*Stuff* Forum

[84Sunbird2000]

*Things*

[CoaltoNewCastle]

I earlier wrote a politically charged and (admittedly) meandering PS. I've since entirely rewritten the PS to focus on the wide variety of economic circumstances I was involved in as a child, and how those circumstances led me to seek solace in law.

Okay, that out of the way, I am also transgendered (which I took out of the original PS). I am writing a Diversity statement on my male-to-female transsexuality, but it happens to be the reason for my GPA Addendum. I came out about my gender identity issues at the start of my Freshman year, and between questionable counseling, my ultra-religious fathers' harshness, and the fact that I knew only one person at the school, I nearly broke down. I had a 3.13 GPA as a Freshman, and a 3.97 the last three years of school after I transferred to a school where a few of my best, and most supportive friends were attending.

So, would this make a good combination statement, or do I need to keep them as two documents regardless of their dovetailing?

I wrote a combination diversity-GPA statement/addendum regarding my Tourette Syndrome. It's doable, at least for most schools. You'd think if you had multiple fathers though, they would have been more tolerant.

[dudester]

[84Sunbird2000]

Can you elaborate upon this?

Also, to CoaltoNewCastle - thanks for the comment. I also edited the initial post .

If anyone has any more to say about this, it would be gladly appreciated.

[ec2xs]

I feel it's best suited combined together. Keep in mind most admissions representatives will only spend 5 or 6 minutes on it, so it's probably best to present it in as concise a way as possible. Just my opinion.

And "dudester" is just living up to his handle, I'm afraid.

[WillyTee]

I think that you should keep them apart. Your diversity statement is about what you can add as a student who comes from "different" circumstances than most applicants. Your GPA addendum is about why your GPA is so low. Although both writings revolve around the same topic, a benefit is different from a hindrance. Although both essays deal with a specific issue that you have deal with, the issue has manifested itself in more than one way. I think that each manifestation deserves a separate essay. Whatever caused your GPA to be less than stellar is a part of your history and not your future. That should be noted in your addendum. Whatever you have gained from your experiences should be noted in your diversity statement.

Sidebar: Don't cite going to school with your best friends as something that made you a better student. Focus on intrinsic motivations. That always sounds more marketable.

[84Sunbird2000]

*Yoink*

[MDPSteve]

If the school gives you the option to write a diversity statement and you don't they may not give you credit for your differences. If you have the option I would write two, but keep the GPA short and to the point while expanding on the diversity statement. On the other hand if the school doesn't give you the option to address both I would combine them into one just to get both in.