The ethnicities that are considered Underrepresented in Medicine (URM) include: Latino, African American, Native American, Laotian and Hmong, as well as a few other groups. If you are from one of these groups, it would help your application to demonstrate your connection to these communities and your fluency in the languages which are most sought after in the medical field. Even if you are not considered URM, any involvement volunteering or supporting the education and health of people from these groups would impress a selection committee given your interest in social justice and dedication to serving diverse communities – regardless of your background.
If you are thinking of highlighting your URM background, I recommend considering the following strategies in your medical school application:
- Disclose your ethnicity in the biography section.
Many students don’t want to make a fuss about their ethnicity. It can be helpful to disclose this information – especially if you are considered a URM. It will only help your application. Research has revealed that the more diverse a student’s medical class is, the better his or her training in cultural competence. Diversity is highly valued by medical schools for this reason. They are training physicians who will reflect the diversity of the communities that they will serve. - Get involved in clubs and groups on your campus that celebrate diversity.
To demonstrate confidence and pride in your cultural background, you can take classes to learn more about it and/or get involved with groups that educate others on your campus. While it can be difficult to study topics like slavery, it is important to understand the socio-political and historical factors that relate to our understanding of ethnicity and diversity today. If we are not part of the solution, then we are part of the problem. You can take responsibility by becoming an educated citizen by studying your own heritage as well as others. - Volunteer in medically underserved communities.
If you speak another language or want to improve the health of others, you may want to volunteer in medically underserved communities. It’s often one of the best experiences that students have – in learning to put others first. Many students describe their volunteer work as becoming pivotal in their decision to pursue medicine, especially when they are struggling academically. Volunteer work can help you to focus and to see how much you can positively impact others. - Write about how your background and/or work has influenced your career goals.
In your personal statement, you can integrate how your background, knowledge of diversity, campus involvement and volunteer work has influenced your decision to go into medicine. It will be easier to demonstrate what you hope to accomplish in your career, if you have already gotten involved in community service. Start early! It can make all the difference.
Do you need help identifying and highlighting your diversity appeal? Work one-on-one with an Accepted expert to draw out your unique experiences and history to develop an application that matches your target school’s mission for diversity. See our catalog of Medical School Admissions Consulting Services for help with this and every other element of your med school application.
Alicia McNease Nimonkar worked for 5 years as the Student Advisor & Director at the UC Davis School of Medicine's postbac program where she both evaluated applications and advised students applying successfully to med school and other health professional programs. She has served Accepted's clients since 2012 with roughly a 90% success rate. She has a Master of Arts in Composition and Rhetoric as well as Literature. Want Alicia to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
Related Resources:
• From Example to Exemplary, a free guide to writing exemplary application essays
• 7 Simple Steps to Writing an Excellent Diversity Essay
• How to Write the Statement of Disadvantage