I'm Really to Mention Challenges in SOP?

[Kawa'a]

I'm a little confused about mentioning personal challenges in my SOP. Do Adcoms really want to know about challenges from my past? Why would they? My background is perhaps a-typical, but what does that have to do with grad school?

I'm not even sure what constitutes a "challenge." Maybe these are challenges they're looking for: neither of my parents are college-educated (one of my grandfathers was illiterate and an immigrant), my father immigrated here from Japan, I grew up in a barrio where there were gangs and shootings (yes, bullets in our house), I'm multi-racial and my parents worked hard to put me in a parochial school...where everyone else was white and reminded me constantly that I wasn't (hilariously I've been called a "chink" more times than I've been called a "jap" ), and well, I could go on, but that's all I'm willing to share. It gets too sad from there. So, honestly, I'm just confused about whether they really want to know these things, why, and how I would even mention it. I had challenges (who doesn't?), I got through it due to my hard work and things completely outside of myself (luck, family, moving, etc.) and now I want to go to grad school. It seems like a waste of words when oftentimes so few are allowed. Is this more of a diversity statement kind of thing?

[ScreamingHairyArmadillo]

This is definitely "a diversity statement kind of thing." However, if it doesn't relate necessarily to your reasons for wanting to go to grad school in XYZ field, your regular SOP probably doesn't need this stuff. Your basic SOP will focus mostly on the past few years when you made your decision about your field, what you did in school to advance yourself, etc. Avoid the "when I was a child" stuff like the plague.

[Kawa'a]

This is definitely "a diversity statement kind of thing." However, if it doesn't relate necessarily to your reasons for wanting to go to grad school in XYZ field, your regular SOP probably doesn't need this stuff. Your basic SOP will focus mostly on the past few years when you made your decision about your field, what you did in school to advance yourself, etc. Avoid the "when I was a child" stuff like the plague.

Thanks ScreamingHairyArmadillo. I would like to avoid mentioning any of this kind of stuff, but others have recommended that I mention it because I'm interested in Public Administration at the state/city gov't. level to help build better-functioning communities. Sure, some of this interest comes from personal experience, but I'd rather focus on the work I've done more recently.

There are programs I'm interested in that require the diversity statement in addition. I guess I could mention some of these things here, but even then I'm hesitant to do so. Am I being to shy about this?

[intextrovert]

Thanks ScreamingHairyArmadillo. I would like to avoid mentioning any of this kind of stuff, but others have recommended that I mention it because I'm interested in Public Administration at the state/city gov't. level to help build better-functioning communities. Sure, some of this interest comes from personal experience, but I'd rather focus on the work I've done more recently.

There are programs I'm interested in that require the diversity statement in addition. I guess I could mention some of these things here, but even then I'm hesitant to do so. Am I being to shy about this?

This is tricky. I think the key for the SoP is to mention it in a detached sort of way, and perhaps almost in passing. It shouldn't be emotional or a saga of overcoming adversity (although a personal history statement/diversity statement could lean more that way). But the fact is that your intellectual interests are informed by this experience, and thus I don't see why you should avoid it as part of the narrative of your intellectual development. So perhaps something like a one-sentence "As a first-generation college student and child of an immigrant coming from a background of habitual neighborhood violence, I became interested in learning about strategies and methods of creating more functional communities than the one I had grown up in." Obviously made to sound better, but you get the gist. See what I mean? Tell the story not as an end in itself, but as part of what motivates you to do the work you want to do.

Edited May 11, 2010 by intextrovert

[coyabean]

This is tricky. I think the key for the SoP is to mention it in a detached sort of way, and perhaps almost in passing. It shouldn't be emotional or a saga of overcoming adversity (although a personal history statement/diversity statement could lean more that way). But the fact is that your intellectual interests are informed by this experience, and thus I don't see why you should avoid it as part of the narrative of your intellectual development. So perhaps something like a one-sentence "As a first-generation college student and child of an immigrant coming from a background of habitual neighborhood violence, I became interested in learning about strategies and methods of creating more functional communities than the one I had grown up in." Obviously made to sound better, but you get the gist. See what I mean? Tell the story not as an end in itself, but as part of what motivates you to do the work you want to do.

ditto.

[Jae B.]

This is tricky. I think the key for the SoP is to mention it in a detached sort of way, and perhaps almost in passing. It shouldn't be emotional or a saga of overcoming adversity (although a personal history statement/diversity statement could lean more that way). But the fact is that your intellectual interests are informed by this experience, and thus I don't see why you should avoid it as part of the narrative of your intellectual development. So perhaps something like a one-sentence "As a first-generation college student and child of an immigrant coming from a background of habitual neighborhood violence, I became interested in learning about strategies and methods of creating more functional communities than the one I had grown up in." Obviously made to sound better, but you get the gist. See what I mean? Tell the story not as an end in itself, but as part of what motivates you to do the work you want to do.

I couldn't agree with this more. I used a similar technique on my personal statements, referencing my alternative education background in passing, and my family history (migration and multiethnicity) in connection with my interest and knowledge of the area where I intend to work. So, there were two factors 1) how my past assures my commitment to this field, 2) how my past makes me a strong candidate for this particular program. I think sharing some of my past made my application more unique and personal, but at the same time I placed the most importance on the work I have been doing. As long as you remain professional and not confessional, then you can keep some of your pie, stay dignified, and I think admissions will respect that. I agree you shouldn't "tell all" to get admitted -- make everything clearly relevant.

[Kawa'a]

Thanks everyone for your input. I think you all make good points. I am very uncomfortable with bringing up any of this up for multiple reasons, but yes, some of those experiences have informed my intellectual interests. If I can find a detached way of saying that then it would make sense to include it. I guess the point I am comfortable with making is that I have a diverse background and it has helped me see different perspectives and I would like to advocate for as many as possible within a community.

I really appreciate your help. I'm usually pretty positive so it just felt like whining to bring it up, but I guess there is a cogent reason and if it can help communicate what I want to do and why to the adcom then it may be worth it to briefly mention it.