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On the U. Washington app they ask "Please list any diversity characteristics that you would like to provide".

Are they asking about linguistic abilities and the like? I assume this is different from the ethnicity question which they ask separately?

Yeah, diversity is generally "what makes you unique."

To some people that's race, others is a disability, others is being a Buddist...

If you're someone like me (White, Christian, Anglo-Saxon, Male), these kinds of questions are meant to make you feel bad for being in the "majority." If this is the case, I've found it useful (and maybe your only option) to list experiences. Example: visiting another country, growing up in a very ethnically diverse neighborhood, a time when you were in a situation where you had to Resolve Conflict with some underlying diversity-related prejudice between the parties, etc etc. Even telling that your family has strong roots in whatever culture - German tradition - and talk about some German traditions you celebrate. If hardcore enough, that can help.

Diverse means diverse. If you were a sushi chef, that's diverse. Anything that makes you a unique contributor/gives you a unique perspective for law school discussions. Obviously, you have to explain how being a sushi chef broadened your horizons, exposed you to new people and places etc. If you can talk about how your linguistic abilities have done the same, that would work.

Most people list race-related experiences.

Rocketman11 wrote:If you're someone like me (White, Christian, Anglo-Saxon, Male), these kinds of questions are meant to make you feel bad for being in the "majority."

Clearly.

That's usually where I talk about my ability to move objects with my mind.

Rocketman11 wrote: If you're someone like me (White, Christian, Anglo-Saxon, Male), these kinds of questions are meant to make you feel bad for being in the "majority."

Really? Because I'm pretty sure that they're used to give applicants an opportunity to provide as much information about themselves as possible to assist adcomms in making their decision.

I mean, you can be a White, Christian, Anglo-Saxon Male who grew up one of four adopted siblings in a missionary family and spent his childhood living in Africa and Thailand. Or a White, Christian, Anglo-Saxon Male who grew up in the suburbs and hasn't travelled much but maintains a widely read political weblog.

If you're into BDSM would that be something to list?

SoftBoiledLife wrote:If you're into BDSM would that be something to list?

Depends on the law school.

at Teaadntoast University, it is encouraged

Rocketman11 wrote:at Teaadntoast University, it is encouraged

Teaadntoast University does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sexual orientation or proclivities.

Not havign a sense of humor, however, will negatively affect your cycle as we consider it to be a key factor in assessing applications.

teaadntoast wrote:

SoftBoiledLife wrote:If you're into BDSM would that be something to list?

Depends on the law school.

I feel like that might be a mistake at USC and UCLA but that it could push me over the edge at Berkeley and get me a full ride at UC Hastings.

Rocketman11 wrote: If you're someone like me (White, Christian, Anglo-Saxon, Male), these kinds of questions are meant to make you feel bad for being in the "majority."

Are you serious?