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After evaluating the
qualifications and talent of the applicant pool,
admissions committees seek to build a class full of
interesting people from varied backgrounds. The purpose
of this question is to find out what you have to
contribute to this potential class. Here are some
general guidelines for identifying a strong topic:
1. Don't write an
ode to diversity. Many people spend half the
essay writing about how much they value diversity,
or about how important diversity is to enriching
one's learning experience. Your readers know this,
and you are wasting words by stating the obvious.
2. If you fit into one of the obvious categories,
make sure you have something substantive to say.
You should not simply mention a factor such as your
race, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, age,
disability, or international upbringing and expect
that to be your distinguishing feature. Instead,
focus on how your background has shaped your life or
career; discuss how it affects the perspective you
will bring to the program.
3. Diversity is not just about the obvious
categories. Some people who are from privileged
backgrounds will write about experiences in
multicultural settings. This can be effective,
especially if you have an extensive background
within a particular setting. But your topic need not
have anything to do with the obvious categories. You
could also talk about a unique extracurricular
activity, work experience, or hobby that has
influenced your development. Don't look for
prepackaged answers, but be sincere and reveal
something meaningful.
4. Don't pick something that everyone else has.
Make sure that the point you use to distinguish
yourself is actually noteworthy. For example, don't
say that what you have to contribute is your
communication skills and leadership ability.
Everyone will be emphasizing these skills in other
questions, and you will lose an opportunity to stand
out. Note: There are questions that simply ask about
your most important qualities, rather than what you
have to contribute to diversity. In those cases, you
should talk about the important themes with which
everyone else will be dealing, though finding an
original point in addition is always helpful.
5. Be sure to cite specific evidence. If
you're discussing an experience that has shaped your
perspective, focus on concrete details. If you're
discussing more abstract qualities that you possess,
offer examples to show how you cultivated those
qualities or how they came into play in your life.
This applicant moved
from a small country formerly of the Soviet Union to the
United States. Because his interest is in international
business, he is able to tie his cross-cultural
background to his past accomplishments and future plans
in the global economy--and to his involvement in the
school's student body.
The other angle some schools may take on diversity is to
ask about your experience in diverse situations. Again,
this should not be an invitation to deliver a paean to
diversity. If you're going to discuss the positive
influence that diversity had on a situation, be sure to
cite specific examples. Also, focus on your role even if
the question just asks about your experience, since
active contribution reveals more about your character
than passive response. You might emphasize such
qualities as your ability to communicate, to cooperate,
to bridge differences, and so on, but always include
specific examples to back them up. |
