The lived experience essay isn’t about proving hardship. It’s about painting the full picture of you.

In this episode, we break down the essay formerly known as the diversity statement: what it is now, who it actually serves, and why skipping it costs more than people expect. We talk through lived examples—non-traditional paths, first-gen stories, faith, privilege, career pivots—and how committees read professionalism, not performance, from a few short paragraphs.

We also get specific about scholarships, redacted data, and why writing from scars—not scabs—changes outcomes.