Diversity Essay Help

[Maximus0703]

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[LizzyM]

So, you spent some formative years (roughly 2-6th grades) in India and then returned to the US. You are ethnically Indian so you fit in by appearance but perhaps unfamiliar with how things were done is school and other settings with other kids. Then you go back to the US where again, you are the "new kid from India" but "hey, I was born in the USA".

Indians and Indian-Americans are over-represented in medicine and in medical schools so this doesn't contribute a ton to the diversity of the class at most schools. The interesting difference is that you are a US-born applicant who lived abroad as a child and came back to the US while still in middle school.

The smoking one doesn't seem to be much about how you bring diversity to the class.

Coding is an interesting skill and the way one things when coding might bring a different perspective to a small group. It seems, to me, to be something like having trained in improv or as an engineer such that you have some skill/experience not universally possessed by all students, that adds to the diversity of the class. Do I understand that correctly? You need not tie it to future plans... what do you bring to the M1 class here and now?

 

[Maximus0703]

Hi @LizzyM,
Thanks for the response. I agree with the smoking essay not being related to diversity. To expand on my coding experience, I have been using R and Python to analyze post-mortem RNA data from patients (2 years). I guess the coolest thing I have done through coding was using a supercomputer to analyze my data (I did mention this in my activities). While the experience is based on my research, I believe the uniqueness of having learned a relatively rare computer language (R) outside of classes would contribute to the diversity of my medical class, along the vein that computational advances are greatly improving current practices in the medical field.

I feel my coding experience is very bold to talk about as a diversity statement, while my experience living in another country and coming back is more "safe?" Thoughts?

 

[LizzyM]

It doesn't matter where you learned it. The question is, if I make l groups of 10 at random from the M1 class, will you be the only student in the group possessing X. That is what you bring to the class in terms of diversity.

Depending on the school, you might not be the only student who has lived in India, (or been there for multiple visits in childhood). So while it might be the best answer from one perspective, it might not be that unusual.

It doesn't matter to me if you taught yourself R or if you took a class. If you think that your ability to do that kind of work brings diversity to the class, run with it. On the other hand, do consider that unless you keep up with it, that skill will be about as useful as Perl.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I would like to see your prompt if this is for a specific program.

1) Computer programming and developing platforms... sounds more like what motivates you, so I'd expect that in your PS or a "tell me anything else that's cool about you." Granted, how impactful this may be will be audience-dependent, but considering the chances that you would have computational biologists on your admissions committee is going to be small. But there's nothing to prevent you otherwise from using this as a "what else is cool about me" topic.

2) Acknowledging @LizzyM 's comment: your description of your idea is rather bland. I do think that living abroad for a few years and bringing back some element of disorientation transitioning back to the US is fair game, but that (description) doesn't really grab my interest to seeing you as bringing diversity to my learning community. To answer your rhetorical question, @LizzyM (I'm sure) and I have read those essays where moving to India before returning is emblematic of your contribution to diversity was featured.

Now your pitch talks about how your exposure to low-income communities in India inspired you to form your non-profit for medical interpretation... this points you back to the same course as #1. It might be nice as a pitch for or a non-profit version of Shark Tank/Dragon's Lair/venture cap competitions. However, it won't resonate with the generic diversity prompt.

3) This is an observation and has nothing apparently linked to a discussion of diversity/equity/inclusion.

Here's a resource to help you. It's not designed for addressing application prompts, but it should give you an idea of what anyone engaged in the work is looking for.

 

[Maximus0703]

Hi @Mr.Smile12

Here is the prompt: How might you contribute to the diversity of the student body of XXX school?

The more I think about this, the more I feel that it's such a loaded question. Diversity implies a racial undertone, and some people interpret that as how competent are you culturally. Yet, for others, it really asks what makes you stand out from the sea of applicants. It seems either direction your choose someone is going to be unhappy but I guess that's the way of med schools applications.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Hi @Mr.Smile12

Here is the prompt: How might you contribute to the diversity of the student body of XXX school?

The more I think about this, the more I feel that it's such a loaded question. Diversity implies a racial undertone, and some people interpret that as how competent are you culturally. Yet, for others, it really asks what makes you stand out from the sea of applicants. It seems either direction your choose someone is going to be unhappy but I guess that's the way of med schools applications.

Use the resource I shared. I also point out the HPSA classes in my signature; we definitely address diversity in a number of contexts aside from just race/ethnicity.

 

[Maximus0703]

I guess another idea would be tying three into my experience working with the disabled community. I am a PCA for a healthcare org that specifically works with the disabled community. I would frame it around my unique experiences working with disabled patients as my contribution to the diversity of a class of future physician's.

 

[Goro]

Hey guys. I'm working on my diversity essay and wanted to bounce a couple of ideas off.

1: I have a lot of coding experience from my lab research and have helped create an online platform for medical interpretation. I want to connect this to my interest in computational medicine. (I think this is the weakest one considering that my comp sci experience is not reflected in my coursework).

2: I was born in America but moved to India and lived there for 5 years. After 6th grade, I moved back to the US. With this experience, I want to talk about having to leave the U.S despite having most of my childhood spent there to move to India and having to adjust to Indian culture despite my ethnicity being that of an Indian. Once I finally felt I fit in, I had to move back to the U.S, which necessitated another re-adjustment. I want to talk about my perspective on cultural shifts and how that inspired me to start a non-profit that provides medical interpretation for low-income patients. (Feels like the most obvious one but hey, who hasn't read about an ORM experience moving from a country)

3: For one of the patients I worked with as a PCA, I had to make him cigarettes (rolling them up with a Top-O-Matic) and help him smoke (literally holding the cigarette with tweezers because he was immobilized). I want to connect this to my thoughts on patient autonomy in the sense that a lot of times physicians have to balance wanting to change a patients practices while also respecting patient autonomy. (I know this is clinical but I feel this experience gave me great insights into patient care and life in general).

Would love some advice @Goro, @LizzyM, @Faha, @Mr.Smile12

You can do better.
What's cool about you?

 

[Goro]

Hi @Mr.Smile12

Here is the prompt: How might you contribute to the diversity of the student body of XXX school?

The more I think about this, the more I feel that it's such a loaded question. Diversity implies a racial undertone, and some people interpret that as how competent are you culturally. Yet, for others, it really asks what makes you stand out from the sea of applicants. It seems either direction your choose someone is going to be unhappy but I guess that's the way of med schools applications.

Diversity prompts have nothing to do with ethnicity; they're about "what do you bring to the table?"

 

[Maximus0703]

I have been playing tennis since 3rd grade. I was a varsity athlete in high school and play club tennis in college. Would a sport work in this situation?

 

[LizzyM]

Diversity prompts have nothing to do with ethnicity; they're about "what do you bring to the table?"

But sometimes, race/ethnicity is exactly what the applicant brings to the table.

 

[Goro]

But sometimes, race/ethnicity is exactly what the applicant brings to the table.

I don't know, when some 1/6 medical students are south Asian, I wonder.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

IMO Race/ethnicity is important given the demographics of our patients and society, but it isn't the sole source and not sufficient (given the legal interpretations of Fisher). But people can't just say "I worked with underserved communities, QED." I may modify that sometimes the TABLE wants race/ethnicity, but I'm also sure it's not just that. 🙂

 

[LizzyM]

I don't know, when some 1/6 medical students are south Asian, I wonder.

If an applicant is URM and writes in the diversity essay that they play tennis or are a self-taught coder, they've misunderstood the question.

 

[showkayaker]

If an applicant is URM and writes in the diversity essay that they play tennis or are a self-taught coder, they've misunderstood the question.

So, I am a little confused on how to approach a diversity essay based on the responses here - what is the best way to approach it for a non-URM? "Whats cool about you?" like a hobby or sport, or focusing on other characteristics like being LGBTQ?

 

[mike-sheree]

So, I am a little confused on how to approach a diversity essay based on the responses here - what is the best way to approach it for a non-URM? "Whats cool about you?" like a hobby or sport, or focusing on other characteristics like being LGBTQ?

And, you anxiety ridden folks, it can be so, so subjective—- in 10 minutes. Doesn’t seem fair. But that is what you must deal with.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

So, I am a little confused on how to approach a diversity essay based on the responses here - what is the best way to approach it for a non-URM? "Whats cool about you?" like a hobby or sport, or focusing on other characteristics like being LGBTQ?

1) Read this: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Competencies Across the Learning Continuum

2) Join Becoming a Student Doctor. 🙂

 

[LizzyM]

If an applicant is URM and writes in the diversity essay that they play tennis or are a self-taught coder, they've misunderstood the question.

You are a member of a minority group that might be under-represented in medicine but, in any case, deserves to be represented in small group learning. Furthermore, some patients (and the next generation of student doctors) who look for physicians like themselves will need you. That is certainly a legit topic for a diversity essay, IMHO.

 

[jb2000]

Write about the coding. I did cs in undergrad and it really is a unique skill that about 90% of applicants don’t really have (yeah some will say they code if they can press a button to run a script on rstudio but you seem to know how to write your own programs).

 

[macman]

The fact they have essay prompts centered around DEI is a bit concerning to me. Unless it is an optional question

 

[Mr.Smile12]

The fact they have essay prompts centered around DEI is a bit concerning to me. Unless it is an optional question

It should be expected because so much about socioeconomic determinants of health is an essential part of the curriculum. The signal was adding psychology and sociology to the MCAT. The last three years made it even more forefront.