A question from the application form.

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi, everybody!</p>

<p>Filling the application to Stanford I have faced a strange question in the "Education Background" section: </p>

<p>How would factors such as your background, work and life experiences, special interests, culture, socioeconomic status, race, or ethnicity contribute to the diversity of the entering class, and hence to the experience of your Stanford classmates? Please describe these factors and their relevance. (700 characters maximum)</p>

<p>I think that SOP and CV are answering all the questions which are relevant for me. As for others, I don't know how the fact that I'am white russian from a middle class family will contribute the Stanford's diversity. </p>

<p>So, is it important to answer this one?</p>

2

<p>You are Russian. You contribute diversity in culture, religion, language and background. This question is aimed at you personally. "My specific background will provide unique insights into problem solving in a scientific setting. I will apply a different outlook to scientific questions that hopefully lead to insights that are less obvious than my American born counterparts" Something of this nature. Use examples of how this might be the case. Also, you have a diversity of training experience, many other students might not think to resort to histology to solve questions of molecular dysregulation.</p>

3

<p>I answered that I was a college cheerleader, and that there are shockingly few cheerleaders in science PhD programs. (No, that's really what I answered.)</p>

<p>I don't think answering the question will ever really work against you, and you may as well take the space to say something memorable, if you can.</p>

4

<p>I wrote about how I'm really interested in science education and making science something that everyone can understand. It's not a very common passion you find in science PhDs (in my experience, at least).</p>

5

<p>Within my department (civil engineering), that part is not read.</p>

6

<p>Blah2009, I'm applying to Stanford Civil Engineering. Are you saying they don't even read it?</p>

7

<p>you'll find that stanford civil engineering admissions is pretty disorganized..=). They generally won't read it.</p>

8

<p>Are you there right now? Any suggestions for the application? I'm applying to the Atmosphere/Energy program.</p>

<p>Sorry for the thread hijack :)</p>

9

<p>feel free to PM me. I'm usually more accessible through aim.</p>

10

<p>Thanks for your advices! These were really worthwhile.</p>

11

<p>Oh diversity statements.... one of the biggest hurdles in the application that requires quite bit of creativity... Definitely go with your Russian background. You can try to find some examples and answers in the LiveJournal Applyingtograd community.</p>

12

<p>"I answered that I was a college cheerleader, and that there are shockingly few cheerleaders in science PhD programs. (No, that's really what I answered.)" - Molliebatmit</p>

<p>So, what're you doing this friday? ;)</p>

<p>In all seriousness I just put down something to the effect of me (as international student who studied in Kansas State) having been able to contemplate the America's heartland psyche from the perspective of a foreigner. I'm pretty sure I was the only person from Singapore there within as least a 500 mile radius - and also the only person dumb enough to write pro-evolution articles in the college newspaper during the evolution-creationism fiasco.</p>

13

<p>Do they actually take these diversity statements into consideration if you are applying as an international? Only one of the schools I am applying to offers the option to write one and I don't know if it's worth my time bullcr@pping, which this seems like. Any thoughts?</p>