Diversity-type essays -- Which option should I go with?

[Hupsty]

I am trying to write a diversity/uniqueness essay for some of my secondaries. Unfortunately for me and these essays I am just another upper-middle class white male. So I was wondering if either of these options seemed GOOD?

1) Talk about my parents having to focus on my 2 brothers (nearly juvenile oldest brother and somewhat disabled older brother) and how my family life has instilled upon me exceptional moral standards. Obviously I will try to then detail the contribution I will make because of this (both to the class and my future patients)

2) Talk about my passion for running/exercise/health/nutrition and how my experience with these passions will allow me to better connect with future patients?

My only qualm with option 2 is that U Michigan basically needs both a passion and diversity essay (two essays). But maybe I could still just use running for that as it truly is a passion I can write a lot about.

Honest opinions? Are either of these more than acceptable? Worst case scenario I want an essay that is "okay", but I absolutely do NOT want to write an essay about how I don't bring any diversity, but appreciate diversity or some such answer that does the opposite of answering the question.

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[gannicus89]

I think #1 is better since that is more personal than your passion for fitness. Many people are passionate about fitness. Not that many people have a disabled older brother they can talk about... though I'm not sure what you're implying by "somewhat disabled" ...

 

[Hupsty]

I think #1 is better since that is more personal than your passion for fitness. Many people are passionate about fitness. Not that many people have a disabled older brother they can talk about... though I'm not sure what you're implying by "somewhat disabled" ...

Yeah I am bad at explaining that shortly. Basically I have a brother with disabilities. He just has mild forms of multiple disabilities with a low IQ.

 

[ngc 2170]

I am trying to write a diversity/uniqueness essay for some of my secondaries. Unfortunately for me and these essays I am just another upper-middle class white male.

I think you and many others who feel apprehensive about these questions are looking at the questions the wrong way. If you box in "diversity" to mean, "Are you non-white, LGBTQ, etc. etc.," you will see no options and think yourself a fraud no matter what you write, because you will be mentally comparing yourself to potential "real" diversity. Don't do that.

In short, thinking, "I am just another upper-middle class white male," is thinking the wrong way. Is that the main way you identify? Is that how you introduce yourself? Talk about things that define you. Either option you present here works — just be sure to write in a different mindset than, "this is the only thing I could even pretend is diverse about me."

 

[NickNaylor]

To be honest neither of these topics strike me as particularly impressive for this topic. #1 sounds like what any functional family should do for their children and #2 is a bit of a stretch. If you took something away from your experience of having a disabled brother (whatever that means) then that perhaps might be something worth talking about, but I would steer away from the "my family taught me how to do good" line of thinking.

 

[LizzyM]

For about 25 years I've been leading small group sessions of med students. (Different topics over the years as the curriculum has morphed and morphed again.) I get 9 random students and each brings their experiences to the discussion. In a random group of 9, what do you bring to the table?

I do think that having a disabled sibling would be unusual (present in < 10% of the students).

 

[hopefulERdoc251]

Remember, the message is as good as the story. The disabled brother is good but you need to be crafty about how you bring it. The other thing, whatever you do, do not try to force the essay. I am working on a similar essay ATM and I was thinking what on Earth makes me different or unique and I tried fitting various aspects of my application/persona/experience to this and I couldn't. I stepped back and really sat down and thought what has affected my personality/experience and how to draw on that. For me it was the combination of a major that aren't really related but drawing parallels to how this shaped my experience and how I can contribute to a medical school class. So far, that idea has gotten good reviews from the docs and profs i work with.

 

[hopefulERdoc251]

To follow-up, I believe the other experience can be good as well. Remember, you want to portray yourself, your personality, your exxperience, as best as you can through an essay, which is damn near impossible, but key word, NEAR. If you can talk about training and how that gave you a unique perspective on things that you think not many people can bring, then if it's a compelling enough essay, AdCOMs will think that tool.

 

[Hupsty]

To be honest neither of these topics strike me as particularly impressive for this topic. #1 sounds like what any functional family should do for their children and #2 is a bit of a stretch. If you took something away from your experience of having a disabled brother (whatever that means) then that perhaps might be something worth talking about, but I would steer away from the "my family taught me how to do good" line of thinking.

Yeah when you say it like that I see how it starts to sound dumb... I think from these responses I will have to do some more thinking before I can start writing. If I were to be asked about what I learned from my disabled brother right now I would probably just say that some people can be extremely mean and unspeakably intolerant of others....

 

[Doug Underhill]

The best choice by far is the disabled brother. It increases your ability to empathize with disabled patients and the challenges their caregivers face, which is a desirable characteristic in a physician. Most of the pre-meds you're competing against have zero experience in this area.