01: Imagine you belong to a place where there is
no diversity. Write a story on how your life would
be in such a place
Answers
If you're applying to college, you've probably heard the phrase "diversity essay" once or twice. This type of essay is a little different from your typical "Why this college?" essay. Instead of focusing on why you've chosen a certain school, you'll write about your background, values, community, and experiences—basically, what makes you special.
In this guide, I explain what a diversity college essay is, what schools are looking for in this essay, and what you can do to ensure your diversity essay stands out.
What Is a Diversity Essay for College?
A diversity essay is a college admissions essay that focuses on you as an individual and your relationship with a specific community. The purpose of this essay is to reveal what makes you different from other applicants, including what unique challenges or barriers you've faced and how you've contributed to or learned from a specific community of people.
Generally speaking, the diversity college essay is used to promote diversity in the student body. As a result, the parameters of this essay are typically quite broad. Applicants may write about any relevant community or experience. Here are some examples of communities you could discuss:
Your cultural group
Your race or ethnicity
Your extended family
Your religion
Your socioeconomic background (such as your family's income)
Your sex or gender
Your sexual orientation
Your gender identity
Your values or opinions
Your experiences
Your home country or hometown
Your school
The area you live in/your neighborhood
A club or organization of which you're an active member
Although the diversity essay is a common admissions requirement at many colleges, most schools do not specifically refer to this essay as a diversity essay. At some schools the diversity essay is simply your personal statement, whereas at others it's a supplemental essay or short answer.
It's also important to note that the diversity essay is not limited to undergraduate programs. Many graduate programs also require diversity essays from applicants. So if you're planning to eventually apply to graduate school, be aware that you might have to write yet another diversity statement!
Diversity Essay Sample Prompts From Colleges
Now that you understand what diversity essays for college are, let's take a look at some diversity essay sample prompts from actual college applications.
University of Michigan
At the University of Michigan, the diversity college essay is a required supplemental essay for all freshman applicants.
Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it.