Diversity

The other comment is great in their take on how experiences can really shape you as an individual, but I wouldn’t be quick to look over low SES (if you are) as a factor that makes you unique. Medical schools students are disproportionately wealthy and have thus had fairly similar upbringings (not to discredit wealthy students here.) Most patients did not have these same upbringings and may be low income or working class. It’s a great quality in a doctor to be able to understand their patients’ socioeconomic limitations and how these factors can affect health, especially when dealing with “lifestyle” diseases. As a medical student, you will be able to contribute this unique perspective to your class and contribute to meaningful discussion with students who have higher SES backgrounds.

/r/premed Thread