Two questions: a) do you lose the URM boost if you don't write a diversity statement?
b) I'm half-white, half-mexican; is it unwise to take the "i've been treated as an outsider by both ethnic groups and yet I have a great deal of insight into both identities because of my ethnic blend" or go with the traditional "as a mexican american i have experienced/witnessed/suffered etc..."?
URM and Diversity Statements Forum
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Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned."
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MartianManhunter
- Posts: 125
- Joined: Sat Mar 28, 2009 10:59 pm
Re: URM and Diversity Statements
a) Why risk it?
b) Write whichever makes a more compelling and better written story.
Edit: Qualifying b to reflect others advice, it's assumed that the more compelling and better written story is one that reflects your actual experiences and isn't some boring cookie-cutter story.
b) Write whichever makes a more compelling and better written story.
Edit: Qualifying b to reflect others advice, it's assumed that the more compelling and better written story is one that reflects your actual experiences and isn't some boring cookie-cutter story.
Last edited by MartianManhunter on Mon Jun 28, 2010 5:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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vanwinkle
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Re: URM and Diversity Statements
1) Please don't bump after just 15 minutes. It's rude. Give people time to read and answer. Sometimes that takes a day or two.
2) You're better off writing a DS than not.
3) It's unwise to write anything other than the truth. Write whatever happened to you. If you feel the statement about being a double outsider (something I can empathize with) is more honest about who you are and what you've experienced, write that. Write what actually happened to you, what your actual experiences are.
Trying to fill some cookie cutter mold will either not impress them, or worse, make it look like you're trying to be something you're not. Don't make that mistake.
2) You're better off writing a DS than not.
3) It's unwise to write anything other than the truth. Write whatever happened to you. If you feel the statement about being a double outsider (something I can empathize with) is more honest about who you are and what you've experienced, write that. Write what actually happened to you, what your actual experiences are.
Trying to fill some cookie cutter mold will either not impress them, or worse, make it look like you're trying to be something you're not. Don't make that mistake.
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hiromoto45
- Posts: 690
- Joined: Sun Sep 27, 2009 2:05 pm
Re: URM and Diversity Statements
I'd be more interested in this than a feel bad for me I'm a minority statement. I don't understand why people think that since they are a minority they must emphasize adversity or sufferingPrincetonLaw wrote:Two questions: a) do you lose the URM boost if you don't write a diversity statement?
b) I'm half-white, half-mexican; is it unwise to take the "i've been treated as an outsider by both ethnic groups and yet I have a great deal of insight into both identities because of my ethnic blend" or go with the traditional "as a mexican american i have experienced/witnessed/suffered etc..."?
How is this interesting for an adcom to read? I would be bored after the 5th one of these. URM status doesn't have to equate to hardship.-
LAWLAW09
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2008 12:09 am
Re: URM and Diversity Statements
Boring doesn't equate to not being helpful to one's application and interesting does not equate to being helpful to one's application.
Your statement must serve a function. How does it tie into the story that the rest of your application is telling? Every aspect of your application is a piece in a puzzle and you must creatively arrange those pieces -- personal statement, diversity statement, recommendations, resume, etc -- so that each creates a different "wow" and a different impression. Your goal is to make your gpa and lsat appear to be the least impressive factors in your application.
Don't just claim diversity, paint a picture of how it has impacted who you are and why those experiences even matter.
Coming off as interesting is one thing, but coming off as an applicant that brings with them valuable and useful experiences that will strengthen their law class and the pool of ambassadors that will one day represent their institution, is a completely different thing.
Good luck.
Your statement must serve a function. How does it tie into the story that the rest of your application is telling? Every aspect of your application is a piece in a puzzle and you must creatively arrange those pieces -- personal statement, diversity statement, recommendations, resume, etc -- so that each creates a different "wow" and a different impression. Your goal is to make your gpa and lsat appear to be the least impressive factors in your application.
Don't just claim diversity, paint a picture of how it has impacted who you are and why those experiences even matter.
Coming off as interesting is one thing, but coming off as an applicant that brings with them valuable and useful experiences that will strengthen their law class and the pool of ambassadors that will one day represent their institution, is a completely different thing.
Good luck.
