I'm the worst: Diversity Essay Help

[jessicaday95]

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Would appreciate any thoughts!
I'm working on my diversity essays and the part I struggle with most is the "how will this contribute to our community" aspect. Mostly I've been focusing on how I'm from a rural area and LGBTQ. I did experience some hardships in HS due to this and learned a lot from that about not letting others' views/opinions bother me. Also, coming from a small town I really got to know everyone around me and learned how to find common ground with those who are very different from me. However, I don't know how to communicate how these things will "contribute" to the medical school.
Thank you!

 

[lilsebastian18]

Would appreciate any thoughts!
I'm working on my diversity essays and the part I struggle with most is the "how will this contribute to our community" aspect. Mostly I've been focusing on how I'm from a rural area and LGBTQ. I did experience some hardships in HS due to this and learned a lot from that about not letting others' views/opinions bother me. Also, coming from a small town I really got to know everyone around me and learned how to find common ground with those who are very different from me. However, I don't know how to communicate how these things will "contribute" to the medical school.
Thank you!

Use that as a jumping off point. When I wrote mine I just had to think what did I learn from x,y,z experience, because the experience + the teaching moments + what you get from it are what makes it unique. I think how you grew or what you learned from your experiences is what will contribute to the medical school. I think these adcoms know that not everyone will have extraordinary life experiences (building villages in Africa, winning a Nobel, rising from the ashes of adversity, etc.). From a completely unqualified position of judgment, I think your focus is really unique and I think what you learned from it and how you grew will be very contributory to whichever school you apply/interview/matriculate at, because again, it is your own experience of the experience that makes it unique.

 

[Catalystik]

I'm working on my diversity essays and the part I struggle with most is the "how will this contribute to our community" aspect. Mostly I've been focusing on how I'm from a rural area and LGBTQ. I did experience some hardships in HS due to this and learned a lot from that about not letting others' views/opinions bother me. Also, coming from a small town I really got to know everyone around me and learned how to find common ground with those who are very different from me. However, I don't know how to communicate how these things will "contribute" to the medical school.

You will contribute if you share the insights you've gained in appropriate educational settings.

 

[oneiroi]

LGBTQ patients often feel marginalized in healthcare, unsure of whether to trust their doctor/RN with sensitive issues in fear of judgment or dismissal. Your experiences prime you to be an advocate and liaison for your LBGTQ (or similarly marginalized) patients.

Similarly, your hardships most likely have made you more attuned to prejudice or bias.

Just a few thoughts 🙂