Pressing Question

04 September 2009
I have a pressing question for you all and would love your feedback on it. In my secondary applications for medical school there has been a particular question that keeps coming up that I need to write about or just say that it doesn't apply to me. I think it would be best to write something, but what I want to write about isn't the most conventional topic.

Here is the question or something similar: "Do you have unique experiences or obstacles that you have overcome that were not covered in your application about which you would like to inform our Admissions Committee?"

I want to write about being gay and Mormon, but I don't know if this is going to be too much or if I should come up with another topic. This is the only topic that I can really think of though.

I ask all of you, should I write about it or no?

In other news, when I sat down at a table in the library, the guy on the other side looked me up and down and stared at me for a couple of minutes. It was really awkward, yet flattering at the same time. I'm pretty sure he's family.

8 comments:

David Baker-@DB389 said...

Sean,
Personally I think that telling your story will help! They are looking for someone who has faced a monstrous task and overcome it. That is what you should write about. If you have any doubts about that, then watch the movie "21" and look what telling his story did for him.

Hidden said...

Sean,

Have you talked about Crohn's elsewhere in your application? That's what came to mind for me. You've adjusted to living with it, and that's no easy feat.

camille said...

fact #1:
i'm loving the new blog design.

fact#2:
i would say talk about crohn's, but from what i remember, you've already mentioned that in your application.

fact #3:
i'm not sure how you would go about talking about being gay/mormon. i think it's definitely an interesting story, but i'm not sure if it's too personal. if you do end up talking about it, make sure you don't make it sound like a sob story. emphasize the confidence and self-esteem you've developed as opposed to the intolerance you've experienced.

fact#4:
good luck!

Abelard Enigma said...

My $0.02 - I don't think discussing being gay and Mormon will help you get into medical school. In fact, it could backfire and be perceived as being whiny or a gay activist, or whatever.

I think discussing living with Crohn's is a much better choice.

Unknown said...

(I am assuming you're talking about BYU's medical school...if not, disregard this comment lol) While I feel that you should certainly be proud of the obstacles you've had to overcome by being gay and Mormon, I don't know if BYU would understand. The few active gay Mormons I have met usually have astoundingly strong testimonies as a result of their trials by fire belonging to a church that doesn't exactly...approve. A lot of young men (and women) tend towards inactivity because they can't make who they are and the church's stance on that sync up, and I'm sure that that would be a concern for BYU. However, if this is something that you truly feel that they should know about you, and if you can use it as an example of your personal strength and integrity, then by all means, put it in!

Unknown said...

Unless BYU is already aware of that, in which case I don't think it would hurt to expound upon how the experience has changed/made/built/etc you as a person. :) Good luck!

Sean said...

Kira,

BYU doesn't have a medical school and I'm planning on going back east to medical school.

playasinmar said...

Gay... Mormon... not enough?

You could try for bisexual Martian leper.