Confusion with Caltech diversity essay

College Essays
1

In an increasingly global and interdependent society, there is a need for diversity in thought, background, and experience in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity of Caltech’s community?

I’m just really unsure of what Caltech is trying to ask in this prompt. Do they want you to write something along the lines of a diverse culture you come from, or your diverse race/gender (women/minorities in STEM or something?), or do they just want you to write about something unique that has to do with STEM? Do they actually want you to talk about thought, background, and experience? Or do they just not care and just want to see what everyone comes up with?!?

Yeah, any clarification would be much appreciated haha. Right now I’m thinking of writing about how much I like theory over practical stuff, but I feel like because Caltech’s already so theory-oriented, it’s not really setting me apart from other applications in the context of a “diverse” scientific environment.

Thanks folks.

2

You should write about what you know and believe, anything else will coming out stilted and conscripted. That said, I think much has been written, in both elite academia and the STEM fields, about the need for diversity. Some of this is directly aimed at women, people of color, and socio-economically unrepresentative communities. I would say they are earnestly interested in such topics and my personal perspective would be not to delineate the granular distinctions of theory versus practical. Think of greater societal issues…

3

They’re leaving it wide open intentionally.

If they specified the type of diversity, it wouldn’t make for a very diverse population.

Don’t worry about setting yourself apart. Worry about writing a good essay that gives them a reason to say yes to YOU, regardless of what other people write.