Medicine, not unlike other professions, does not reflect the country’s diversity. Only 6 percent of practicing physicians are African-American, Hispanic or Native American, even though these races comprise 25 percent of United States citizens. Health care aspires to be unbiased; however, the abundance of evidence belies that there are racial disparities in health outcomes due to access to care and unconscious bias.
Medical school admissions’ committees are charged with the lofty job of seating a diverse class that represents the best of their applicant pool and furthers the institution’s purpose. Diversity can be defined in many ways, including race, ethnicity, gender, languages spoken and socioeconomics, as well as geographic and educational background.
Secondary applications contain a variety of essay questions. Medical schools that have implemented a holistic review of applicants align the schools’ mission with selection criteria that may include a diversity statement as a part of the secondary application. This requires one or more essays , each of 250-1 ,000 words — or characters, in some cases .
[Discover how to shine on secondary medical school application essays.]
A diversity statement is a golden opportunity — and safe space — to showcase your best qualities and uniqueness. The essence of a diversity statement is to show how you are different. What core values did you gain from the community in which you were raised?
Highlight the power of being first-generation American, a new immigrant, a second language learner, African-American, Hispanic or Native American. Shine a light on your experience and how it’s shaped who you are and why you want to be a physician.
[Learn how to highlight diversity in medical school applications.]
Location impacts access to education, health outcomes and economics. Where you come from shapes what type of physician you become — specialty, practice type and location. For example, rural upbringings garner a diversity of traditions that add value to institutions of higher learning and the profession of medicine.
Experiences in churches, mosques, synagogues, religious schools and community centers help to shape your essence and form the perspectives that you will contribute to conversations with classmates and interactions with faculty and patients.
Prior to composing an answer, familiarize yourself with each school’s mission and have this at the forefront of your mind when crafting each essay. Read the secondary questions carefully to ensure you are answering the stated question, not the question you wish or perceive it to be.
[Read about six medical school personal statement do’s and don’ts.]
If you don’t have a compelling answer and the question is optional, then do not answer it. An inauthentic or fabricated answer will not assist you in gaining acceptance.
Seek to inform and encourage understanding. Avoid inflammatory terms that may offend the reader. Have a trusted adviser read your essay for content and clarity, especially if you are concerned the subject may be taken out of context.
The intersection of diversity and health can be messy, yet is integral to who we are and must be addressed to resolve racial health disparities and root out unconscious bias. When writing a diversity statement, be authentic, keep the school’s mission in mind and highlight the best of you.
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Use a Medical School Diversity Statement to Shine originally appeared on usnews.com
