<p>Hello everyone,</p>
<p>Like many other CC members (I'm sure), I've begun the MIT Early Action application. I've been working on the first part, which includes the biographical information. The only question I'm not sure how to answer, however, is the one that states this:</p>
<p>Please tell us more about your cultural background and identity in the space below (100 word limit). If you need more than 100 words, please use the Optional section on Part 2.</p>
<p>For the previous questions, I simply put that my background was white, and (to my knowledge) is European descent. I'm not really sure what MIT is looking for with this question. I realize that they include it for students whose cultural background plays a significant role in their lives, but my cultural background isn't really a significance in my life. I know I'm Irish, German, a very very small part Cherokee Indian (although I'm not sure how to confirm this; I don't really remember where this heritage comes from). </p>
<p>So my question is then: if nothing about your cultural background sticks out or is significant in your life, what should you put for this question? What are they looking for in the students whose background isn't an important factor?</p>
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<p>You can leave it blank! </p>
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<p>tbqh, background is <em>always</em> an important factor for students. How/whether you are aware of its importance, and the role it has played in your life, differs for different students. Some students will find this question to be extremely relevant and intuitively clear to answer and some will not. That’s why it’s optional. </p>
<p>@MITChris I wasn’t aware that the question was optional. Thank you! You are right that it is always an important factor, but personally I am not aware of its importance. It hasn’t played a large role (if any) in my life since myself, parents, and grandparents are all from the United States (beyond that I’m not sure; I probably even need to check about my grandparents). Thanks again!</p>
<p>@rkepp12 - Note that background is about more than just race. </p>
<p>@PiperXP I guess I’m kind of confused as to what I should include in this question. I really don’t want to leave it blank because I feel like it is an important question. When I see “cultural background” and how it is in the same section as discussing racial background, I put the two topics together.</p>
<p>Again, I’ve lived in the United States my whole life and so have my parents, so do I just include culture from the United States? But how can that be unique with most of the applicants having the same situation?</p>
<p>Cultural: Are you from a quiet town? A big city? A religious family? A secular family? How have those things shaped your world view? Have those things instilled confidence in you? Have they caused struggle? Curiosity? </p>
<p>Identity: Are you religious? Atheist? Gay? Are you a tinkerer at heart? A creator/artist? A builder? A puzzlesolver?</p>
<p>Are there experiences with any of the above that might help you tell your story? Who are you – or maybe, why are you you?</p>
<p>There may be a “world you come from” question, which could overlap on information here. But I’m mostly trying to get you to think out of the box and figure out if this question can serve you in some way. It sounds like you have stuff to say and aren’t sure if this question is the right way to say it 
I may be reading you wrong, or this question may be the wrong way to get across whatever you’re looking to get across in the application - as Chris said, you can always leave it blank and that’s totally fine.</p>
<p>But I just want to make sure you’re not interpreting the question too rigidly when it may be useful for you </p>
<p>@PiperXP. That makes things a lot more clear! It is actually confusing to me about what to include in this question versus what should be included in the “world you come from” question. </p>
<p>Since this particular question is in the “biographical information” section, I’m assuming it wants to know more about race, sexual orientation, religion, and other related topics, while other information such as my community and family fall into the other question. Of course, I don’t want to assume, but I’m just having trouble interpreting what they want to hear about in this question, since if have opportunities to include similar information in other questions.</p>
<p>Thank you again!</p>
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<p>It’s a culture and identity question under the biographical information section. I think all the things I listed above fit into that topic. I think the topic is purposefully broad so that you can make use of those two prompts however you want 
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<p>@PiperXP. I think I get it now, thank you! I think I am going to include something about being Atheist. Religion has been something I’ve struggled with for a while, since close family is not religious, while the community in which I live generally is. Bahave a science and math oriented mind in a religious community.</p>
<p>@PiperXP Thank you so much! I get the prompt now, and I’ll probably work on it more tomorrow :)</p>
<p>@MITChris I asked the same question when I was applying. I ended up leaving it blank because I was told it was optional. However, if the question truly is optional then why doesn’t the application just say so?</p>
<p>Not sure - I’ll check the current wording and see what we can clarify. </p>
<p>@rothstem I agree. I didn’t see it say that it was optional anywhere, so that’s why I’m assuming I need to fill it out. I will contact MIT admissions right away and see what they have to say.</p>
<p>@rkepp12 You don’t need to call addmissions. First of all, if MITChris says it’s so than it is. And second, I left it blank and got accepted. I am starting my second year at MIT in just another couple of weeks. Good luck to you!</p>
<p>I emailed them and they basically said it’s supposed to be open ended. So I’ll think of something to include!</p>
<p>Yes, to be clear, MITChris does actually = Chris Peterson (<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/author/chrispeterson”>http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/author/chrispeterson</a>), and what he says goes.</p>
<p>(Maybe we should make him do a proof, like in an AMA. Every single time he posts. Even though I have met him many times in person, and may actually see him tomorrow. I am the moderator! My word is law!)</p>
<p>Pics or it didn’t happen</p>
<p>I’m international…and I don’t have a mixed heritage…should I explain my identity within the world…or within my nation
or within my state…? Or should I not answer the question at all?</p>
<p>Answer it however makes sense to you. </p>
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You should consult this book for ideas. I have it on my shelf-- hilarious!
Stuff White People Like: A Definitive Guide to the Unique Taste of Millions
<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0812979915/ref=pd_aw_sims_1?pi=SL500_SY115&simLd=1”>http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0812979915/ref=pd_aw_sims_1?pi=SL500_SY115&simLd=1</a>
Excerpts:
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