Ok topic for diversity prompt?

Applying to College
1

UW has the following prompt:

Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the University of Washington. (300 words)

I am a white male from a middle-class family in a suburban city. I am also Christian.

I was considering covering my transition from the homogeneous culture of a private Christian school to a “gifted” education program at my local public school. The transition allowed me to meet new people and taught me that everyone has unique talents.

is that an ok theme for the essay? Should I try to find a better one?

My biggest issues is “how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of UW”. I really don’t know what to say for this except it helped me to be more accepting of others and realize that everyone brings something unique and valuable to group projects. What types of things do they want to hear from me here? Should I explain how I am unique? I could go of on how I am a scientist who also is an artist but that really int a product of my community…

2

Maybe talk about how your family made you love science and how your gifted program made you love art (or vice versa) and how that made you unique in loving both.

3

Perhaps an admissions reader may find interesting an essay from a devout Christian who does not see a conflict between religion and science, if that describes you. Such viewpoints probably are common, but less commonly publicized.

4

My daughter is a “wasp” straight female and she is struggling with how to answer the diversity prompts that are in several of her college applications. Her friends that are from minority backgrounds have no problem with the question. Some schools say the question is optional, but is it really? Any suggestions on how she could address these types of questions?

5

Re #3

If her academic interests are in engineering or science other than biology, that may be something that she can write about. Or if her academic interests are in an area that the school is good at but few students focus on, that may be relevant.

Diversity does not necessarily mean just race, gender, ethnicity, religion. Although some colleges may have fewer “WASP” students than commonly assumed.