Write about gay parents in secondary?

[banana_phone]

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I was raised by two moms, and I feel this had a very strong positive impact on me as a person. I struggled growing up due to feeling ostracized or like my family was "bad" for some reason, but I feel this has given me an important, accepting perspective as an adult.

Question is, is this something that is appropriate to write about in secondaries? Or is this topic still too taboo to discuss? When secondaries ask, "anything else" , I feel this aspect of my upbringing would be important to mention, as its a huge part of who I am and makes me more accepting and open-minded. I don't want to alienate any schools (I'm not applying to Loma Linda) due to my parents, but at the same time, if a school would reject me because of my moms I probably don't want to spend 4 years there anyways.

 

[Goro]

Definitely a different subject. The key thing is to approach it as how you dealt with adversity and displayed resilience, not an outlet for any bitterness. Avoid LUCOM as well.

 

[banana_phone]

Definitely a different subject. The key thing is to approach it as how you dealt with adversity and displayed resilience, not an outlet for any bitterness. Avoid LUCOM as well.

Do you mean I should not write about this in secondaries at all? Still too taboo? Or that if I choose to write about it, I should be careful with how I approach and discuss it?

 

[LizzyM]

Hmmm... we have two moms on our faculty (they're a couple). I think it would be a reasonable topic if it fits the prompt.

 

[Pagan FutureDoc]

I think it has the makings of an excellent essay, go for it.

 

[banana_phone]

Hmmm... we have two moms on our faculty (they're a couple). I think it would be a reasonable topic if it fits the prompt.

I was considering using this for the "Is there anything else you would like us to know?" prompts on several secondaries. What are your thoughts on that?

Penn also has a prompt about "special, unique, personal, or challenging aspects of your personal background or circumstances"...I feel this could certainly be appropriate here..but again, seeking advice because I'm not totally sure how to proceed.

 

[LizzyM]

I was considering using this for the "Is there anything else you would like us to know?" prompts on several secondaries. What are your thoughts on that?

Penn also has a prompt about "special, unique, personal, or challenging aspects of your personal background or circumstances"...I feel this could certainly be appropriate here..but again, seeking advice because I'm not totally sure how to proceed.

If you listed your moms by name on the AMCAS, they may already know (unless they have names that don't reveal their gender). If you want to say that you grew up with two moms and felt ostracized and that makes you more open minded now... go for it!

It might have been a challenging aspect of your personal circumstances and would be a reasonable response to the Penn prompt.

 

[ndafife]

I don't want to alienate any schools (I'm not applying to Loma Linda) due to my parents, but at the same time, if a school would reject me because of my moms I probably don't want to spend 4 years there anyways.

Then don't be afraid to speak up. This sounds like a very good essay from how you described it

 

[ChrisMack390]

I don't see why this couldn't make for a decent diversity essay.

 

[MilaKunisDoe]

Then don't be afraid to speak up. This sounds like a very good essay from how you described it

Not that there's anything wrong with that

 

[tantacles]

I was raised by two moms, and I feel this had a very strong positive impact on me as a person. I struggled growing up due to feeling ostracized or like my family was "bad" for some reason, but I feel this has given me an important, accepting perspective as an adult.

Question is, is this something that is appropriate to write about in secondaries? Or is this topic still too taboo to discuss? When secondaries ask, "anything else" , I feel this aspect of my upbringing would be important to mention, as its a huge part of who I am and makes me more accepting and open-minded. I don't want to alienate any schools (I'm not applying to Loma Linda) due to my parents, but at the same time, if a school would reject me because of my moms I probably don't want to spend 4 years there anyways.

Honestly, it seems like a great topic, particularly if, as mentioned earlier in the thread, your focus is how dealing with this adversity has positively impacted your world view and resilience. Just realize, though, that if you write about this in your personal statement it should:

1. Be related to your career choice as a physician

And

2. Not be used for other secondary essays in a repetitious way (greatest challenge essay, for example.)




Large dogs

 

[Penn-mdphd]

I'd say go for it. Penn is big on diversity. Like really big --- at least compared to every other school I have seen so far. Some schools aren't as big.

I talked in my secondaries about being gay. It can be a difficult topic to approach the right way, but if done properly, it makes for a great discussion.

I mentioned nothing in my personal statement, but under the appropriate secondary questions, I talked about it. That gave me more power to choose which schools I was out to and which schools I was not.

So yeah, choose how you want to approach the subject, but absolutely go for it 🙂

 

[Penn-mdphd]

Penn also has a prompt about "special, unique, personal, or challenging aspects of your personal background or circumstances"...I feel this could certainly be appropriate here..but again, seeking advice because I'm not totally sure how to proceed.

Also, that's what I did

 

[banana_phone]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I've already submitted my primary and didn't discuss it in my personal statement. I do want to bring it up in my secondaries, and will definitely make sure I give it a positive spin. No bitterness. I'm so grateful for my awesome parents and the perspective being raised by them has given me. I appreciate all of your suggestions, and will proceed to write a kick-ass essay 🙂

 

[futuremdforme]

To me it sounds like a better topic for a secondary question on diversity than a PS anyway.