<p>The diversity that the international students bring to a college campus is generally seen in a positive light. But, the question is how to avoid the cliched application of international students (or even immigrants who have received permanent residency)?</p>
<p>I've been thinking about it and I have avoided anything relating to my international student status (and the whole cliched "immigration" essay deal). I'm not saying all those essays are bad it's just a lot of the applicants make mistakes with them.</p>
<p>BUT, although it's cliched, is it necessary? Should I upload another brief essay about coming to America? I feel like they would assume my cultural backgrounds and my experiences by just looking at my status but there are many aspects that the Common App's factual questions can't show so do you advise writing a brief essay? And what should be included in there? </p>
<p>If you are a permanent resident, and you are currently enrolled in a US high school, this is a good question to take to your guidance counselor. They are in a better position to know what students in your situation have done in the college application process, and when the kind of essay you describe has been productive.</p>
<p>Take step back. There are two questions you should answer in your application: what would you gain from attending XYZ university, and what would the university gain from having you as a student (i.e. what would you be contributing to campus)?</p>
<p>A good answer to the second question for most international students is diversity: international students will contribute a different point of view to discussions, different holidays and customs to share, and maybe even the opportunity for your American friends to visit you in your home country. That provides a lot of motivation for international students to highlight their cultural background in their application.</p>
<p>Of course that is not the only thing you will contribute. You might be an academic superstar; you might be a valuable addition to the college’s soccer team; you might be very interested in helping the community around you; you might be the ideal person to be the head of the student government and work with the administration; you might be the person that everyone turns to with computer problems; you might be a good roommate, classmate and friend.</p>
<p>You don’t have to write about your cultural background. Due to space constraints, you will have to focus on a small number of facets of your complex identity, and your current country of residence might not be one of them. You get to decide which image of yourself you want to portray!</p>
<p>Do not submit any additional essays unless they are brilliant pieces of writing or specifically requested. The ‘diversity’ brought by internationals students (bar some cliched Asian applicants) is a given, so what you really should focus on in your essays is why College XYZ should want you, apart from your unique perspectives as an outsider.
Unless your ‘diversity’ is an essential part of what makes you a good human being, there is no need to mention it at all. If you really feel your unique perspectives need attention, perhaps give some hints to your Counselor or teachers who are writing your recs; they are often in a better position to make comment on how different you are.</p>
<p>Also, I received two bad grades during a semester (C’s) and it was because our family was deciding to go back to my country of origin and it really unhinged me.</p>
<p>Do I need to address that or is that what we would call, “red flagging the negatives”?</p>
<p>I feel like among all the As and Bs I have random Cs in classes I had As before, they would assume something happened but I don’t want them assuming something trivial like drug problem etc. </p>