Diversity Statement Ideas Forum

[NCtoDC]

So, I've combed through the forums looking at previous posts regarding optional diversity statements and I just want to see if I get the gist of whether a person should write it or not. If I have median to less than median numbers I should definitely do it---assuming I have something worth writing about--correct?

Do either of these sound like something worth writing about? Growing up on a fruit farm

OR

I have had many jobs (nothing truly professional...hotel clerk, assisting special needs kids, seasonal park ranger, shift manager at a grocery store) so I could write about the real world perspective I would bring (I am slightly older..27 than the average applicant).

[Marionberry]

To piggyback:

I attended a Lil' John concert when I was a senior in high school. It would end up significantly shaping my future experiences and worldview. Would this be worthy of a diversity statement?

[Marionberry]

So, I've combed through the forums looking at previous posts regarding optional diversity statements and I just want to see if I get the gist of whether a person should write it or not. If I have median to less than median numbers I should definitely do it---assuming I have something worth writing about--correct?

Do either of these sound like something worth writing about? Growing up on a fruit farm

OR

I have had many jobs (nothing truly professional...hotel clerk, assisting special needs kids, seasonal park ranger, shift manager at a grocery store) so I could write about the real world perspective I would bring (I am slightly older..27 than the average applicant).

In all seriousness, though, I don't think either of these are what schools are typically looking for when they talk about diversity statements. Growing up on a fruit farm probably had it's interesting moments, but it's not influential enough to really make a profound impact on who you are, I don't think. I may be wrong. Same thing with being a non-trad (kind of) with varied work experience. Writing a diversity statement about either of these topics would be unlikely to help your application, and would possibly mildly irritate adcomms who after reading thousands of applications probably prefer not to read superfluous documents.

As always, I may be wrong. I would see what other people think, but it's for these same reasons that I decided I was not diverse enough to warrant a statement about it.

[maroonzoon]

On every single law school's website, they say diversity is not limited to socioeconomics/race/whatever. Diversity is what makes you different, and if you think it's significant and differentiates you, write about it.