Why do college applications ask about sexual orientation?

Applying to College
1

<p>I haven't finished all of my college supplements yet, but I'm already surprised by the number of questions regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. Answering these questions doesn't particularly bother me, but I don't see how it is relevant to the admissions process.</p>

<p>What is the purpose of these questions?</p>

2

<p>The people in Admissions are trying to figure out who to hit on?</p>

3

<p>They probably ask so they can provide the statistics when asked about diversity regarding sexual orientation?
Just speculation, I don’t work for an undergrad admissions office…</p>

4

<p>Do they have an option for “undecided”? :slight_smile:
J/k. I’m glad I don’t have to fill out college apps - I’d find all the questions annoying. </p>

5

<p>Probably because, if your sexual preference, is male, they don’t what to put You in a room with Macho man, and have you distracted from ur work, because you have a boner all day.</p>

<p>Kiddin, i think it it similar with the ethnicity question. It helps them, but they won’t tell you about it.</p>

6

<p>Caltech does, @scholarme.</p>

7

<p>From the New York Times:</p>

<p>

<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/education/edlife/more-college-applications-ask-about-sexual-identity.html?_r=0”>http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/education/edlife/more-college-applications-ask-about-sexual-identity.html?_r=0&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

8

<p>My 13 year-old son made the following observation yesterday after flipping through the radio past a number of male erectile dysfunction commercials and even an NPR program that suddenly turning into a story about masturbation, “Why is everything about sex all the time? I’m just trying to find the news.”</p>

<p>He has a point.</p>

9

<p>So the candidate can identified for admissions preference to achieve a critical mass in the classroom so these students don’t have to feel like the spokesman for their sexual orientation/ gender identity. This fulfills the Compelling State Interest to have diversity of sexual orientation/or gender identity, for the educational benefits it contributes to classroom discussion.</p>

10

What schools did you apply to that asked you about this? Was there a selection of sexualities to choose from?

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@MrMom62 Didn’t you hear? Sex is all the rage these days. :wink: :)) :-S

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Do not resurrect old threads. Closing.