Mentioning I'm LGBT in apps

HBS and a lot of other schools strongly encourage LGBT students to be out in the applications. While some insist that it doesn't influence admission decisions, all of the top schools actively recruit LGBT candidates. From the HBS site:

"If you have volunteered at LGBT-focused organizations or served on LGBT-related committees or boards, for instance, it is probably to your benefit to include these in your application, in the same way that all applicants discuss their involvement in various business and non-profit organizations. These activities and leadership positions demonstrate your passion and your abilities and help distinguish you from other applicants. To leave out these important experiences could hurt your application. Moreover, it is perfectly appropriate - and, again, probably advisable - for essays to reflect who you are as a whole person, including your sexuality and gender identity/expression, if you choose to do so."

I'm gay, and an admissions consultant has strongly encouraged that I mention this in my applications. It's what schools are asking for, and I have no problem being open about it. But unlike a lot of LGBT candidates, sexuality isn't the focus of my essays, and there are no LGBT organizations on my resume. So how should I mention that I'm gay in my application? If I got in touch with the LGBT outreach groups on campus, would they let admissions know about my involvement? Or would I have to mention is specifically in my essays?

 
matayo:

won't really do shit
many have tried; you are not the first to have this idea

feel free to milk ur privilege as much as possible though

School's ask you to include it. I don't need to mention it, but if it really doesn't matter to admissions, why would they want you to be open about it?
 

i did not say it did not matter i was alluding to the fact that it will not be statistically significant

the idea of talking about your under represented status is not a new one- blacks, hispanics, native americans, gays, veterans, disabled people... they've all been doing it for the past 30 or so years

they likely ask you so that they can get a final quote for their brochure "42.7% oF oUr StUdEnts ArE pPl oF cOloR anD 19.1% aRe GAY", but i don't think it will help you in a meaningful way

it is up to you- if you don't have anything super meaningful to write about in the essay, go ahead and focus on it. but if you do, writing about your sexual orientation might have a large opportunity cost in the form of something that the adcom may like more

.
 
thebrofessor:

if I were you, I'd incorporate your sexual orientation into your essay, I don't see a way to incorporate it otherwise without it being forced.

The problem is that most of my schools' essay questions ask about demonstrated leadership, impact or career goals. Only one of my school asks for the "greatest obstacle," and I'm not sure sexual orientation is the best focus. It just doesn't fit in.

 

Nothing to add, just curious to see the responses, as this is an interesting dilemma between what you think they want and what you want to write about.

(also, surprising kudos to WSO members for exceeding my expectations of professionalism on WSO message boards; my expectations are pretty damn low, so it's not a major compliment, but still...)

 
DickFuld:

(also, surprising kudos to WSO members for exceeding my expectations of professionalism on WSO message boards; my expectations are pretty damn low, so it's not a major compliment, but still...)

Sorry for my late arrival Dick, just hadn't seen this thread until now. I'd like to add that the OP should send in videos and photos of him blowing guys and getting buttfucked by guys. His bedroom preferences are truly relevant to his application and his qualifications as a potential student in the business program [crucial information, I should even say].
 
wannabeaballer:

Some schools have LGBT specific open houses or presentations. Go to them - the info is tracked.

I know this info is probably tracked, but are you sure Admissions Officers look at it? It seems like it would be pretty hard to match up a handful of names with applicants. If you're right though, it would probably be enough to get in touch with my schools' LGBT outreach, since I can't attend most of these events.
 
hsu1987:
wannabeaballer:

Some schools have LGBT specific open houses or presentations. Go to them - the info is tracked.

I know this info is probably tracked, but are you sure Admissions Officers look at it? It seems like it would be pretty hard to match up a handful of names with applicants. If you're right though, it would probably be enough to get in touch with my schools' LGBT outreach, since I can't attend most of these events.

Ever heard of a VLOOKUP?
 
Best Response
CorpFinanceGuy:
hsu1987:
wannabeaballer:

Some schools have LGBT specific open houses or presentations. Go to them - the info is tracked.

I know this info is probably tracked, but are you sure Admissions Officers look at it? It seems like it would be pretty hard to match up a handful of names with applicants. If you're right though, it would probably be enough to get in touch with my schools' LGBT outreach, since I can't attend most of these events.

Ever heard of a VLOOKUP?

Is that some sort of gay (or more likely lesbian) dating service?

 
CorpFinanceGuy:
hsu1987:
wannabeaballer:

Some schools have LGBT specific open houses or presentations. Go to them - the info is tracked.

I know this info is probably tracked, but are you sure Admissions Officers look at it? It seems like it would be pretty hard to match up a handful of names with applicants. If you're right though, it would probably be enough to get in touch with my schools' LGBT outreach, since I can't attend most of these events.

Ever heard of a VLOOKUP?

If there was a big round red button on the application alowing the Admissions Officers to access that info they still wouldn't press it. They have a pile of applications to go through. The search for barely relevant information that is not already in the application will never happen.

 

Do you feel that you've overcome adversity by being LGBT? If that is the case it's probably in your best interest to incorporate it somehow into your essay, you can build a very powerful narrative. In order to have a diverse student body universities are allowed to screen based on race, it stands to reason they also do the same with regards to LGBT.

 

You don't need to necessarily write down your coming out story, but you should take advantage of the LGBT events they host (might even get paid for the trip). Also get in touch w the club so you can talk with current students about life there, and mention how you plan to be involved with the club while on school. Should also be mentioned during the interview. This can actually be a good storyline. E.g. I was never very active with the community events but after finding out how involved the club is I think this where I want to be, etc.

 

I'm sympathetic to LGBT, so I'd probably give you 1 bonus point out of a total of 50 on your resume.

If you queened through the interview, I'd probably give you -5 for cultural fit - not because I worked in a LGBT-unfriendly office, but because you've demonstrated that being true to a cliche is more important to you than showing willingness to adapt your personality to a workplace. The stereotype of a queen is a stereotype, but unfortunately one that does exert some gravity in the community.

Most likely benefit is that it gets your resume passed through by HR who need to tick the "diversity" box.

Downside is the people who then review the resumes for interns/grads/laterals for their teams are largely unreconstructed males who don't give a shit about diversity and are the sort of people who post threads in Monkey Around about poverty/lack of education/sexual preference/growing up with the right vales all being a conscious choice.

Those who can, do. Those who can't, post threads about how to do it on WSO.
 

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