<p>So, I know how some applicants have better acceptance chances because they are part of a minority group and colleges need to check off the diversity box. I'm curious if this applies to religious beliefs as well. Is a school considered diverse only if it has significant presence of multiple races? Would it really be "diverse" if we say, for example, 80% of the students have the same religion, even if the school is considered highly diverse in terms of race?
Basically, does religious affiliation factor into a college's diversity rating?</p>
<p>There’s no “official diversity rating” and there’s no religious box to check off. It’s how the current admins see the goal of diversity and how to fulfill for that moment. Bascially it’s an amorphous target.</p>
<p>What’s your religion?</p>
<p>I’m a Buddhist</p>
<p>Are you sure about the diversity rating? The college search my school uses has schools with high/typical/low diversity based on race percentages, and amount of international students. It seemed kind of logical to me that if schools pay attention to their racial diversity, they would also pay attention to religious diversity. Maybe sexuality diversity for the more liberal schools.</p>
<p>Minority group is usually more related to race, and gender.
It has very little bearing on religion… except you are going to a religious school with strong affiliation to a certain religion/church etc… but you are not a member making you a minority. In some instances, such schools might want to admit you for diversity purposes, but that is not very common.
As most US schools that are religious usually give preference to students from their religious sect… like Brigham Young, Yeshiva, Liberty…etc.</p>
<p>^ this is correct. Ethnicity and international student rates are published in order to state “Oh look: here’s how good we are at attracting (one sort of ) diversity!”</p>
<p>But religion nor sexual orientation are not normally published diversity data points. Maybe something they point out in their literature: “Here’s our muslim-students association, Hillel, LGBT clubs, etc.” as part of their recruiting schtick – but that’s it.</p>
<p>But being Bhuddist is inconsequential to your eventual application. </p>
<p>Unless the religion makes u look obviously “diverse” in the school’s glossy advertising brochures (e.g., wearing a head scarf), the schools probably don’t care.</p>
<p>Even if they wanted religious / sexual orientation diversity, I don’t think many if any college applications ask for either.</p>
<p>The Common Data Set has a specific section for religion in section C7. It is either considered or not. Here is an example from a Catholic U. <a href=“http://www.xavier.edu/institutional-research/institutional-research/documents/CDS2013-2014Asof05-19-14.pdf”>http://www.xavier.edu/institutional-research/institutional-research/documents/CDS2013-2014Asof05-19-14.pdf</a></p>
<p>From what I’ve understood over the years, an applicant’s religion or denomination can improve chances for colleges within that tradition. For example, you are Baptist applying to a Baptist college. This is the same in hiring; a Baptist college can (legally) prefer applicants within that tradition. But I do not know of colleges considering religion for the purpose of increasing diversity. A person’s race or ethnicity is permanent, but one can convert in and out of a religion.</p>
<p>Ok, Thank you all for replying! I really appreciate it</p>