Diversity Statement Questions Forum

[BillsFan9907]

We are just contextualizing the role of the diversity statement.

[bjsesq]

Turning to a discussion on AA. Good stuff, I'm intrigued.

We aren't. We are just contextualizing the role of the diversity statement for white peepz.

Hey thanks. That seems interesting. Tell us more.

[IPmaybe]

So the TLS response is no, don't write a diversity statement unless you are one of the "real" underrepresented minorities (and only to legally announce your URM status), because GPA/LSAT+URM status are the only things that matter (along with rare soft like curing the TB). Even in the face of what the former dean of admissions from Penn Law stated in his posts about a holistic approach to admissions, don't worry, they don't care.

What I don't understand is that there are more applicants per LSAT/GPA combination than those admitted, and perhaps that is YP, but it probably is other factors to admissions. Furthermore, there are additional factors in scholarship awards. Therefore, the way I see the answer is "There's no need to write a diversity statement, but as long as you do it tastefully, diversity can at times be considered diversely, and perhaps someone at the admissions office will find it to be an important aspect of your application."

Either way, I wrote a diversity statement as a white middle-class male, so perhaps I'm biased and blind to all of the other salient points being made here. Thankfully, I have the LSAT/GPA so I am inoculated against being denied.

[bjsesq]

So the TLS response is no, don't write a diversity statement unless you are one of the "real" underrepresented minorities (and only to legally announce your URM status), because GPA/LSAT+URM status are the only things that matter (along with rare soft like curing the TB). Even in the face of what the former dean of admissions from Penn Law stated in his posts about a holistic approach to admissions, don't worry, they don't care.

What I don't understand is that there are more applicants per LSAT/GPA combination than those admitted, and perhaps that is YP, but it probably is other factors to admissions. Furthermore, there are additional factors in scholarship awards. Therefore, the way I see the answer is "There's no need to write a diversity statement, but as long as you do it tastefully, diversity can at times be considered diversely, and perhaps someone at the admissions office will find it to be an important aspect of your application."

Either way, I wrote a diversity statement as a white middle-class male, so perhaps I'm biased and blind to all of the other salient points being made here. Thankfully, I have the LSAT/GPA so I am inoculated against being denied.

Well, the scores and your top tier personality.

[patogordo]

i should apologize, i didn't realize a former law school dean said admissions are holistic. i posted without first getting all the information and for that i am deeply sorry.

[BillsFan9907]

So the TLS response is no, don't write a diversity statement unless you are one of the "real" underrepresented minorities (and only to legally announce your URM status), because GPA/LSAT+URM status are the only things that matter (along with rare soft like curing the TB). Even in the face of what the former dean of admissions from Penn Law stated in his posts about a holistic approach to admissions, don't worry, they don't care.

What I don't understand is that there are more applicants per LSAT/GPA combination than those admitted, and perhaps that is YP, but it probably is other factors to admissions. Furthermore, there are additional factors in scholarship awards. Therefore, the way I see the answer is "There's no need to write a diversity statement, but as long as you do it tastefully, diversity can at times be considered diversely, and perhaps someone at the admissions office will find it to be an important aspect of your application."

Either way, I wrote a diversity statement as a white middle-class male, so perhaps I'm biased and blind to all of the other salient points being made here. Thankfully, I have the LSAT/GPA so I am inoculated against being denied.

This right here. I was thinking the same thing.

[IPmaybe]

i should apologize, i didn't realize a former law school dean said admissions are holistic. i posted without first getting all the information and for that i am deeply sorry.

There's no excuse for being so bad at sarcasm. When a former law school dean from a top tier institute says something about how admissions goes, perhaps it's something to listen to (albeit with a grain of salt (or perhaps an entire salt mine)). Consider it in addition to the TLS Mantra of LSAT/GPA/URM. Or don't.

Also, what does Spivey have to say about this? He's a beloved trusted member of the TLS community, so why not ask him?

[patogordo]

attn: mods, this is what happens when you ban the kool-aid man

[mephistopheles]

He's a beloved trusted member of the TLS community, so why not ask him?

is he?

[banjo]

So the TLS response is no, don't write a diversity statement unless you are one of the "real" underrepresented minorities (and only to legally announce your URM status), because GPA/LSAT+URM status are the only things that matter (along with rare soft like curing the TB).

I hope that people don't actually walk away thinking this. Non-URMs like Asians can still write diversity statements, as can LGBT people. Both Asians and LGBT are considered "diverse" for law firm hiring purposes and are eligible for diversity-based SAs, scholarships, and other diversity initiatives. It's in the law school's interest to recruit people who will take advantage of these opportunities when they show up on Symplicity.

Straight white people can also write good diversity statements with the right kind of experience (5 years of NGO work in a developing country, overcoming serious poverty). It's the people on the cusp that probably shouldn't write one.

[sideroxylon]

So the TLS response is no, don't write a diversity statement unless you are one of the "real" underrepresented minorities (and only to legally announce your URM status), because GPA/LSAT+URM status are the only things that matter (along with rare soft like curing the TB). Even in the face of what the former dean of admissions from Penn Law stated in his posts about a holistic approach to admissions, don't worry, they don't care.

What I don't understand is that there are more applicants per LSAT/GPA combination than those admitted, and perhaps that is YP, but it probably is other factors to admissions. Furthermore, there are additional factors in scholarship awards. Therefore, the way I see the answer is "There's no need to write a diversity statement, but as long as you do it tastefully, diversity can at times be considered diversely, and perhaps someone at the admissions office will find it to be an important aspect of your application."

Either way, I wrote a diversity statement as a white middle-class male, so perhaps I'm biased and blind to all of the other salient points being made here. Thankfully, I have the LSAT/GPA so I am inoculated against being denied.

if you are the type of person who shouldn't write a diversity statement who writes one anyway, you'll be the type of person who gets dinged for being a weirdo and will help to explain why everyone with the LSAT/GPA doesn't get in

what you write can hurt you more than help you

learn this lesson or get JMJ'd

[McAvoy]

When a former law school dean from a top tier institute says something about how admissions goes, perhaps it's something to listen to (albeit with a grain of salt (or perhaps an entire salt mine)). Consider it in addition to the TLS Mantra of LSAT/GPA/URM. Or don't.

So the funny thing about "holistic admissions" is that we have all these charts from the past decade that show non-URMs, at every T17 but Berkeley and HYS (which are the same but to a lesser degree), are admitted on straight-line cutoffs. This former dean you're talking about is the guy from Penn right? Don't know how long ago he was there but let's say five years ago, what would he say about this? (All the greens and yellows in the sea of red are URMs FYI)

[TheSpanishMain]

Turning to a discussion on AA. Good stuff, I'm intrigued.

Thread is going places.

[jbagelboy]

lol oh gatesome defended white diversity again? I totally didn't see that coming when I clicked to view the content ITT.

although non-sardonically, banjo makes defensible points

[xRON MEXiCOx]

Question: let's say I'm white but I'm lower-middle class and the first person in my family to go to college. Does that make me diverse?

Seems to me like class has a much greater effect on academic achievement than race, so it's kinda ridiculous that for example Obama's kids would get a URM bonus but the kid from Good Will Hunting would not.

Good will hunting would just get a 180 on the LSAT

[banjo]

although non-sardonically, banjo makes defensible points

haha thanks. Last ditch effort to save this thread

[Winston1984]

I don't want to go to law school after reading this thread.

[LawGirlAtx]

What I don't understand is that if you're so adamant on relaying your struggle of growing up economically disadvantaged in a household with no college graduates why you wouldn't make that your personal statement versus a diversity statement. Take it from someone who is a female URM, with only one parent who graduated high school--- for every "diversity statement" there is from a self-described "middle-class white guy" there are a hundred from minority students describing worse struggles than yours.

I would also add that if you're looking for fairness in a law school application cycle, you may want to consider a different profession. Very few things about the legal profession are "fair."

[bjsesq]

Thank fucking god this thread was resurrected. So many questions left unanswered

[Julius]

I'd write the statement so if you get rejected you'll preserve the right to sue for reverse discrimination. Had a friend who got a big settlement this way.

[AOT]

Law schools already know your race from other parts of your application (unless you choose not to disclose). If they only care about race, there is no need for a diversity statement at all.

check you supreme court cases

Sorry to derail with a serious Q: Does this mean I have to mention my race somewhere other than the box you tick?

[theramblingfool]

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