How do you contribute to diversity?

[Chuckwalla]

How are people (especially white people) responding to this question?

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[notdeadyet]

How are people (especially white people) responding to this question?

Assume a typical student of an entering class is a white/Asian, American-born, 22 year old science student that grew up in middle class or better conditions.

Now, how are you different?

 

[StritchMD2011]

Assume a typical student of an entering class is a white/Asian, American-born, 22 year old science student that grew up in middle class or better conditions.

Now, how are you different?

I'm not...

 

[Chuckwalla]

Assume a typical student of an entering class is a white/Asian, American-born, 22 year old science student that grew up in middle class or better conditions.

Now, how are you different?

Well that is the thing I am asking how to answer the question. I have gathered diversity as for the most part being different races among a few other less significant things.

Quite honest I think we ARE the same, we all want to be doctors and that is that.

 

[Chuckwalla]

Diversity isn't just about the color of your skin. Schools want to create student bodies that are diverse in experience, educational background, interests, etc. For these diversity questions you need to figure out how you are different from the average premed and show them. How are you unique, and what can you bring to a class that their other students can't?

I got my answer. This all I wanted, you didn't have to try and put me on the spot. I was simply under the impression diversity was about race and I am happy to have been proven wrong.

 

[notdeadyet]

Quite honest I think we ARE the same, we all want to be doctors and that is that.

Yes, we're united by certain things, but they're looking for how you contribute to diversity. How are you different from the rest in a way that will be useful to the entering class.

If you or BKadow simply are just great representatives of the typical applicant, than I would either leave it blank (if it's optional) or stretch a bit (if it's required).

The fact that you play killer lead guitar in a metal band adds diversity, albeit in a limited way. But if you really do represent the posterboy for dozens of applicants they've always accept, you have to get creative.

 

[FamousPotatoes]

Diversity isn't limited to race orsocio-economic status. What makes you a unique person? What experiences have you had that most haven't. What do you like to do that most don't? If you present yourself as a cookie-cutter premed, schools won't have any reason to pick you over any other typical student. This question is just asking for something that sets you apart. I'm sure you can come up with something.

 

[TomWestmanRules]

How are people (especially white people) responding to this question?

I point out the fact that I, along with less than 1% of Americans, can claim to have attended AA meetings at least 3 days a week.

That, and I always remind them that when I someday become rich, I hope that I'm not mean to poor people, like I am now.

 

[BucsFan813]

Diversity is NOT race or any proxy for it (Socioeconomics).

Are you referring to the UFlorida applciation?

Think about diversity of experiences or interests (rural health, tropical medicine, etc). You can also use this section to highlight a particular strength. For example, I had a friend who's applying who majored in piano performance... The question is really designed to see if you have any interests outside of medicine and that you're not the cookie-cutter premed.

 

[kypdurron5]

Diversity is NOT race or any proxy for it (Socioeconomics).

Are you referring to the UFlorida applciation?

Think about diversity of experiences or interests (rural health, tropical medicine, etc). You can also use this section to highlight a particular strength. For example, I had a friend who's applying who majored in piano performance... The question is really designed to see if you have any interests outside of medicine and that you're not the cookie-cutter premed.

I agree....as an "average white guy" let me say I'm offended that you think I can't also contribute to diversity! 😉 Just talk about what makes you unique...your addiction to sci-fi, your pottery collection, your breadth of undergraduate academic study, etc. To add to diversity means that you are in some way different from everyone else.....you are, aren't you!?

 

[WanderingDave]

I'm a young white American male ...
who majored in Chinese and has traveled / lived in a total of 14 countries, and has studied 5 foreign languages.

 

[8744]

How are people (especially white people) responding to this question?

When I hear the word "diversity," I reach for my revolver.

Proof that medical school admissions is run by lunatics.

 

[WanderingDave]

When I hear the word "diversity," I reach for my revolver.

Proof that medical school admissions is run by lunatics.

Diversity is a loaded word. Unload it. 😀
There's nothing wrong with pushing for diversity when it depends on you personally. When it depends on your ancestors alone, that's a problem.

Seriously, with the nation's (nay, the world's!) population as high as it is, anybody shrewd should've figured out that it much behooves them to have a unique angle for getting into the job market, especially the upper echelon professional careers.

 

[nekrogg]

can nontrads say their unique educational background contributes to diversity? even if its like completely random major, say business.

i mean what good does knowing pottery do the medical class? i can see how the language one can be easily molded into something beneficial

 

[BucsFan813]

It's all about how you spin it. You could say you want to start a pottery club that reaches out to geriatric patients as a part of their physical therapy. Be creative.

This question is tough for EVERYONE. Even if you're an URM, that doesn't mean that you're going to add to anything other than skin color...

 

[nekrogg]

It's all about how you spin it. You could say you want to start a pottery club that reaches out to geriatric patients as a part of their physical therapy. Be creative.

This question is tough for EVERYONE. Even if you're an URM, that doesn't mean that you're going to add to anything other than skin color...

I find it difficult for a URM to spin skin color in a manner that would help his diversity essay. I mean he could say that he is dedicated to the minority, but any average white guy who volunteers at underserved places can make the same arguement, no? I mean biological backing doesnt mean anything.

 

[BucsFan813]

I think we are in agreement. I was saying that this question isn't about race/skin color/ethnicity. HOWEVER, I believe that you can use URM status as contributor to diversity.

E.g. Any URM can say that an interest in health disparities will add diversity to the school/community

or

If you're hispanic/latino- you could have an interest in working with migrant/immigrant communities.

However, just because you're not a part of that group doesn't mean you can't have an interest. Either way, you have to had done something in one of these areas to make your statement legitimate.

 

[BeatrixKiddo]

I like to draw smiley faces on my toes then pretend my feet are having a war against each other.


BAM!

 

[DrZeke]

Of course 🙂. For example, your business major may have contributed in a certain way to your learning style, which can add diversity to the class, especially if that school emphasizes small group learning.

Diversity, like others have said in this thread, is not limited to the color of your skin or the origin of your ancestors... My suggestion is to think about things that you have done that are non-medically related or something that you have experienced and talk about how that has given you perspective and stuff. Not all diversity is necessarily about race and/or medical experiences. You could be a member of a band, or maybe you were an athlete for a long time and you are very good at teamwork and so you can bring that type of diversity or perspective to a med class. Maybe you have taught and tutored a lot and so that experience can add diversity. The idea is that, even though we are all "the same", nobody can have the exact same experience. How you take from things you've done or have been involved in, that's unique to you and that adds diversity to a class.

I dunno, I hope that helps anyone...

 

[christvida]

I answered this question by discussing where I was raised and family background. Even though I'm white and originally from West Texas, I come from a different cultural background than a person who is white and from a very large city. At each one of my interviews they have commented on the diversity that I would bring to the class. I feel that this has really helped me during my interviews.

 

[notdeadyet]

can nontrads say their unique educational background contributes to diversity? even if its like completely random major, say business.

Yes, a different educational background gives you an additional perspective and training that you can add to class discussion.

i mean what good does knowing pottery do the medical class? i can see how the language one can be easily molded into something beneficial

You're exactly right.

I'd personally be careful about writing along the lines of "I know how to knit!" I would infer the question to be asking how you add diversity in a way that it beneficial to your medical school class.

Fluent in four languages? Check.
Anthropology major? Check.
Grew up in a medically underserved environment? Check.

But with due respect to BucsFan and kypdurron, I don't think that most hobbies or personal interests qualify unless they add to the medical experience. They would for the application question you sometimes read that asks what makes you unique. I don't see how collecting stamps will really add to a medical schools diversity in any meaningful way.

 

[defrunner]

I point out the fact that I, along with less than 1% of Americans, can claim to have attended AA meetings at least 3 days a week.

That, and I always remind them that when I someday become rich, I hope that I'm not mean to poor people, like I am now.

Hahaha 👍