should I even write a diversity statement? Forum

[kaf5250]

I was advised by the pre-law adviser at my UG that I should write a diversity statement no matter what, I would just have to be creative since I am white and middle class. I decided that if I were to write one I would write about being the first in my family to get their bachelor's degree and how I was largely on my own in college since my parents did not have the background to help me. However, I am worried that admissions is going to read it and think its a stretch since my parent's made pretty good money despite not having college degrees.

What are your thoughts? Is it better to write one so adcomms see that I took every opportunity to write about myself and set myself apart or will it not help/maybe hurt my application?

[twenty]

I was advised by the pre-law adviser at my UG that I should write a diversity statement no matter what,

Sometimes I feel like prelaw advisors are purposefully giving kids bad advice. How does this even make sense?

Yes, it will hurt your application if you write a dumb DS. If you can write a good one, by all means. If you can't, then don't.

[kaf5250]

thats what I thought, I'm not going to write one. anything I say, whether it be true or not, isn't going to sound anywhere near as compelling as people who actually are a URM

[Nova]

I decided that if I were to write one I would write about being the first in my family to get their bachelor's degree and how I was largely on my own in college since my parents did not have the background to help me.

That is a fine DS topic. Being the first person in your family to earn a BA is a great accomplishment. At least one of most law student's parents went to college.

Ima URM, and have read lots of URM DSs.... many "hey Im a URM" statements are really are not that compelling.

A DS gives you another opportunity to show off your writing abilities to the adcoms. I think you should write it, but post it in the PS forum before you submit it to make sure it doesnt suck.

[mommalee]

So in the same vein as the poster above - I am an URM (AA female). But I didn't plan to write a diversity statement. Third generation college student, middle class. I am black and my family is South American, but I mentioned that in my PS. Do you think it would be a mistake not to write something?

[twenty]

There's no real brightline where anyone can say you should or shouldn't write a DS. Obviously you shouldn't write a DS no matter what. If you simply mentioned it in your PS, I might go a step further and write about how that gives you a unique approach to life, a lot of your friends didn't graduate high school, whatever. If you really think you've done all you can, then don't write it -- it will just come off as forced.

In my mind, unless a diversity statement is either extraordinarily good, or extraordinarily bad, it's likely to not have that much effect on your cycle regardless.