<p>
[quote]
"We know that diversity makes us a better university -- better for learning, for teaching, and for conducting research."
(U-M President Mary Sue Coleman)</p>
<p>Share an experience through which you have gained respect for intellectual, social, or cultural differences. Comment on how your personal experiences and achievements would contribute to the diversity of the University of Michigan.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I haven't had such an experience, and I definitely don't want to lie. What in the world am I supposed to do?</p>
<p>They are referring to 'diversity' in the broad sense, not just racial interactions. So, have you ever traveled to another country or even another part of the US where the social customs are different? Have you had conversations where someone has presented an intellectual point of view that you hadn't previously considered? Have you experienced cultural differences via a friend, travel, film, book, etc.?</p>
<p>I don't think it's so much that you haven't had such an experience, but rather that you haven't quite gotten your mind around the question that they are asking. They just want to see that you can recognize the value of diverse intellectual, social and cultural points of view, and ask you to do so by describing a personal experience. It doesn't have to be earth shattering, but should show that you recognize and value people and ideas that aren't just like you and yours.</p>
<p>Well, no, it's not just a matter of experiencing something different, which I've done. The question referred to differences I have "gained respect for." It's stupid to respect something just because it's different, because that's a hollow reason. Eating plastic is different than eating an apple, but few would want to eat plastic. Additionally, a school with scientologists, neo-nazis and stalinists would consist of "diverse" points of view, but none I respect.</p>
<p>Given that remark you probably think I'm ungrateful for your reply, but surely you know it's not feasible to thank every person for every reply they receive. In any case, it still didn't resolve my concern.</p>
<p>I suppose you could write an essay about how respecting something just because it is different is hollow (and I think that is an interesting slant). Then you could go on to talk about the second half of the prompt, or how you have gained respect for some person or idea similar to your own.</p>
<p>You might want to ask yourself a couple of questions as you ponder this prompt:
Why is it that you cannot think of an instance where you have come to respect something/someone/some idea different from your own? If you do some introspection on this, it might lead to a very interesting essay in itself.
How is it that you can manage to come off so ungratefully and disrepectfully to a poster who took the time to try and "resolve your concern?" Even if you feel her response did not resolve it.
Will you come across similarly in your essays and overall application? If you do, that will be a problem.</p>
<p>UM considers diversity to be part of its mission. You most certainly do not have to agree with this point of view, but if you do not ... then you may want to carefully consider whether or not UM is the school for you. Profs are apt to reflect the overall mission of a school (after all, they don't just land in the classroom; they are hired by the university).</p>
Why is it that you cannot think of an instance where you have come to respect something/someone/some idea different from your own?
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<p>I have definitely respected something/someone/some idea different from my own. The essay prompt, however, demands that I respect something just for the sake of being different, which I never have done because to me it's just as unreasonable as respecting something for being the same.</p>
<p>
[quote]
How is it that you can manage to come off so ungratefully and disrepectfully to a poster who took the time to try and "resolve your concern?" Even if you feel her response did not resolve it.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm not sure. What attitudes are considered respectful, polite, or grateful is mainly subjective; to be honest, I didn't think I was being disrespectful, impolite, or ungrateful. There could be a number of reasons.</p>
<p>edit: Oh well. I'm going to do what you said and write about how I think it's hollow. If I'm rejected, at least I was honest. That's more important to me.</p>
<p>While it may not be feasible to thank everyone who tries to help you, you definitely seem to find time to insult everyone that does.</p>
<p>I've been on CC for several years and I must say that you have been able to make the biggest mountain out of a molehill that I have ever seen. I'm afraid your so called ethics are a lousy cover for your poor logic and reasoning. Truth is, you just don't get it, and I'm not talking about the essay.</p>
<p>OK? I didn't intend to insult you, and I didn't think I was making a big deal out of it at all. I don't know how you can conclude so much about me without making assumptions based on faith and gut feeling.</p>
<p>itsover - entomom has hit the nail on the head. You claim that you can't possibly thank everyone who helps you, but you MAKE THE TIME to issue retorts and show ungratefulness.</p>
<p>BTW, the prompt does not "DEMAND" anything. Nor does it ask you to respect something simply because it is different.</p>
<p>Finally, it is certainly true that what comes off as disrespectful and ungrateful is in the eye of the beholder. So... take a look at the beholders on this thread and see how you came across to them. Because they are a lot like the beholders who will be evaluating applications at whatever schools you are considering.</p>
<p>Er... I seriously don't see what's wrong with what I posted at all. I definitely didn't make the time to "show ungratefulness", nor did I use any ad hominem attacks. How am I issuing retorts? By using quote tags?</p>
<p>Entomom & Andale have given you some suggestions on how to look at the question from different points of view. Your responses have shown a reluctance to move outside your preconceived notion of diversity. If you truly think that you have never learned anything of value from your experiences with diversity, then you will have a very hard time convincing a school like UM that you belong in their student body. Yes, you could "lie" about how some experience has changed you. Or ... you could think about what the term "diversity" really means (think outside the box) ... consider how something that you read, saw, felt, heard about, etc. had a positive impact on you (even if it was just a change in the way you saw someone or something). It doesn't need to be life changing or earth shattering to be worth writing about. Honestly, though, if you cannot see beyond your prejudice against the question, you will have a hard time anwering the prompt in a way that will benefit you. </p>
<p>If you have never "gained respect for intellectual, cultural, or social differences," that indicates to me that you may have no respect for such differences. Is that true about you? If not, then HOW DID YOU COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT INTELLECTUAL, CULTURAL, OR SOCIAL DIFFERENCES ARE TO BE RESPECTED? That's all the question is asking. It's not asking you to talk about respecting something you don't respect. It's just asking what may have influenced you to respect something you DO respect. Pick one thing. Focus on that.</p>
<p>As pointed out already, diversity doesn't refer just to race--but it also doesn't refer just to race, ethnicity, international interchanges, or difference in political points of view. I think this is what kelsmom is referring to--it affects a lot of interactions in ways that are not even considered.</p>
<p>My son needed to take a course on diversity to transfer to USC and chose to take one on differences between those in varying age groups. Specifically he decided to try and understand the point of view of his grandparents (and other older people) in their approach to life relative to younger people, as well as their daily health regimen and needs, their approach to sex at their age, their view of what is ethical and what isn't, and what's valuable to learn and what isn't (is technology really that important to learn as one gets older?, etc.).</p>
<p>He definitely changed his point of view as a result--and I believe takes a greatly different view of the value of senior citizens--and appreciates their contributions (and maybe even those of his parents) to a much greater extent than he did before taking the course.</p>
<p>Perhaps something similar may apply to your situation--did you ever learn something from a parent or teacher or older person (or even younger one) that you couldn't have learned from a peer (someone of a similar age and background as yourself). Presuming you have gone to high school the answer must be "yes" (unless you consider all your classes as useless)--but students don't consider that they are experiencing INTELECTUAL diversity because they never look at it that way. The question is designed to make people think about different types of diversity--and make them realize that EVERYONE has already been affected by it--unless they are a totally ego-centrist know-it-all.</p>
<p>Anyway, this is one other "diversity" approach to consider.</p>
<p>Now, has there anybody come up with how to answer this prompt? If you do
PM me.
Actually, there is an another problem regarding this prompt. The complete version of this prompt is
"Share an experience through which you have gained respect for intellectual, social, or cultural difference. Comment on how your personal experience and achievement would contirbute to the diversity of UM?"
Don't you think there exists a contradiction btw the former part and the latter part of this prompt? If they solely give me the former part I know how to answer; if they only give me the latter part, i also know to write.Now,they give me the combination of them, i have no idea.</p>