<p>This is ridiculous. The Rice's supplement essay is obviously used for affirmative action. How can I possibly answer a question talking about "cultural diversity" successfully being a white male from suburban Texas!?</p>
<p>In short, what do other WASPs write in this essay to get accepted?</p>
<p>The essay does not ask about "cultural diversity", but rather:
[quote]
The quality of Rice’s academic life and the Residential College System is heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural traditions each student brings.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Everyone can contribute something unique to Rice, and the essay is asking what exactly it is that you can contribute. Some people are ethnic minorities, some people are not. Some people have traveled to interesting places, some people have never left the US. Some people have lived in one place their entire lives, others have moved a lot. Some people have big familes, others have little families. And, well, you get the idea... everyone has had "unique life experiences"; everyone has "cultural traditions." That's what Rice wants to know about... how they've shape you and how they'll help you contribute to life at Rice.</p>
<p>nose is exactly right. They basically want to know what makes you... YOU! Talk about your family, your history, but most importantly, talk about yourself and how your life experiences have shaped you. No one is at a disadvantage with this question because everyone's story is unique, even though similarities exist across the board.</p>
<p>My son -- who is a freshman at Rice now -- did a great job of writing this essay, even though he is a white male from Houston. He focused on what makes him tick and how that will add some "diversity" to the student body. Think about your interests, your background, your approach to life ... there must be something about you that will add something different.</p>
<p>I think that in the opening paragraph of mine I mentioned that I was an upper middle class white male from the suburbs. Then I went on to write about my perspective on life. They aren't trying to figure out whether or not you're an ethnic minority, they're trying to figure out what you'll bring to campus.</p>
<p>Hey, I'm Asian, but I didn't write about being Asian.
It's not all cultural...</p>
<p>If you are (or aren't) a minority, you will probably get rejected if you write an essay about your ethnicity bringing diversity (unless you have some interesting story like you grew up in the hood or whatever). They can tell what race you are by your name, photo if you put one, and what box you check. The essay wants to know what you will DO when you get here. Will you be the resident guitar player? The smart kid who likes to tutor people? The powderpuff football queen? They could care less if you're the token Xrace person.</p>
<p>One of my friends (who is a guy) wrote about how he was the president of his regional chapter of the Meg Kabat Fan Club.</p>
<p>Meg Cabot?</p>
<p>Yeah, her. I was combining her name with that of one of the best college cellists in the country.</p>
<p>I have a younger sister; I know these things.</p>
<p>One thing that is interesting is that if you ask Rice students about their essay, they will almost universally tell you that it was hard. This includes the people who you would think would have had it really easy.</p>
<p>Most people think that their lives are boring/normal. That's because it's all they've ever known. But there is almost certainly something interesting about you.</p>
<p>I know a guy who grew up in the middle of nowhere, TX surrounded by chicken farms, and he had no clue what to write about. I found this unbelievable, since I come from a pretty different background. I thought I had nothing to write about, and he didn't believe me when I told him that.</p>