I’m assuming that being only gay is not a hook because every white girl from here to LA has one as a friend, but I was wondering if more “rare” identities would be a hook. I’m genderqueer, aromantic, and asexual, and I am not out to my family. I am out to my friends, though. Would putting this information in college applications help with the admissions process any? I am also first-gen so I’m not that concerned with hooks.
I can only speak as a parent, not someone with inside knowledge of the process.
I have seen some schools state LGBTQ is considered URM, but most don’t. Even though you may feel “rare”, one would think the percentages are such that colleges still see many applications with these types of things listed. Probably depends on personal bias of reviewer.
I would advise my child to write essays that convey a compelling story of who they are, which may or may not include LGBTQ status. LGBTQ status in and of itself is not compelling.
No.
Which is not to say that many colleges do not welcome the diversity. And it can potentially be an interesting essay topic if you had to overcome adversity. On the flip side, it is far from a unique essay topic. But a hook that a college needs rather than wants? No.
It is not a hook. A hook is when a person fills an institutional need of a college – common examples are a recruited athlete, a child of a large donor etc.
Not just writing about overcoming adversity, but showing how you activated to get out there and do some good. And in that, the bar is high. Not just soft activities.
In general, you want the essay to convey the traits the college wants. That’s not simply identity.
Sexuality is a bit of a yawner for college admissions these days.