Help with adversity/diversity secondary essays

[qwertydo]

I have a pretty unique background, so I'm having a hard time choosing a narrative. Also a lot of my experiences teeter totter around both adversity and diversity. What should be my adversity narrative, and what should be my diversity? My life has been shaped by all of these things, and they're all in my personal statement, but I'm not sure which to highlight in secondaries.

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[gyngyn]

What did you try last cycle?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

A quick read through for me... my suggestions

Diversity :: what demographic perspective can you bring of value when discussing challenges facing patients. Suggest single parent.

Adversity :: what challenges have you personally overcome or do your continue to face where you have gotten help or need help.? Suggest cult.

 

[qwertydo]

What did you try last cycle?

I didn't apply last cycle, I applied to smps and didn't need to write a diversity essay

 

[qwertydo]

A quick read through for me... my suggestions

Diversity :: what demographic perspective can you bring of value when discussing challenges facing patients. Suggest single parent.

Adversity :: what challenges have you personally overcome or do your continue to face where you have gotten help or need help.? Suggest cult.

Thanks for the input!

 

[Conics98]

I think first and foremost, you've got some incredible resolve and grit to be able to arrive at this stage despite all your hardships. My condolences to you and your family for your brother's passing.

I think the best "narratives" you have are the following:

Adversity - I disagree with your skepticism about financial hardship. I forget where I heard it but the quote "it's really expensive to be poor" is something that's true to many Americans who need to seek healthcare regardless of financial burden. Though when you do talk about it, I think you need to be careful of which points you discuss. When you discuss couch surfing, you could keep it past-tense so the reader knows that you're referring to "once upon a time" and if your adcom is really concerned then you gave your income info...

Diversity - I think being international could bring some benefit. If you speak a second language, that could help a lot. Being a single parent is extremely relatable as well.

Maybe off topic from what you're asking but I remember another recent thread in the pre-med forums that essentially boiled down to "not every experience is a good one to discuss". An applicant was discussing a financial burden that led them to pursue adult work, and when they asked if it's a good experience to include to emphasize their financial situation, it was kinda shot down. I am by no means an expert like some of the other people answering your question but I'd be wary to include affiliation with a religious cult to illustrate your situation. As much as my heart goes out to you, I don't know if I would force your brother's passing into the narrative for your activities or secondaries either (though it could work in your personal statement).

If your goal here is to answer adversity/diversity with true and impactful experiences that can help you relate to a wide range of people (and therefore patient populations), I think you have everything you need between being a single parent, international, and having a history of trouble with finances. Though someone else did say to use the cult, so I am curious to hear what others might say about that in your writing.

 

[Goro]

I have a pretty unique background, so I'm having a hard time choosing a narrative. Also a lot of my experiences teeter totter around both adversity and diversity. What should be my adversity narrative, and what should be my diversity? My life has been shaped by all of these things, and they're all in my personal statement, but I'm not sure which to highlight in secondaries.

tl;dr
I need help to choose between -
imposter syndrome
single parenthood
escaping a cult
brother passing away

international student/immigrant, rest of my family in home country. Very hard time fitting in and transitioning. Shows in grades and upward trend - imposter syndrome (diversity or adversity?)

single parent, often have my kid with me in classes, hardly meet people that can relate, rest of family in a different country so I get very little help raising my kid (diversity or adversity?)

was a part of an extreme religious group that pulled me in when I first got to the US. basically a cult. Very toxic, explains a lot of fluctuation in my grades. I was eventually kicked out in the middle of the night for non conformity and was homeless for a couple of months. Severe financial hardship during that time, especially with a toddler (skeptical about talking about financial hardship because as an international student I'm expected to foot the entire bill and talking about my couch surfing days would make me seem incapable of doing that) - adversity

Twin brother passed away a few months ago, shattered my world. Couldn't attend his funeral because of visa and COVID restrictions - adversity (not sure i could explain how I overcame this because I'm pretty sure I just brushed all the emotions under a rug to focus on school/MCAT which have turned out alright despite it)

single parenthood? Being homeless? You can't go wrong with those for adversity or challenge prompts.

Diversity? The immigrant experience is always valuable.