This discussion was created from comments split from: “Race” in College Applications FAQ & Discussion 12.
Maybe this has been discussed already, but does LBGTQ count in any context under Affirmative Action or generally speaking as a “hook”? I don’t think so but does indicating that you are homosexual count as a hook in anyway? Or does that vary by school? And not even sure how it would be indicated on the applications? I know there is the question about which sex do you identify as (as opposed to what sex you were born as) on some applications, but that’s a different question, obviously. I’m thinking being gay could possibly come out in an essay or teacher rec, or possibly a connection could be shown through extra curricular activities.
If there is already a thread on this (I looked but couldn’t find one) that anyone is aware of, could you please direct me to it?
No
Also no. And if it were, could you just imagine the number of str8 kids who are suddenly gay when the application rolls around? It’s not like a college will ask for proof.
Now it **may/b count in the diversity channel, but I’d posit that the top schools get sufficient LGBTQIA applicants that there is no need to put additional weight on the item.
It would be revealed elsewhere in the application,either essays, ECs, recs. Remember, no application has a checkbox that says “Are your parents major donors?” “Are you URM?” etc.It’s just one of those things that AOs are able to discern.
The LGBTQIA community was not included when the original sections of the Civil Rights Act dealing with Affirmative Action when it was passed and gave teeth to future legal precedents in workplace law (which was adopted in varying degrees by colleges and universities). I agree with @skieurope and his assessment that it would most likely be a school-specific interpretation of whether a benefit would be gained in admissions, but I have not seen it ever categorized as a “hook”.
It is a bit of a yawner for admissions these days. Very common. Not a hook.
There’s some option on the common app profile. But hook? Just by itself? Why? An applicant is more than that.