Using transition to your advantage

[kenton_07]

I'm graduating from college next spring and I'm starting the graduate school process. An essay, statement of purpose, and explanation of any gaps in education/work is required for just about every program. I was thinking about including the fact that I have transitioned on some of my applications because it is a big process that I have been going through for the past three years. I didn't even start college until after I started transitioning. I feel like my transition has allowed me to figure out what I really want to do with my life and college came out of that. I'm a good student with a gpa over 3.5 and I'm an accounting major.

I recently had an interview for a leadership program for the summer but I didn't get into the program. My resume seems like the same old story that everyone else has. My transition and past life aren't on my resume. Not because I don't want it to be, but I'm not sure how potential employer's would take that and it isn't work related. I guess I'm just looking for some advice here because I'm stuck on what to do. I feel like I'm so different from other applicants because I have gone through something that many of them probably have not and I think that every program is searching for that candidate that stands out.

[Bimmer Guy]

I'm graduating from college next spring and I'm starting the graduate school process. An essay, statement of purpose, and explanation of any gaps in education/work is required for just about every program. I was thinking about including the fact that I have transitioned on some of my applications because it is a big process that I have been going through for the past three years. I didn't even start college until after I started transitioning. I feel like my transition has allowed me to figure out what I really want to do with my life and college came out of that. I'm a good student with a gpa over 3.5 and I'm an accounting major.

I recently had an interview for a leadership program for the summer but I didn't get into the program. My resume seems like the same old story that everyone else has. My transition and past life aren't on my resume. Not because I don't want it to be, but I'm not sure how potential employer's would take that and it isn't work related. I guess I'm just looking for some advice here because I'm stuck on what to do. I feel like I'm so different from other applicants because I have gone through something that many of them probably have not and I think that every program is searching for that candidate that stands out.

I suspect it is based on the field.  For example, I am considering getting my doctoate in social work.  The fact that I am trans* would be attractive because it would make their program more diverse....a discriminated group and all.  Social work eats that ->-bleeped-<- up....

I don't know how a traditional, accounting program would look at it.  I would suggest thinking about the school that you are applying to when you make that decision.  Is the school progressive or conservative?  The more progressive the school, the more you should consider it.  Hard call, regardless. 

Good luck. 

[kenton_07]

I would like to go into the public accounting field. There are at least two big firms that are trans friendly and are on the LGBTQ index in the top 50 I believe. I'm really looking to try to get into a graduate program at Vanderbilt University. It is located in Tennesee but I checked the campus pride index and they seem to have good ratings. I'm also considering the University of South Carolina, University of Georgia, UNC-Charlotte, and North Carolina State University. All of these schools are on the campus pride index with relatively good ratings. I think Vanderbilt is a pretty liberal school for being in the south. They like to have a lot of diversity in their student body, or at least that's what I think.

[beaver]

If the school is more liberal than not, I don't think it would be a problem to talk about your transition, provided that it is related to the application. I know that transition is likely a huge part of your life, and you have probably looked deep inside you for a long and hard. However, when the question is something like: how are your leadership skills and how have you demonstrated them, your transition story will likely not help you too much. If they are asking you to write an essay about a life changing event, and how it has changed you, that might be a better place to talk about your transition. In a field that is more technical like accounting, putting your soft skills down is often a hard call.
Anyway, just thought I'd throw my opinion in, I've thought about it when I apply to jobs too. In the end, it is completely up to you as to the image that you want to present yourself in.