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I've heard conflicting advice so I wanted to get a few more opinions.

It seems like you should give Admission Committees as much information as possible to evaluate you. This means including a diversity statement if you're a minority, poor, etc.

However, as an Asian, it seems like that's not the sort of diversity Law Schools are looking for, when such a large percentage of their applicants are asian. (I know applying for undergrad, being asian worked against me)

I was wondering whether I should include a diversity statement or not? I was born in China and came to the US when I was 6. I've moved around the US from 6-13, moving pretty much every year. (Michigan, Florida, Washington, New York, etc.) I feel like if I write a diversity statement it would be about my unusual upbringing as well as the fact that I'm Asian.

TLS, do you think it's a good idea to include one?

If you can craft one that is well-written and actually shows you as diverse then do it. If not then don't.

Remember that law schools are still something along the lines of 3/4 white. Or 100% white in the case of Vandy.

Moving around would be more interesting than that you are Asian unless being Asian is a big part of your identity or gives you something that will give you a different perspective to studying law. They will know you are Asian when you check that box on the application. Plus there is nothing inherently "diverse" about any race. A black kid and a white kid growing up under the same conditions will be very similar. What makes races diverse is that they are often accompanied by different cultural values and life experiences. Granted, law schools want minorities to bump their stat sheets but you don't to write your DS about you race for that.

Write the potential essay and get it critiqued. If the essay works, use it; if not, ditch it. If you want to PM me a draft, feel free. I think it's interesting to mention being born in China and moving around a lot - it is definitely not a normal upbringing and if you can speak about it intelligently, it could help you and I doubt it would hurt.

Thanks for the help everyone!

I'll work on a draft and maybe some good old TLS shredding would help me figure out whether I need a DS.