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[jhmmd]

Sounds like you got it covered!

 

[Goro]

I know that the essay topic doesn’t necessarily always look for straight up ethnic/cultural diversity per se.

Nevertheless I was considering writing about coming from an Ethiopian-American family, and how absorbing that culture alongside American culture shaped my outlook on life. In particular I felt it would be a good topic because it ties into a few of my activities—I served on the board of my school’s Ethiopian student organization, and my published research is on how language barriers in Ethiopian-American immigrant community affects health literacy and outcomes. I also discussed in my PS how I used to translate for my grandmother at hospital and PT visits, and I sort of wanted to expand on that.

There’s other aspects to it too—like a lot of Ethiopian families it’s huge family (11 uncles/aunts on both sides, more cousins than I can count) and most of us live in the same city so we have a more communal culture than most Americans. It’s a mixed religion family (dad’s side Muslim, mom’s side Christian) which changes a lot about how I view some things.


I dunno mostly I’m just stuck and I was hesitating writing about this topic, since I often see people discouraging the idea of playing the “diversity” straight and talking about these types of characteristics. So I want to make sure there’s something in here that I can write about lol.

To clarify, are you an immigrant or 1st gen American?

 

[jhmmd]

Awesome, thank you. This process has me more neurotic than I could have ever thought possible lol.

Go big or go home

 

[Goro]

1st Gen—born here in Texas.

Do better. 1st Gen applicants are common. Your patents are the ones with the immigrant experience, not you.

 

[LizzyM]

Do better. 1st Gen applicants are common. Your patents are the ones with the immigrant experience, not you.

I disagree the the OP has to "do better"! First generation American applicants are common but they add tremendous diversity to the class given that they are of so many different ethnicities. There are other American-born Ethiopian applicants but not many -- I'd venture to guess that such incoming students make up less than 1% of any medical school class. (The exception might be at the HBCU.)

That you come from a big extended family of mixed religious heritage is also significant as it gives you a view into two religious traditions and that knowledge can contribute to improved care of patients particularly when a cure, or even aggressive treatment, is no longer feasible. You may also understand the dynamic of dealing with large families that have conflicting views of how to care for an aged family member when all have equal standing in terms of decision-making.)

 

[Goro]

I disagree the the OP has to "do better"! First generation American applicants are common but they add tremendous diversity to the class given that they are of so many different ethnicities. There are other American-born Ethiopian applicants but not many -- I'd venture to guess that such incoming students make up less than 1% of any medical school class. (The exception might be at the HBCU.)

That you come from a big extended family of mixed religious heritage is also significant as it gives you a view into two religious traditions and that knowledge can contribute to improved care of patients particularly when a cure, or even aggressive treatment, is no longer feasible. You may also understand the dynamic of dealing with large families that have conflicting views of how to care for an aged family member when all have equal standing in terms of decision-making.)

This will be one of those rare times that I disagree with my learned colleague

 

[Mr.Smile12]

First-gen low-income (FGLI) is a desirable community that is underrepresented in medicine, and the ways each FGLI student navigates higher education and the cultural identities they have to be resilient are individually different and difficult. Check out Home | Connect with FGLIMed . So I agree with @LizzyM here. I also don't completely agree with @Goro that FG is that common if the vast majority of medical students represent the top quintile of US family income, but the immigrant experience is something that should be valued given the population many students will see.

 

[LizzyM]

Of course, there are those first generation-American, high income applicants, many have a parent (or two) who is a foreign medical graduate (FMG) now working as a physician in the US. Depending on the country of origin, they may or may not be under-represented in a med school class.

 

[Banco]

You have valuable experiences/perspectives to write about with this topic, so go for it.

 

[whataweirdo]

I’m also first gen. I wrote EXTENSIVELY about my parents being Pakistani immigrants, about my father driving a yellow cab for 30+ years to support us, and about our struggles with our Muslim faith post-9/11 in America. Received 14 MD interviews, 6 acceptances, and am starting at NYULISOM on a full COA scholarship next week. I’d say if you write passionately about your first-gen background and how it has molded you, it can be an asset to your application.

 

[_TheStruggl3_]

I’m also first gen. I wrote EXTENSIVELY about my parents being Pakistani immigrants, about my father driving a yellow cab for 30+ years to support us, and about our struggles with our Muslim faith post-9/11 in America. Received 14 MD interviews, 6 acceptances, and am starting at NYULISOM on a full COA scholarship next week. I’d say if you write passionately about your first-gen background and how it has molded you, it can be an asset to your application.

Is the full COA scholarship in addition to their free tuition? (Meaning do they offer additional scholarships for affording rent or textbooks?? If so ... where can you apply!)

Congrats!! NYU-LI is my dream!

 

[whataweirdo]

Is the full COA scholarship in addition to their free tuition? (Meaning do they offer additional scholarships for affording rent or textbooks?? If so ... where can you apply!)

Congrats!! NYU-LI is my dream!

Yup! They’re covering rent, textbooks, and even health insurance. You apply for that after you get accepted. Good luck!

 

[JeffreyDorsey]

I know that the essay topic doesn’t necessarily always look for straight up ethnic/cultural diversity per se.

Nevertheless I was considering writing about coming from an Ethiopian-American family, and how absorbing that culture alongside American culture shaped my outlook on life. In particular I felt it would be a good topic because it ties into a few of my activities—I served on the board of my school’s Ethiopian student organization, and my published research is on how language barriers in Ethiopian-American immigrant community affects health literacy and outcomes. I also discussed in my PS how I used to translate for my grandmother at hospital and PT visits, and I sort of wanted to expand on that.

There’s other aspects to it too—like a lot of Ethiopian families it’s huge family (11 uncles/aunts on both sides, more cousins than I can count) and most of us live in the same city so we have a more communal culture than most Americans. It’s a mixed religion family (dad’s side Muslim, mom’s side Christian) which changes a lot about how I view some things.


I dunno mostly I’m just stuck and I was hesitating writing about this topic, since I often see people discouraging the idea of playing the “diversity” straight and talking about these types of characteristics. So I want to make sure there’s something in here that I can write about lol. I also thought about writing about assisted suicide. It's something that my close family member did a year ago. I thought that such a story would also be good to write. Some time ago, I already wrote a paper on it, but it was not only about my experience but more based on literature. I found a lot of interesting academic info on it, and if you click this link, you will be able to read the physician assisted suicide research essay, which was so interesting for me. So I thought that writing on it one more time, but more detailed and including my experience, would be a good idea. But I think the first option is better.

I think your life situation and experience is very valuable, and it's worth to write about it
My friend wrote very similar one, and recieved a scholarship, so I wish you luck with writing!

 

[LindaAccepted]

I know that the essay topic doesn’t necessarily always look for straight up ethnic/cultural diversity per se.

Nevertheless I was considering writing about coming from an Ethiopian-American family, and how absorbing that culture alongside American culture shaped my outlook on life. In particular I felt it would be a good topic because it ties into a few of my activities—I served on the board of my school’s Ethiopian student organization, and my published research is on how language barriers in Ethiopian-American immigrant community affects health literacy and outcomes. I also discussed in my PS how I used to translate for my grandmother at hospital and PT visits, and I sort of wanted to expand on that.

There’s other aspects to it too—like a lot of Ethiopian families it’s huge family (11 uncles/aunts on both sides, more cousins than I can count) and most of us live in the same city so we have a more communal culture than most Americans. It’s a mixed religion family (dad’s side Muslim, mom’s side Christian) which changes a lot about how I view some things.


I dunno mostly I’m just stuck and I was hesitating writing about this topic, since I often see people discouraging the idea of playing the “diversity” straight and talking about these types of characteristics. So I want to make sure there’s something in here that I can write about lol.

While there are many first generation applicants there are not very many whose parents are from Ethiopia and who come from different religiouns. It sounds to me like you have a lot to write about in terms of cultural sensitivity and your experience of cultural and religious diversity in your extended family. if you have siblings and first-gen cousins, you are Americans who attended American schools. Your parents and their families have different religious traditions. You have good material for a diversity essay.