UF's supplemental application prompt????

[hwolfe]

I have been working on my essay for UF for about a month now and am still completely baffled on what to write. So far I have written some of my background, like how I grew up and what I did in high school. But I'm just really unsure of what they're asking...any tips/ideas?

Here's the prompt:

University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine – Applicant Essay

Along with solid communication skills, strong academic talent, and experience within the profession, we seek to enroll students with varied backgrounds and interests. Such diversity contributes to the learning environment and, historically, has produced graduates who have served all segments of society. Please discuss how your interests, background, life experiences, and perspectives would contribute to the diversity of the entering class. You may also describe disadvantages that may have adversely affected your past performance or that you have successfully overcome.

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[Bearby]

I have been working on my essay for UF for about a month now and am still completely baffled on what to write. So far I have written some of my background, like how I grew up and what I did in high school. But I'm just really unsure of what they're asking...any tips/ideas?

Here's the prompt:

University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine – Applicant Essay

Along with solid communication skills, strong academic talent, and experience within the profession, we seek to enroll students with varied backgrounds and interests. Such diversity contributes to the learning environment and, historically, has produced graduates who have served all segments of society. Please discuss how your interests, background, life experiences, and perspectives would contribute to the diversity of the entering class. You may also describe disadvantages that may have adversely affected your past performance or that you have successfully overcome.

They want to know about about you sets you apart from other applicants. Just about everyone who's applying has a good GPA, GRE score, and experience hours. They want to know about how you will use your background and experiences to be a different vet than everyone else. At least that's what I get from it.

 

[sumstorm]

If you personally don't feel you have anything that distinguishes you in that way then the other option is to show how you have had encounters that emphasize social and cultural diversity; ie working in a S/N clinic or helping with low cost vaccine programs, attending cultural events or working in a clinic that serves a niche population (and remember niche may be cultural, economic, or even age/profession) and that you can interact and relate with individuals that are different than yourself. One of the clinics I worked with in SC served primarily elderly individuals who had very different concerns and needs from families with pets. One rescue I worked with in NY put on pulling competitions and a vet checked each dog for signs of abuse or fighting; those experiences exposed me to a very different community than I was accustomed to. One of my friends volunteered in a woman's shelter that had a co-shelter for pets. All of these things suggest the ability to interact outside of your own social sphere with folks that aren't always the primary clientelle of vets, but may be your clients someday.

 

[phaedraeos]

Not to hijack, but I was considering applying to UF and hadn't made my way to the payment screen of the supplemental yet. Does this question appear after payment has been submitted?

 

[jtom]

Yes it does. You also have to mail in a pre-req checklist and a picture of yourself.