<p>For one of my schools they ask for a personal history statement. Basically, they ask for you to talk about your non research background (eg family, cultural experiences, financial experiences etc) and how your background can contribute to your field. </p>
<p>Um...I guess I'm not really sure what they are looking for and what you should really say b/c I don't feel like my backgrounds been really that unique/will be able to contribute to the fireld. </p>
<p>btw, I am applying to bio phd programs if that matters.</p>
<p>I got a crazy question like that from Univ of Minnesota. They wanted to know how I would contribute to the diversity of the program. I don't know what they are hoping for? Tattoos? Disfiguring scars? I am not from a racial minority and I can't imagine how that would possibly impact my abilities to enhance the reputation of the school through my research abilities. If we are there to advance our research careers and gain grants for our PI's, then how does our families genetic background play a role in how desirable we are? I can only assume they lifted this crap from their undergrad applications. I sent an email to the department administrator asking if this was actually intended for graduate applicants and she said it was. If this mentality is any indication of the attitudes of the department, it makes me wonder about their goals.</p>
<p>How about contributing to gender, economic, or geographic diversity of the program? I wrote a thing for a statement similar to that about how I'm actively involved in minority and women outreach programs to get them interested in STEM fields (even though I'm your pretty typical middle-class white guy).</p>
<p>Great idea racinreaver, I hadn't even considered suggesting that I provide geographic diversity to a program. I was being facetious and a bit bitter when I suggested that tattoos and disfiguring scars might easily fit their definition of diversity. In reality, I do have a premise for this essay. I contribute professional diversity to the program as I have been working in a lab for seven years including time in industry and academia as well as in multiple fields. </p>
<p>I can't see how economic diversity would be relevant but my wife and I scrape along at relatively low salaries and have for years, though I don't see that as being a selling point on my application.</p>
<p>I wrote about being a cheerleader, and how college cheerleaders are shockingly underrepresented in science PhD programs. (I'm not kidding.)</p>
<p>It was actually sort of memorable -- a few of my interviewers used it as an ice-breaker.</p>
<p>Some suggestions to get you writing:</p>
<p>Talk about your favorite thing that isn't really related to bio! It's about showing that you care.</p>
<p>This ego-inflated generation is thinking that it's "excellent" and "unique" in the face of prospective employers. What makes you "excellent" and "unique"? </p>
<p>But what you don't want to do is play the sympathy card. Rather, if you had a situation, be positive about it.</p>