGAINST using the same topic for both the adversity and diversity essays in the same secondary. All primary / secondary essays are opportunities to showcase yourself. So using the same topic for both secondaries essays would be a missed opportunity, and make you seem lazy and/or one-dimensional. However, overlap between the primary and secondary application is acceptable and common, just make sure that the same topic is being addressed from different angles.

2) This is definitely a stronger topic for the adversity essay, though I am sorry that you had to go through such an experience. As above, this topic addressed "why medicine" in your primary application, but will be used to highlight your resilience, coping mechanisms, and support networks in the secondary applications. My general advice for writing about these situations is to avoid being too emotional and to not give the impression that you're making excuses for poor grades. Just state the facts and let us put 2 and 2 together. Instead, focus on what you've learned and how you plan on dealing with this in medical school (if your father is currently still alive).

3) In general, it's almost always better to leave the "anything else" question blank. However, in your case, there may be situations where using this space is appropriate. If your academic performance was actually poor (i.e not "SDN bad") and you have not already addressed the above elsewhere in the primary or school-specific secondary, briefly mentioning your familial responsibilities during this trying time (to give context to your bad grades), and caregiver plans (if he is still alive) would be very reasonable. Hopefully you have since had good grades to show that you have indeed bounced back, and that this would not weigh on you should you be accepted. Best of luck to you and your family.

Thank you for the insight! Just to clarify on 'SDN bad' - GPA/MCAT are at upper level DO/lower MD range, some downward trend during diagnosis/caretaking, then back up for the 2 semesters after passing - would this warrant addressing in the 'Anything else?' section?

 

[Moko]

Thank you for the insight! Just to clarify on 'SDN bad' - GPA/MCAT are at upper level DO/lower MD range, some downward trend during diagnosis/caretaking, then back up for the 2 semesters after passing - would this warrant addressing in the 'Anything else?' section?

This depends on the GPA difference. For example, if you were getting 3.8's before the news, but then dipped down into 2.7 for a year before recovering back up to 3.8, then I think that it would be worth mentioning if this information (i.e needing to help out extensively during that time) was not disclosed elsewhere in the primary and secondary application. However, if we're talking about a peak of 3.6 and nadir of 3.3, I would not mention it.

Also, given how recent all this occurred, you may be asked about this during interviews even if you don't plan on bringing it up yourself. If you get very emotional when talking about this (as anyone would), be sure to 'rehearse' your answers to remove the raw emotions associated with your experience and minimize the chances of a meltdown during the interview.

 

[keanureaves]

This depends on the GPA difference. For example, if you were getting 3.8's before the news, but then dipped down into 2.7 for a year before recovering back up to 3.8, then I think that it would be worth mentioning if this information (i.e needing to help out extensively during that time) was not disclosed elsewhere in the primary and secondary application. However, if we're talking about a peak of 3.6 and nadir of 3.3, I would not mention it.

Also, given how recent all this occurred, you may be asked about this during interviews even if you don't plan on bringing it up yourself. If you get very emotional when talking about this (as anyone would), be sure to 'rehearse' your answers to remove the raw emotions associated with your experience and minimize the chances of a meltdown during the interview.

Great advice, thank you!

 

[deleted969405]

3) In general, it's almost always better to leave the "anything else" question blank. However, in your case, there may be situations where using this space is appropriate. If your academic performance was actually poor (i.e not "SDN bad") and you have not already addressed the above elsewhere in the primary or school-specific secondary, briefly mentioning your familial responsibilities during this trying time (to give context to your bad grades), and caregiver plans (if he is still alive) would be very reasonable. Hopefully you have since had good grades to show that you have indeed bounced back, and that this would not weigh on you should you be accepted. Best of luck to you and your family.

If we use the optional "anything else" to talk about reasons why we want to go to that school (why us), or for a diversity essay if they do not have one, would that still be worse than leaving it blank?

 

[Moko]

If we use the optional "anything else" to talk about reasons why we want to go to that school (why us), or for a diversity essay if they do not have one, would that still be worse than leaving it blank?

Depends on what you have to add. If it's something that you feel the adcoms need to know in order to properly assess your application, then by all means, that's what that section is for.

In general, the bar to include something in an optional essay should be higher than in a required essay, More often than not, applicants end up shooting themselves in the foot by writing about things that aren't really pertinent.