Ten Tips for Writing a Powerful Diversity Essay

10 Questions About Diversity Essays

A diverse group of students engaging in a lively discussion in a college setting, representing various ethnicities, genders, and backgrounds, highlighting their unique identities and perspectives. — Schools care a lot about diversity, so give real care to your Diversity Statement!

Perhaps no part of college or graduate school applications confuses people more than the diversity statement. Since we began helping applicants in 2008, Gurufi has helped hundreds of candidates craft compelling diversity statements, but so many times our consultations begin with them asking, “what am I even supposed to write here!?!?” This is especially true of international applicants applying to American schools, where discussions of diversity are more important.

In short, diversity statements offer a platform for applicants to highlight their unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, demonstrating how they can contribute to a diverse and inclusive academic environment. Schools have repeatedly professed a desire in the educational benefits of diverse classes, so they use these statements to help build incoming cohorts that reflect a range of experiences, backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, and beliefs. Given this, how should you approach writing a powerful, honest, and effective diversity statement? In this blog post, we address ten common questions about diversity essays, providing insights and tips to help you craft a compelling and effective essay.

1. What is the purpose of a diversity essay?

The purpose of a diversity essay is to provide admissions committees with a deeper understanding of your unique background and experiences, and how these have shaped your perspectives and contributions. It allows you to showcase your ability to contribute to the diversity of the academic community and how your unique experiences have prepared you to succeed in a diverse environment. This essay helps the committee understand the value you bring to the institution beyond your academic achievements.

These essays emerged out of a changing American legal landscape where affirmative action (the country’s decades-old system of bringing greater racial and ethnic diversity to various educational and professional positions) was challenged and limited in certain ways. In short, schools can no longer ask applicants for their race for purposes of admission, BUT they may take a broader view of background as expressed through personal statements and diversity statements. Thus, to put a crass outcome-focused spin on it: if you’re from a background that’s traditionally underrepresented, here is a good place to explain that so that you can be identified as an applicant who, while otherwise qualified and prepared, would also add to the school’s diversity.

2. How can I effectively showcase my unique background in a diversity essay?

To effectively showcase your unique background, focus on specific experiences that highlight your identity, culture, and personal journey. You can’t just say, “I’m Black” or “I’m gay.” You have do the additional work of providing a narrative or story that makes clear how this demographic reality has shaped your experience, worldview, or aspirations. Discuss challenges you have faced and overcome, and how these experiences have transformed you or altered your trajectory. Be honest and authentic in your storytelling, and provide concrete examples that illustrate your unique perspective and contributions. Reflect on how your background has influenced your academic and professional goals and how you plan to leverage these experiences in your future endeavors.

3. What are some common topics for diversity essays?

Common topics for diversity essays include:
1. **Cultural Background:** Discuss your cultural heritage, traditions, and how they have influenced your identity.
2. **Challenges and Overcoming Adversity:** Describe significant obstacles you have faced and how you overcame them.
3. **Unique Experiences:** Highlight experiences that are unique to your background, such as growing up in a diverse community or being a first-generation college student.
4. **Community Involvement:** Share your involvement in community service or advocacy efforts that reflect your commitment to diversity and inclusion.
5. **Personal Growth:** Reflect on moments of personal growth that have shaped your values and perspective on diversity.

If you’re not from an underrepresented background and write an essay like this, then you have one of two choices. First, you can take a more expansive view of diversity that might include diversity of opinion, professional experience, or other aspects of your background. Second, (and far more complicated!!) you could acknowledge that you don’t come from such a background, but talk in substantive ways about how you have and will contribute to supporting diverse populations.

4. How can I connect my personal experiences to my academic goals in a diversity essay?

Connecting your personal experiences to your academic goals involves reflecting on how your background has influenced your academic interests and career aspirations. Discuss specific experiences that sparked your passion for your chosen field and how they have prepared you for academic success. Explain how your unique perspective will contribute to the academic community and how the program you are applying to will help you achieve your goals. Highlight any relevant skills, insights, or perspectives gained from your experiences that are applicable to your academic and professional aspirations.

I often ask clients to “tell me your origin story,” as though they’re a superhero who has to explain why they’ve elected to pursue this path. Thinking of background this way can provide ideas for a unique diversity statement.

5. What mistakes should I avoid in a diversity essay?

Common mistakes to avoid in a diversity essay include:
1. **Being Vague:** Avoid broad generalizations and provide specific examples and detailed descriptions. The best way to avoid this pitfall is through thoughtfully selected stories.
2. **Overemphasis on Hardships:** While discussing challenges is important, balance this with reflections on growth, resilience, and positive outcomes. Whatever challenge you’ve faced, the most important part of that story is your response to it.
3. **Ignoring the Prompt:** Ensure your essay addresses the specific question or prompt provided by the application.
4. **Neglecting to Proofread:** Spelling and grammatical errors can detract from your professionalism. Proofread your essay multiple times and consider having others review it.
5. **Lack of Authenticity:** Be genuine and honest in your writing, avoiding exaggerated or fabricated experiences. This is a real problem because often people don’t know what to write so they simply regurgitate what they expect their audience wants to hear.

6. How can I make my diversity essay stand out?

To make your diversity essay stand out, focus on authenticity, clarity, and compelling storytelling. Here are some tips:
1. **Be Yourself:** Let your unique voice and personality shine through your writing.
2. **Tell a Story:** Use a narrative structure to make your essay more engaging. Share specific anecdotes that highlight your key qualities and experiences.
3. **Show, Don’t Just Tell:** Use concrete examples to illustrate your points rather than making broad statements.
4. **Connect the Dots:** Clearly link your past experiences, present motivations, and future goals.
5. **Tailor to Each School:** Customize your essay for each program, highlighting why you are a great fit for their specific offerings.

7. How should I structure my diversity essay?

As with any essay, there is no set way that you MUST structure it. Rather, there are easier and harder ways, and ways that are better or worse suited for the kinds of things you want to emphasize. If that was a frustratingly vague answer, here is a sample(and only one; yours doesn’t have to be this way!) format you can use for your essay:

**Introduction:** Start with a compelling story that captures the reader’s attention and introduces the main theme of your essay. Don’t try to write a hook. Those come across as gimmicky and forced.
2. **Body:** Divide the body into several paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect of your background, experiences, and goals. Use this section to provide detailed examples and reflections.
3. **Conclusion:** Summarize the key points of your essay and reiterate how your unique experiences will contribute to the academic community. End with a strong closing statement that leaves a lasting impression. A good tip is to return to your introduction and look at the ideas, words, phrases, and images you used. Select some to sprinkle throughout your conclusion. This will give the essay a sense of completeness, of coming full circle… as opposed to just stopping.

8. How can I highlight my contributions to diversity in a diversity essay?

Highlighting your contributions to diversity involves discussing specific actions you have taken to promote diversity and inclusion. Share examples of your involvement in diversity-related initiatives, advocacy efforts, or community service projects. Explain the impact of these activities and how they reflect your commitment to fostering an inclusive environment. Reflect on what you have learned from these experiences and how they have prepared you to contribute to the diversity of the academic community you are applying to.

9. What role does storytelling play in a diversity essay?

Storytelling plays a crucial role in a diversity essay as it makes your experiences and insights more relatable and engaging. Using a narrative approach allows you to illustrate your points with vivid, concrete examples that capture the reader’s interest. Stories help to humanize your essay, making it easier for the admissions committee to connect with you on a personal level. Effective storytelling involves setting the scene, describing the challenge or experience, and reflecting on the outcome and lessons learned.

10. How do I conclude a diversity essay effectively?

Concluding a diversity essay effectively involves reinforcing the key themes of your essay and leaving a lasting impression. Here’s how to craft a strong conclusion:
1. **Summarize Key Points:** Briefly recap the main themes of your essay without repeating them verbatim.
2. **Restate Your Contributions:** Reiterate how your unique background and experiences will contribute to the academic community.
3. **End on a Strong Note:** Use a powerful closing statement or call to action that underscores your enthusiasm and readiness to contribute to a diverse and inclusive environment.

Writing a compelling diversity essay requires thoughtful reflection and a clear presentation of your unique experiences and contributions. By addressing these common questions and incorporating the advice provided, you can craft an essay that authentically represents your background and demonstrates your commitment to diversity and inclusion. Remember to be genuine, specific, and reflective in your writing, and you will create a compelling narrative that resonates with admissions committees.

For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top Masters and Ph.D. programs in STEM, humanities, fine arts, and social sciences. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Mistakes to Avoid on Your AMCAS Work & Activities Section

Applicant preparing their Work &Activities section for their AMCAS medical school application — Be thoughtful about your Work & Activities section!

Every year, our editors at Gurufi help scores of candidates earn admission to their dream medical school. In the fifteen years I have been helping applicants, I have noticed that far too many applicants don’t put enough time or thought into their Work & Activities sections.

Crafting the Work & Activities (W&A) section of your AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service) application is a crucial task that requires careful thought and precision. Unfortunately, while many people spend weeks or ever months fine-tuning their personal statement, they treat this vital section almost as an afterthought. The W&A section allows you to showcase your experiences, learning, and growth in a succinct yet comprehensive manner and provides the reader with a clear overview of your overall strengths as a candidate. Here are some essential tips to help you make the most of this opportunity.

Focus on Your Actions, Learning, and Growth

When describing your experiences, it’s important to clearly articulate what you did, what you learned, and how you grew from each activity. Admissions committees are looking for evidence of your dedication, skills, and personal development. Applicants will sometimes get this wrong by spending too much time describing what the organization does or talking too much about things that don’t relate directly to their roles or tasks.

What You Did: Describe your specific responsibilities and actions. For instance, if you volunteered at a clinic, detail the tasks you handled, such as assisting with patient intake or organizing health education workshops.

What You Learned: Reflect on the skills and knowledge you gained. Did you develop better communication skills, learn about healthcare disparities, or gain insight into patient care?

How You Grew: Explain how these experiences influenced your personal and professional growth. Did they strengthen your commitment to medicine, enhance your empathy, or inspire you to pursue a particular medical specialty? If you struggle to nail this down, think about who you were before you started and who you were afterward. How are these different people?

Highlight Promotions and Expanded Responsibilities
If you received promotions or were given additional responsibilities, make sure to mention these. They demonstrate your competence, reliability, and the trust others have placed in you. For example, if you started as a volunteer and later became a team leader, highlight this progression to show your leadership and ability to take on more significant roles.

Avoid Jargon
Medical and scientific jargon can be confusing and may not convey your experiences effectively. Moreover, individual organizations often use idiosyncratic title names or other descriptors that don’t mean anything to people outside the organization. Use clear and straightforward language to ensure your descriptions are easily understood by all readers. Instead of using technical terms, explain your activities in a way that highlights your contributions and impact and think about how you might describe what you did to a loved one who isn’t in the medical world.

Choose Strong Verbs
The verbs you use can significantly influence how your actions are perceived. Strong, active verbs convey confidence and decisiveness. For example, instead of saying you “helped with patient care,” say you “provided patient care” or “coordinated patient services.” This subtle change makes your role sound more impactful and direct.

Be Succinct but Complete
You have only 700 characters for each entry, so brevity is essential. However, being succinct doesn’t mean using incomplete sentences or resorting to “CV speak.” Write in complete sentences to ensure clarity and coherence. Focus on the most critical aspects of each experience and eliminate any unnecessary details.

Plan Your “Most Significant” Experiences Thoughtfully
Deciding which experiences to designate as “most significant” should be done in conjunction with planning your personal statement. Because you get an extra 1325 characters, you can obviously cover a lot more ground, which is a huge benefit. Taking a strategic approach ensures you provide comprehensive coverage of your strengths and avoid redundancy. Your personal statement will delve deeply into your motivations and key experiences, while the Work & Activities section can highlight a broader range of accomplishments.

Review Last Year’s Secondary Essays

Looking at the secondary essay prompts from the schools you’re applying to can provide valuable insights. Most schools reuse essay topics for multiple years before changing, so understanding what they’ve asked in the past can help you align your “most significant” selections with potential secondary essay themes. This foresight can save you time and ensure your application remains focused and relevant.

Emphasize Breadth in Your Work & Activities
While your personal statement focuses on the depth of your decision to pursue medicine, the Work & Activities section should emphasize breadth. This is your chance to demonstrate the variety of your experiences and how they collectively prepare you for a career in medicine. Highlight diverse activities such as clinical work, research, volunteering, leadership roles, and extracurricular pursuits to present a well-rounded picture of your qualifications.

Apply the Same Care as Your Personal Statement
The Work & Activities section is just as important as your personal statement, so it deserves the same level of care and attention. Meticulously proofread your entries, ensuring they are free of errors and clearly communicate your achievements. A well-crafted Work & Activities section can significantly enhance your application and leave a lasting impression on admissions committees.

Example Entry
Here is an example of how to succinctly and effectively describe an experience:

Volunteer at Community Health Clinic (June 2020 – Present): Coordinated patient intake, assisted with health screenings, and organized educational workshops on nutrition and wellness. Developed strong communication skills and a deep understanding of healthcare disparities. Promoted to team leader, overseeing a group of 10 volunteers and managing clinic operations during weekend shifts.

This entry clearly outlines the responsibilities, learning outcomes, and growth experienced, all within the character limit. Note that the above provides a 388-character breakdown of the job. From there, you could add another 312 characters where you could briefly mention something like the most important task you accomplished, how this informs your thoughts on medical school, where this fits within your journey to medicine, or where you hope to go from here.

Conclusion

Writing the Work & Activities section of your AMCAS application requires careful planning and thoughtful execution. By focusing on your actions, learning, and growth, using clear language and strong verbs, and strategically selecting your most significant experiences, you can create a compelling and comprehensive account of your qualifications. Remember, this section is a vital component of your application, so give it the attention it deserves to ensure you stand out in the competitive field of medical school admissions.

Our editors at Gurufi have years of experience helping people put together their W&A sections. You can check us out here if you need help revising them, including making them fit within the tight character caps!