Diversity Essay
Highlight your experiences and insights with a compelling Diversity Essay that sets you apart. Our expert writers craft narratives that reflect your individuality and contributions, ensuring your essay makes a meaningful impact.
A diversity essay is a type of essay that asks students to highlight an important aspect of their identity, background, culture, experience, viewpoints, beliefs, skills, passions, goals, etc. Diversity essays can come in many forms. Some scholarships are offered specifically for students who come from an underrepresented background or identity in higher education. At highly competitive schools, supplemental diversity essays require students to address how they will enhance the student body with a unique perspective, identity, or background. In the Common Application and applications for several other colleges, some main essay prompts ask about how your background, identity, or experience has affected you.
What is a Diversity Essay?
A diversity essay asks students to highlight their unique perspective, identity, or experience and how it will enrich the campus community. A good diversity essay shows how you will add a unique perspective, identity, or experience to your prospective campus community. You should share stories that demonstrate how your lived experience has shaped your actions, worldview, and goals.
Why Schools Want a Diversity Essay?
Many universities believe a student body representing different perspectives, beliefs, identities, and backgrounds will enhance the campus learning and community experience. Admissions officers are interested in hearing about how your unique background, identity, beliefs, culture, or characteristics will enrich the campus community. Through the diversity essay, admissions officers want students to articulate the following:
- What makes them different from other applicants
- Stories related to their background, identity, or experience
- How their unique lived experience has affected their outlook, activities, and goals
How to Write a Diversity Essay?
Writing a diversity essay can be challenging. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Step 1: Identify How You Will Enrich the Campus Community
The first step in writing a diversity essay is to identify how you will enrich the campus community. You should share stories that demonstrate how your lived experience has shaped your actions, worldview, and goals. You should also explain how your background or identity has affected your life.
Step 2: Share Stories About Your Lived Experience
The second step is to share stories about your lived experience. You should write about your experiences in a way that is honest and authentic. You should also be specific and provide details that help the reader understand your perspective.
Step 3: Explain How Your Background or Identity Has Affected Your Life
The third step is to explain how your background or identity has affected your life. You should write about how your experiences have shaped your outlook, activities, and goals. You should also explain how your unique perspective, identity, or experience will enrich the campus community.
Example of a Diversity Essay
Here is an example of a diversity essay:
Growing up in a small town in rural America, I was surrounded by people who looked like me, thought like me, and shared my values. It wasn’t until I went to college that I realized how limited my perspective was. I met people from all over the world who had different experiences, beliefs, and values than I did. It was eye-opening, and it made me realize how important it is to have a diverse community.
As a person of color, I have experienced discrimination and prejudice. I have also experienced the power of community and the importance of standing up for what is right. My experiences have shaped my outlook, activities, and goals. I want to use my voice to advocate for those who are marginalized and underrepresented. I want to be a part of a community that values diversity and inclusivity.
I believe that my unique perspective, identity, and experience will enrich the campus community. I bring a different perspective to the table, and I am excited to learn from others who have different experiences and backgrounds. I am committed to creating a community that is inclusive, welcoming, and supportive.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a diversity essay is a type of essay that asks students to highlight an important aspect of their identity, background, culture, experience, viewpoints, beliefs, skills, passions, goals, etc. A good diversity essay shows how you will add a unique perspective, identity, or experience to your prospective campus community. Through the diversity essay, admissions officers want students to articulate what makes them different from other applicants, stories related to their background, identity, or experience, and how their unique lived experience has affected their outlook, activities, and goals. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can write an effective diversity essay that will engage your readers and leave them with a sense of your unique perspective.