Diversity Statement as Personal Statement?
Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2017 9:08 pm
Hi everyone,
I am having trouble deciding whether I should send my diversity statement as my PS, or whether to send both essays. My background coming from an immigrant family is why I want to become an immigration lawyer, so its hard for me to talk about why I want to be a lawyer without mentioning diversity.
As it currently stands, my diversity statement discusses the obstacles I faced growing up due to my immigrant background, how I turned that into a positive when establishing a new student org for interaction between american and international students and taught ESL to immigrants, my current work in an immigration law firm, and ending with why I want to be an immigration lawyer.
My personal statement talks solely about establishing the new student org and growing in a leadership role. Basically, I tried highlighting a specific situation where I could demonstrate my work ethic and ability to grow. However it's definitely not a complete picture of who I am and doesn't really answer why I want to study law.
I can think of other topics to write about in my PS, but none of them answer why I want to be an immigration lawyer as much as my diversity essay would. While my work experience would be great, I just started so I can't say much.
Another idea would be to cut my diversity essay in half. I could talk about my childhood, growing up etc in my diversity essay, and talk more about my recent accomplishments and work experience in my PS. But I am worried that would make each essay weaker.
I have read posts that say to send just one essay if there is so much overlap. That makes sense to me, except I am worried about schools like NYU that say, "if you are part of an underrepresented group, check the box below and write a diversity statement". By not checking that box I'm afraid of putting myself in a disadvantage.
Any advice is greatly appreciated. Please let me know if anything I wrote was unclear.
Thank you!!
I am having trouble deciding whether I should send my diversity statement as my PS, or whether to send both essays. My background coming from an immigrant family is why I want to become an immigration lawyer, so its hard for me to talk about why I want to be a lawyer without mentioning diversity.
As it currently stands, my diversity statement discusses the obstacles I faced growing up due to my immigrant background, how I turned that into a positive when establishing a new student org for interaction between american and international students and taught ESL to immigrants, my current work in an immigration law firm, and ending with why I want to be an immigration lawyer.
My personal statement talks solely about establishing the new student org and growing in a leadership role. Basically, I tried highlighting a specific situation where I could demonstrate my work ethic and ability to grow. However it's definitely not a complete picture of who I am and doesn't really answer why I want to study law.
I can think of other topics to write about in my PS, but none of them answer why I want to be an immigration lawyer as much as my diversity essay would. While my work experience would be great, I just started so I can't say much.
Another idea would be to cut my diversity essay in half. I could talk about my childhood, growing up etc in my diversity essay, and talk more about my recent accomplishments and work experience in my PS. But I am worried that would make each essay weaker.
I have read posts that say to send just one essay if there is so much overlap. That makes sense to me, except I am worried about schools like NYU that say, "if you are part of an underrepresented group, check the box below and write a diversity statement". By not checking that box I'm afraid of putting myself in a disadvantage.
Any advice is greatly appreciated. Please let me know if anything I wrote was unclear.
Thank you!!