Personal Statement or Diversity Statement? Forum

[dontrogerthat]

I want to write about discovering the Puerto Rican side of my heritage. The essay would be about how for the first 17-18 years of my life I knew nothing about that side of my family until i flew to Puerto Rico after a disaster to help rebuild my families home where I learned all about my heritage, family, and PR in general (or even a good topic at all). Do you think this would be better for a diversity statement or a PS? Any suggestions are appreciated!

[Scalvert]

JMO, but I think if you used it as a DS, then you'd have an opportunity to write something else for the PS, giving AdComms double the opportunity to learn about you.

[dontrogerthat]

JMO, but I think if you used it as a DS, then you'd have an opportunity to write something else for the PS, giving AdComms double the opportunity to learn about you.

That's a good point!

[rnoodles]

JMO, but I think if you used it as a DS, then you'd have an opportunity to write something else for the PS, giving AdComms double the opportunity to learn about you.

That's a good point!

Just make sure you tie it back to how the school's diversity can be helped, or to the diversity prompt (if there is one). It would come off pretty poorly if adcomms got the impression that you used their DS as an opportunity to throw them what could very well be just another PS in addition to whatever one you submitted.

[debdeb2]

The PR topic sounds like rich fodder for either a PS or DS. For a PS, I would recommend focusing on the rebuilding portion of the narrative. It's a good opportunity to show yourself in action.

It's ok to have an implied argument in an admissions essay, as opposed to an explicit argument. Most arguments will be contextual and implied through narrative. For example, an essay that clearly leads the reader to understand why you would be interested in law school probably doesn't need to explicitly state to the reader, "why law." That could end an otherwise elegant essay on a clunky, redundant note. Some schools emphasize that they are looking for vested interest, i.e. they want you to show that you've thought about fit, but some of the schools - T14 in particular - are looking for the best writers, thinkers and do-ers. It's enough to write a beautiful essay and have outstanding numbers - they don't need the tonal equivalent of "what I did over summer vacation" tacked on the end of your essays. If you weave the idea gently into the body of the essay, it just isn't necessary.

Similarly, if your background is unusual in the context of the publicly posted demographics of the law school you are applying to, you don't need to state a version of "I'm Puerto Rican and I can see from your stats that you have none of those, so you're in luck today!" It's enough to tell a good story which emphasizes your own awareness of what you already bring to the table, and how you differ within the context of your greater community. The adcomms are clever readers and will understand that you bring a different perspective to their cohort.

Diversity statements are tricky in that regard - the essay prompt can make it seem like you need to promise to show up and found an activity group or institute a parade or a specialized law review or something. You don't. The point of having a diverse cohort is a more subtle thing - it communicates to future applicants that the campus is inclusive; it allows the school to reach a broader audience and have a greater impact; and it allows your cohort members to have a richer law school experience, because it's not the 1940s anymore, and law school classes are not the homogenous pool o' dude they once were.

The point is, you don't need to beat anyone over the head with a thesis statement in either your PS or your DS. BUT, you should have a harmonizing point in your mind as your write, and it should be threaded throughout your essays. The argument mostly likely can be boiled down to an essence:

1) I am a great/good/kind/ambitious/awesome/mad interesting/likeable human being, and you should want me around;
2) I am a great writer/thinker/philosopher, and I hope I am impressing you with my analysis/reflection/wit;
3) I am both a good/great person and a great/witty/astute writer and observer of the human condition.

#3 is the jackpot, but I haven't seen too many essays hit that particular threshold. Most applicants settle into #1 and handle it well, ex: "Here is a story about me helping grandma/founding a non-profit/saving a drowning kid/hustling to start a business/committing 110% to a bold activity" that serves as a proxy for my character. The implication is that my character is sound, and that I seem like someone you'd want to have a beer with (in political parlance). Best of luck -