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Jul 16, 2020 · Whether it’s a supplemental essay, personal statement, Common App essay, or diversity essay, the essays below can help you better understand what can result from following a college essay format or applying tips for how to write a college essay to help you get into your dream school.
- Common App Essay
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- How to Write a College Essay
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- The Great College Essay Test
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- The Feelings & Needs Exercise
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- College Essay Tips
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- Common App Essay
While not explicitly factoring racial or ethnic backgrounds into admissions, compelling diversity essays enable colleges to indirectly account for the varied identities and circumstances that applicants would bring to enrich the campus community.
- What’s Covered
- Essay Example #1 – Diversity, Cripplepunks
- Essay Example #2 – Diversity, Community in Difference
- Essay Example #3 – Diversity, Food
- Essay Example #4 – Diversity, Dinnertime Conversations
- Essay Example #5 – Interdisciplinary Studies
- Where to Get Your University of Washington Essays Edited
What the Essay Did Well
One of the primary strengths of this “Diversity”essay is its writer’s enthusiasm about the cripplepunk movement, which helps readers feel connected to them. At the very beginning of this response, we are introduced to the term ‘cripplepunk,’ but just like the student, we are not exactly sure what it means. We go through the process of learning about the movement with the student as they bring to our minds “images of models in powerchairs wearing ornate gowns, snarky patches on guide dog vests...
What Could Be Improved
The one thing this essay didn’t address was how this student will add to the diversity of the University of Washington. Although we get a good sense of the unique community this student came from and how it shaped them, we still want to know how they will contribute to their campus community. This student could have easily revised the last few sentences to say something along the lines of this: “I intend to bring the cripplepunk movement with me to the University of Washington. I’ll proudly d...
What the Essay Did Well
As this student explores the struggle of finding community, their essay not only reads like a Diversity essaybut also like an Overcoming Challenges essay. The main strength of this essay is the arc it presents. We learn about their background (moving around a lot) and we learn that community didn’t always come easy for them. The sentence “‘Community’ felt like a bubble I was floating upon, inherently a part of yet never fully immersed”articulates their isolation particularly well. At the same...
What Could Be Improved
The beginning of this essay is a little slow, so the whole essay would benefit from reordering it and changing the structure a bit. Essays tend to start off with an anecdote to hook the reader and then go into more elaboration. However, it takes a few sentences before this student gets to their anecdote. We learn about this student’s experience feeling part of (or isolated from) a community prior to middle school, but the essay isn’t overly engaging before the anecdote. The anecdote livens up...
What the Essay Did Well
This essay exemplifies how to respond to the Diversity prompt,an essay archetype used by many colleges. Effective responses do just what this essay does, by describing both a culture and the applicant’s place within it. Especially successful essays convey important, relevant aspects of the community with quick yet evocative descriptions, like of the aloo curry and hymns, that also help readers get to know the applicant better. In this essay, we see their thoughtfulness, keen eye for detail, i...
What Could Be Improved
Even in a strong essay like this one, there’s still room for improvement. One thing that would make this supplement more effective would be a bit more detail on the central metaphor of the Cheerios box. Why does the author align themselves with the American breakfast cereal, instead of the food being cooked by their grandmother? The description of the box as “not aligning with the norms of the environment”is compelling, but not supported by details about the applicant’s personality, or reflec...
What the Essay Did Well
In this essay, which is another strong response to the “Diversity” prompt, the student does a great job of explaining how being around different opinions has shaped their own perspective, as well as capturing the role they play within their family. The response highlights what the student has learned not just about their grandmothers’ opinions, but about listening in general and forming opinions of their own. This essay is also a good reminder that writing a strong response to this kind of pr...
What Could Be Improved
Overall, this is a super strong essay, with very little to improve. The only thing that we would consider changing is the time periods the student chooses their examples from. While the anecdotes are strong and paint a vivid picture of a conflict that goes back years, stories from when the author was eight may seem less relevant to an admissions committee that is looking to admit that student ten years later. If you have a story that dates back to your childhood, you should weigh the benefits...
What the Essay Did Well
One of the best things this essay did was make use of a simple structure. This prompt asks for a lot from students: discuss two interests, identify the relationship between the two interests, show that the relationship relates to a pressing societal concern, and describe how you will engage with that concern at UW. While it is possible to answer all of these questions with a creative structure, this student’s use of a simple structure helped keep all of the parts of the essay organized. The e...
What Could Be Improved
This student struggles with the transition to discussing their future goals. Since they devoted a large portion of their allotted word count to their interests in science and economics, they were left with very few words to discuss their interest in communication and how all three fields can be tied together. This leaves the essay feeling rushed and less genuine at the end. If they cut down on some words earlier in the essay—perhaps only mention their interest sparked from their coursework or...
Do you want feedback on your University of Washingtonessays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool, where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other...
Nov 1, 2021 · A good diversity essay shows how you will add a unique perspective, identity, or experience to your prospective campus community. You should share stories that demonstrate how your lived experience has shaped your actions, worldview, and goals.
- In addition to your main college essay , some schools and scholarships may ask for a supplementary essay focused on an aspect of your identity or b...
- Many universities believe a student body composed of different perspectives, beliefs, identities, and backgrounds will enhance the campus learning...
- To write an effective diversity essay , include vulnerable, authentic stories about your unique identity, background, or perspective. Provide insig...
Nov 16, 2023 · Writing a diversity essay for college? These essay examples show you how you can create a strong essay from beginning to end.
Oct 12, 2021 · Wondering how to write an essay that impresses admissions officers? Read these successful college essays covering a wide range of topics.
The best college essay examples reflect students who knew who they were, what they wanted to say, and how they wanted to say it. Our sample college essays show why it’s important to take care as you craft your personal statement and supplemental essays.
