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Diversity? Yes I know there are 1000 posts about this but I need help

• Thread starter strawberryskies
• Start date Jun 7, 2020

strawberryskies

Full member.

• Jun 7, 2020

deleted480308

An athiest at catholic school is interesting if you can explain that you can respect and work with folks of different beliefs  

the evil queen of numbers

Let's go with dance.... did you acquire any experience, either personally or through your interaction with other dancers, that gives you some insights into injuries specific to dancers? From personal experience, are you familiar with the muscle groups that are most prone to injury or that are most stressed? Would you know how to speak to a dancer about specific positions or moves that are exacerbating her pain? Do you know anything about how to properly stretch and warm-up to prevent injuries? Did you interact with dancers who developed eating disorders? What insights do you have that might be useful if you were treating a dancer?  

LizzyM said: Let's go with dance.... did you acquire any experience, either personally or through your interaction with other dancers, that gives you some insights into injuries specific to dancers? From personal experience, are you familiar with the muscle groups that are most prone to injury or that are most stressed? Would you know how to speak to a dancer about specific positions or moves that are exacerbating her pain? Do you know anything about how to properly stretch and warm-up to prevent injuries? Did you interact with dancers who developed eating disorders? What insights do you have that might be useful if you were treating a dancer? Click to expand...

HumanAfterAll

• Jun 8, 2020

HumanAfterAll said: Are these the type of questions we should focus on answering when writing a diversity prompt about a sport? Click to expand...

kiwiskye said: Thanks LizzyM , this is very helpful! I don't think I can fully answer all of these questions but this gives me a good starting point. Am I supposed to talk about how I would share this knowledge with my peers? Because I feel like for something like ballet it's not really something that would come up unless I specifically met a patient with dance injuries. Click to expand...

May I also ask this as I'm writing for the diversity question. I am thinking about writing something along the line that being an immigrant allows me to understand and sometimes be able to help to dissolve the cultural barrier when Chinese patient go to see doctors with a mindset to avoid taking medication? And I am often becoming an unofficial medical translator when I'm in hospitals. Do you guys think it's a good topic to write about?  

There are plenty of white / ORM matriculants from comfortable/privileged backgrounds; in fact, they form the majority of every class at every medical school. Where there's a will, there's a way.  

stormking said: May I also ask this as I'm writing for the diversity question. I am thinking about writing something along the line that being an immigrant allows me to understand and sometimes be able to help to dissolve the cultural barrier when Chinese patient go to see doctors with a mindset to avoid taking medication? And I am often becoming an unofficial medical translator when I'm in hospitals. Do you guys think it's a good topic to write about? Click to expand...

kiwiskye said: I know you were probably looking for a reply from the more qualified people here but that sounds like a great topic to me! Click to expand...

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May 8, 2024

The Diversity Essay: How to Write an Excellent Diversity Essay

What is a diversity essay in a school application? And why does it matter when applying to leading programs and universities? Most importantly, how should you go about writing such an essay?

Diversity is of supreme value in higher education, and schools want to know how every student will contribute to the diversity on their campus. A diversity essay gives applicants with disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds, an unusual education, a distinctive experience, or a unique family history an opportunity to write about how these elements of their background have prepared them to play a useful role in increasing and encouraging diversity among their target program’s student body and broader community.

The purpose of all application essays is to help the adcom better understand who an applicant is and what they care about. Your essays are your chance to share your voice and humanize your application. This is especially true for the diversity essay, which aims to reveal your unique perspectives and experiences, as well as the ways in which you might contribute to a college community.

In this post, we’ll discuss what exactly a diversity essay is, look at examples of actual prompts and a sample essay, and offer tips for writing a standout essay. 

In this post, you’ll find the following: 

What a diversity essay covers

How to show you can add to a school’s diversity, why diversity matters to schools.

• Seven examples that reveal diversity

Sample diversity essay prompts

How to write about your diversity.

• A diversity essay example

Upon hearing the word “diversity” in relation to an application essay, many people assume that they will have to write about gender, sexuality, class, or race. To many, this can feel overly personal or irrelevant, and some students might worry that their identity isn’t unique or interesting enough. In reality, the diversity essay is much broader than many people realize.

Identity means different things to different people. The important thing is that you demonstrate your uniqueness and what matters to you. In addition to writing about one of the traditional identity features we just mentioned (gender, sexuality, class, race), you could consider writing about a more unusual feature of yourself or your life – or even the intersection of two or more identities.

Consider these questions as you think about what to include in your diversity essay:

• Do you have a unique or unusual talent or skill?
• Do you have beliefs or values that are markedly different from those of the people around you? 
• Do you have a hobby or interest that sets you apart from your peers? 
• Have you done or experienced something that few people have? Note that if you choose to write about a single event as a diverse identity feature, that event needs to have had a pretty substantial impact on you and your life. For example, perhaps you’re part of the 0.2% of the world’s population that has run a marathon, or you’ve had the chance to watch wolves hunt in the wild.
• Do you have a role in life that gives you a special outlook on the world? For example, maybe one of your siblings has a rare disability, or you grew up in a town with fewer than 500 inhabitants.

If you are an immigrant to the United States, the child of immigrants, or someone whose ethnicity is underrepresented in the States, your response to “How will you add to the diversity of our class/community?” and similar questions might help your application efforts. Why? Because you have the opportunity to show the adcom how your background will contribute a distinctive perspective to the program you are applying to.

Of course, if you’re not underrepresented in your field or part of a disadvantaged group, that doesn’t mean that you don’t have anything to write about in a diversity essay.

For example, you might have an unusual or special experience to share, such as serving in the military, being a member of a dance troupe, or caring for a disabled relative. These and other distinctive experiences can convey how you will contribute to the diversity of the school’s campus.

Maybe you are the first member of your family to apply to college or the first person in your household to learn English. Perhaps you have worked your way through college or helped raise your siblings. You might also have been an ally to those who are underrepresented, disadvantaged, or marginalized in your community, at your school, or in a work setting. 

As you can see, diversity is not limited to one’s religion, ethnicity, culture, language, or sexual orientation. It refers to whatever element of your identity distinguishes you from others and shows that you, too, value diversity.

The diversity essay provides colleges the chance to build a student body that includes different ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, backgrounds, interests, and so on. Applicants are asked to illuminate what sets them apart so that the adcoms can see what kind of diverse views and opinions they can bring to the campus.

Admissions officers believe that diversity in the classroom improves the educational experience of all the students involved. They also believe that having a diverse workforce better serves society as a whole.

The more diverse perspectives found in the classroom, throughout the dorms, in the dining halls, and mixed into study groups, the richer people’s discussions will be.

Plus, learning and growing in this kind of multicultural environment will prepare students for working in our increasingly multicultural and global world.

In medicine, for example, a heterogeneous workforce benefits people from previously underrepresented cultures. Businesses realize that they will market more effectively if they can speak to different audiences, which is possible when members of their workforce come from various backgrounds and cultures. Schools simply want to prepare graduates for the 21st century job market.

Seven examples that reveal diversity

Adcoms want to know about the diverse elements of your character and how these have helped you develop particular  personality traits , as well as about any unusual experiences that have shaped you.

Here are seven examples an applicant could write about:

1. They grew up in an environment with a strong emphasis on respecting their elders, attending family events, and/or learning their parents’ native language and culture.

2. They are close to their grandparents and extended family members who have taught them how teamwork can help everyone thrive.

3. They have had to face difficulties that stem from their parents’ values being in conflict with theirs or those of their peers.

4. Teachers have not always understood the elements of their culture or lifestyle and how those elements influence their performance.

5. They have suffered discrimination and succeeded despite it because of their grit, values, and character.

6. They learned skills from a lifestyle that is outside the norm (e.g., living in foreign countries as the child of a diplomat or contractor; performing professionally in theater, dance, music, or sports; having a deaf sibling).

7. They’ve encountered racism or other prejudice (either toward themselves or others) and responded by actively promoting diverse, tolerant values.

And remember, diversity is not about who your parents are.  It’s about who you are  – at the core.

Your background, influences, religious observances, native language, ideas, work environment, community experiences – all these factors come together to create a unique individual, one who will contribute to a varied class of distinct individuals taking their place in a diverse world.

The best-known diversity essay prompt is from the  Common App . It states:

“Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.”

Some schools have individual diversity essay prompts. For example, this one is from  Duke University :

“We believe a wide range of personal perspectives, beliefs, and lived experiences are essential to making Duke a vibrant and meaningful living and learning community. Feel free to share with us anything in this context that might help us better understand you and what you might bring to our community.” 

And the  Rice University application includes the following prompt:

“Rice is strengthened by its diverse community of learning and discovery that produces leaders and change agents across the spectrum of human endeavor. What perspectives shaped by your background, experiences, upbringing, and/or racial identity inspire you to join our community of change agents at Rice?”

In all instances, colleges want you to demonstrate how and what you’ll contribute to their communities.

Your answer to a school’s diversity essay question should focus on how your experiences have built your empathy for others, your embrace of differences, your resilience, your character, and your perspective.

The school might ask how you think of diversity or how you will bring or add to the diversity of the school, your chosen profession, or your community. Make sure you answer the specific question posed by highlighting distinctive elements of your profile that will add to the class mosaic every adcom is trying to create. You don’t want to blend in; you want to stand out in a positive way while also complementing the school’s canvas.

Here’s a simple, three-part framework that will help you think of diversity more broadly:

Who are you? What has contributed to your identity? How do you distinguish yourself? Your identity can include any of the following: gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability, religion, nontraditional work experience, nontraditional educational background, multicultural background, and family’s educational level.

What have you done? What have you accomplished? This could include any of the following: achievements inside and/or outside your field of study, leadership opportunities, community service, internship or professional experience, research opportunities, hobbies, and travel. Any or all of these could be unique. Also, what life-derailing, throw-you-for-a-loop challenges have you faced and overcome?

How do you think? How do you approach things? What drives you? What influences you? Are you the person who can break up a tense meeting with some well-timed humor? Are you the one who intuitively sees how to bring people together? 

Read more about this three-part framework in Episode 193 of Accepted’s Admissions Straight Talk podcast or listen wherever you get your favorite podcast s.

Think about each question within this framework and how you could apply your diversity elements to your target school’s classroom or community. Any of these elements can serve as the framework for your essay.

Don’t worry if you can’t think of something totally “out there.” You don’t need to be a tightrope walker living in the Andes or a Buddhist monk from Japan to be able to contribute to a school’s diversity!

And please remember, the examples we have offered here are not exhaustive. There are many other ways to show diversity!

All you need to do to be able to write successfully about how you will contribute to the diversity of your target school’s community is examine your identity, deeds, and ideas, with an eye toward your personal distinctiveness and individuality. There is only one  you .

Take a look at the sample diversity essay in the next section of this post, and pay attention to how the writer underscores their appreciation for, and experience with, diversity. 

A diversity essay sample

When I was starting 11th grade, my dad, an agricultural scientist, was assigned to a 3-month research project in a farm village in Niigata (northwest Honshu in Japan). Rather than stay behind with my mom and siblings, I begged to go with him. As a straight-A student, I convinced my parents and the principal that I could handle my schoolwork remotely (pre-COVID) for that stretch. It was time to leap beyond my comfortable suburban Wisconsin life—and my Western orientation, reinforced by travel to Europe the year before. 

We roomed in a sprawling farmhouse with a family participating in my dad’s study. I thought I’d experience an “English-free zone,” but the high school students all studied and wanted to practice English, so I did meet peers even though I didn’t attend their school. Of the many eye-opening, influential, cultural experiences, the one that resonates most powerfully to me is experiencing their community. It was a living, organic whole. Elementary school kids spent time helping with the rice harvest. People who foraged for seasonal wild edibles gave them to acquaintances throughout the town. In fact, there was a constant sharing of food among residents—garden veggies carried in straw baskets, fish or meat in coolers. The pharmacist would drive prescriptions to people who couldn’t easily get out—new mothers, the elderly—not as a business service but as a good neighbor. If rain suddenly threatened, neighbors would bring in each other’s drying laundry. When an empty-nest 50-year-old woman had to be hospitalized suddenly for a near-fatal snakebite, neighbors maintained her veggie patch until she returned. The community embodied constant awareness of others’ needs and circumstances. The community flowed!

Yet, people there lamented that this lifestyle was vanishing; more young people left than stayed or came. And it wasn’t idyllic: I heard about ubiquitous gossip, long-standing personal enmities, busybody-ness. But these very human foibles didn’t dam the flow. This dynamic community organism couldn’t have been more different from my suburban life back home, with its insular nuclear families. We nod hello to neighbors in passing. 

This wonderful experience contained a personal challenge. Blond and blue-eyed, I became “the other” for the first time. Except for my dad, I saw no Westerner there. Curious eyes followed me. Stepping into a market or walking down the street, I drew gazes. People swiftly looked away if they accidentally caught my eye. It was not at all hostile, I knew, but I felt like an object. I began making extra sure to appear “presentable” before going outside. The sense of being watched sometimes generated mild stress or resentment. Returning to my lovely tatami room, I would decompress, grateful to be alone. I realized this challenge was a minute fraction of what others experience in my own country. The toll that feeling—and being— “other” takes on non-white and visibly different people in the US can be extremely painful. Experiencing it firsthand, albeit briefly, benignly, and in relative comfort, I got it.

Unlike the organic Niigata community, work teams, and the workplace itself, have externally driven purposes. Within this different environment, I will strive to exemplify the ongoing mutual awareness that fueled the community life in Niigata. Does it benefit the bottom line, improve the results? I don’t know. But it helps me be the mature, engaged person I want to be, and to appreciate the individuals who are my colleagues and who comprise my professional community. I am now far more conscious of people feeling their “otherness”—even when it’s not in response to negative treatment, it can arise simply from awareness of being in some way different.

What did you think of this essay? Does this middle class Midwesterner have the unique experience of being different from the surrounding majority, something she had not experienced in the United States? Did she encounter diversity from the perspective of “the other”? 

Here a few things to note about why this diversity essay works so well:

1. The writer comes from “a comfortable, suburban, Wisconsin life,” suggesting that her background might not be ethnically, racially, or in any other way diverse.

2. The diversity “points” scored all come from her fascinating experience of having lived in a Japanese farm village, where she immersed herself in a totally different culture.

3. The lessons learned about the meaning of community are what broaden and deepen the writer’s perspective about life, about a purpose-driven life, and about the concept of “otherness.” 

By writing about a time when you experienced diversity in one of its many forms, you can write a memorable and meaningful diversity essay.

Working on your diversity essay?

Want to ensure that your application demonstrates the diversity that your dream school is seeking?  Work with one of our admissions experts . This checklist includes more than 30 different ways to think about diversity to jump-start your creative engine.

Dr. Sundas Ali has more than 15 years of experience teaching and advising students, providing career and admissions advice, reviewing applications, and conducting interviews for the University of Oxford’s undergraduate and graduate programs. In addition, Sundas has worked with students from a wide range of countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, India, Pakistan, China, Japan, and the Middle East. Want Sundas to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch! 

Related Resources:

• Different Dimensions of Diversity , podcast Episode 193
• What Should You Do If You Belong to an Overrepresented MBA Applicant Group?
• Fitting In & Standing Out: The Paradox at the Heart of Admissions , a free guide

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2024-25 NC State Supplemental Essays – Prompts & Advice

August 12, 2024

Situated in the state capital of Raleigh, North Carolina State University is a stellar public research institution that attracts droves of high school stars from around the country. Known for its standout STEM and business programs, NC State rejects more applicants than it accepts. Further, the average enrolled student has 90th percentile SAT/ACT scores and a near-perfect GPA. Undoubtedly, it is accurate to say that NC State is significantly more selective than it was a generation ago. This brings us to the subject of the NC State supplemental essays.

 (Want to learn more about How to Get Into NC State? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into NC State: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

NC State’s 250-word essay prompt is “important” to the admissions process. Therefore, it is vital that all Wolfpack applicants dedicate a significant amount of time to this short answer question. Below are NC State’s supplemental prompts for the 2024-25 admissions cycle along with our advice for composing winning essays.

2024-2025 North Carolina State University Essay Questions

1) explain why you selected the academic program(s) above and why you are interested in studying these at nc state (250 words)..

This is part “Why Us?” and part “Explain Your Major”. Ultimately, your aim is to seamlessly touch on both topics in a tightly woven 250-word composition. For a deeper dive, let’s examine a list of characteristics of a winning NC State supplemental essay:

• Discuss the experiences, opportunities, interests, and/or activities (formal or informal) that led you to select your academic program of choice.
• Demonstrate how your goals align with the school’s mission statement. “NC State will be known as a diverse, equitable and inclusive community that has a transformative impact on society and advances the greater good.”
• Cite specific academic programs , professors , research opportunities , internship/externship programs , study abroad programs , student-run organizations , etc.
• Discuss how you will be an active, contributing member of the academic community at NC State.
• Discuss how you will take advantage of NC State’s immense resources both inside and outside of the classroom.
• Explain why NC State is an ideal-fit institution.

In any “Why Us?” composition, you need to show that you’ve done your homework on a given school. In addition to the pure research element, a lot of the time and skill required in creating a stellar NC State essay will involve connecting the classes, professors, opportunities, etc. of interest that you have uncovered to your distinct values, talents, aims, proficiencies, and future goals.

NC State Supplemental Essays (Continued)

2) discuss any other obstacles and/or hardships that you have encountered that have affected you personally or academically and how you dealt with them (250 words)..

This prompt is optional (truly)—you should only respond if you faced a significant hardship or obstacle that has not been discussed elsewhere on the application.

If you do elect to respond to this prompt, colleges like students who demonstrate grit, perseverance, and resilience as these qualities typically lead to success in a postsecondary environment. No matter what type of example you offer, demonstrating these admirable traits can do wonders for your admissions prospects. Examples of challenges could be academic in nature, such as a learning disability, or a tumultuous life event. For example, you moved in the middle of junior year, your parents got divorced, you were significantly impacted by an illness, or any number of other personal/family traumas one can name. Be as emotionally honest and nuanced as possible. Trust us—the reader will appreciate your honest thoughts more than clichés and platitudes.

How important are the NC State supplemental essays?

The essays (both the Common App essay and supplemental essays) are “important” to the NC State admissions committee. This places them as the fifth most important factor. The essays are behind only GPA, class rank, standardized test scores, and the rigor of your secondary school record.

Want personalized assistance with your NC State supplemental essays?

Interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your NC State supplemental essays? We encourage you to get a quote  today.

Looking for additional writing resources? Consider checking out the following:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• How to Quickly Format Your Common App Essay
• Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
• How to Brainstorm a College Essay
• 25 Inspiring College Essay Topics
• “Why This College?” Essay Examples
• How to Write the Community Essay
• College Essay

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

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How to Write the North Carolina State – Raleigh Essays 2020-2021

We’ve updated this post! Read the  2021-2022 NC State essay guide .

North Carolina State University, located in the heart of downtown Raleigh, is North Carolina’s largest public university. It was founded in 1887 with the goal of making a higher education available to a larger number of students, particularly the children of farmers and mechanics. Today, this research university maintains its strong agricultural program and places an important focus on engineering, teaching, and veterinary medicine, among other subjects, as it works to prepare students for a career after graduation.

NC State is a selective university with a 43.9% acceptance rate for its 2019 freshman class. Notably, it is ranked among the top 10 public universities in the U.S. for best value and ranked #1 for ROI out of North Carolina public universities.

In addition to the Common App or Coalition Application essay , North Carolina State University requires prospective undergraduate freshmen to write two supplemental essays of about 250 words each. Honors and Scholars applicants must write an additional essay of 500 words. CollegeVine is here to provide detailed tips and examples to help you approach the NC State supplemental essays. Want to know your chances at NC State? Calculate your chances for free right now.

Want to learn what NC State will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take? Here’s what every student considering NC State needs to know.

NC State Supplemental Essay Prompts

All applicants.

Prompt 1: Discuss your reasons for pursuing the Major/Academic Programs selected above? (250 words)

Prompt 2: NC State University is committed to building a just and inclusive community, one that does not tolerate unjust or inhumane treatment, and that denounces it, clearly and loudly. Please describe what those words mean to you and how you will contribute to a more diverse and inclusive NC State environment. (250 words)

University Honors Program Applicants

One of the key components of the university honors program is a set of special courses called hon seminars. you can learn more about them here . these discussion-based seminars are designed to expose students to the ways multiple disciplines approach and solve problems. discuss why you think courses like these are an important part of an undergraduate experience and how they would enhance your development and challenge your intellectual curiosity. (500 words), university scholars program applicants, part of the mission of the university scholars program is to offer students unique academic and enrichment programs that challenge them to be culturally-connected, informed, and engaged citizens. what does this mean to you and how does it connect to what you hope to be and who you hope to become (500 words), all applicants, prompt 1, discuss your reasons for pursuing the major/academic programs selected above (250 words).

This is the classic “ Why This Major? ” essay. Reading this prompt, it would be easy to fall into a trap of simply listing extracurriculars that you have done which relate to your intended major. For example, if you want to major in engineering, you would list that you participated in Science Olympiad and other STEM activities. However, avoid the urge to do this.

While you should certainly mention if there is a particular extracurricular that drove you to love this field, do not simply list the things that you have done relating to this major or program. Instead, you want to support your decision with content that the NCSU admissions officers have not yet seen on your application.

For example, you could tell a story about a moment during Science Olympiad when you encountered a project with applications beyond the club. Perhaps you discovered a robotic device to assist others and from that moment, you realized that this was a field where you could make an impact.

Questions to consider:

When did you decide to pursue this major/program? Why?

Think back to the things that first got you interested in the program you intend to pursue. For example, if math has been a passion of yours for a long time, then you could make a joke about your first memory being of doing a math problem. Or perhaps you always considered yourself a math person until you challenged yourself in a humanities class and discovered your passion for the subject.

What are the broader applications of this program?

Another factor that admissions officers will be looking for is your ability to exhibit how a degree from their school in this major would help you achieve your goals and make the world a better place. Try citing your career goals and how your major will help you achieve them. The admissions officers want to see your passion; they do not want to accept someone who is pre-med just because it is financially lucrative or because their parents want them to be a doctor.

How does your major connect with some of your other interests?

Admissions officers appreciate students who realize that their major has connections and relations to other subjects and activities. Referencing both shows you to be multidisciplinary and can highlight your personality by helping to show off interests other than your major. Be careful to not get carried away talking just about extracurriculars, however; make sure it relates back to your major.

An example of this: Philosophy, much like the jazz music I play on my piano, is all up to interpretation and how you see things. You can give any pianist the same chords and never get the same song. Similarly, after proposing a question to a group of philosophers, you will get myriad and innovative responses.

Why this major/program at NCSU and not another school?

The most important thing for this part of your response is doing research! If you incorporate NCSU into your essay, then you should avoid hackneyed statements like: “NCSU will help me pursue my dreams of becoming a civil engineer because they have a really good engineering program.” NC State puts a heavy focus on research and will appreciate someone who is ready to positively contribute to their community and is genuinely interested in the subject.

For research, you can look at the work that professors of your major are doing. You could also look at some of the clubs on campus and what kinds of projects they are working on or events they hold ─ admissions officers want to be able to picture you as an NC State student contributing to the community, so tell them what specific resources you would take advantage of on campus. For example, the civil engineering student interested in building safer bridges could write about how they want to join the NC State chapter of the American Concrete Institute in order to make concrete models of hybrid sliding-rocking columns.

It’s okay to be undecided.

One of the wonderful things about college is that it is a time to explore your interests and try new things! With this in mind, if you are not sure of your potential major, then provide examples of things that you want to try out at NC State. You could discuss how you may want to be an engineer but have worked with little kids as a camp counselor and would like to try teaching. For this, the same rules apply as above; do not list, but rather, be specific and tell a story about your background or how you would fit in at NCSU as you try new things and gain value from a multidisciplinary education! Here’s more tips on how to write the “Why This Major” essay if you’re undecided .

An example of what not to do:

I have a passion for learning about different cultures. I have studied French for six years and participated in an exchange trip after my freshman year for two weeks, allowing me to live with a family in Oyonnax, France. This experience, along with continued political discussions in the midst of the French and American elections, has inspired my interest in global affairs. I love communications, diplomacy, and politics. I want to go into international public service with a focus on human rights and be a voice for those who lack one.

One of the main reasons this “Why global affairs?” essay is not as strong is due to its “listiness” quality. Many of the items included in this essay are ones that the admissions office will already have read from the activities list on the Common Application; so, including them here wastes space that could be used to say something new.

How could it be improved? Telling a story and showing why you want to study this major is a good place to start. Focus on what was mentioned in the last sentence: “be[ing] a voice for those who lack one.” Have you had experience with this? Why is this important? Why have you enjoyed it in the past? The focus could also be placed on the part about the French and American elections: What was interesting about these discussions? How were the elections similar and different? Give specific details to strengthen your response. Here is an example:

“Macron a gagné,” my host mom said with a relieved sigh. It was 2017, and I was studying abroad as a homestay student in Oyonnax, France. The murmur of BFM TV became muted as I tuned into my own thoughts ─ I had just lived through my first French election, and it was a fascinating experience!

Since that day, I have been interested in the differences between French and American elections, and most of all, democratic power transitions. Elections to me are a universal human right ─ the peaceful transition of the torch of Lady Liberty, the keys to the kingdom, is a historical marvel. I want to keep democracy alive; by combining what I learned in Oyonnax and in Durham as a poll worker about political accountability, I aspire to start an election monitoring NGO specializing in my mother’s home country of Mali. Majoring in Political Science at NC State, with its unique Honors Program and faculty advisors who conduct comparative elections research, is the best stepping stone I could take to make my goal a reality…

All Applicants, Prompt 2

Nc state university is committed to building a just and inclusive community, one that does not tolerate unjust or inhumane treatment, and that denounces it, clearly and loudly. please describe what those words mean to you and how you will contribute to a more diverse and inclusive nc state environment. (250 words).

To start this essay, think about the concepts they want you to define: a just and inclusive community, denouncing inhuman treatment. Explain what they mean to you with a story, and connect the two concepts ─ to have a just and inclusive community, we must denounce inhuman treatment. You could begin the essay with first lines similar to the following:

The rain was pouring on us, the wind was gushing. I could barely keep my soaked eyes open, but I could still see the beauty of the moment. Thousands of people of every color and walk of life were marching together to support Black Lives Matter. The Raleigh Convention Center faded behind us as we moved closer to the state capitol ─ closer to progress. That was the day when I truly learned what a just and inclusive community looks like. 

A just and inclusive community is one where one person’s struggles and oppression, no matter how different they are from our own, are treated as everyone’s struggles and oppression. This community does not come about, but is created by denouncing inhuman treatment. The arc of the universe bends towards justice, but not without help.

I aspire to bend the arc of NC State’s community towards inclusiveness by…

The next step is to explain how you will contribute to diversity. Here are some tips for if you decide to discuss, at least in part, how you could contribute to the diverse student populus at NC State:

Pick an overarching idea you want to get across.

Doing this will allow you to focus on something that the admissions officers have not yet seen in your application, as well as allow you to provide supporting examples. This is also beneficial because who you are is made up of more than just one experience; therefore, by picking a theme, you can show things in your life that have helped you to become who you are.

For example, you can focus on how in whatever you do, you work to help and be a voice for others. From that, you pick two experiences that would support this ability to empathize with others: your work with a child with autism and being the co-founder of a reading program at the SPCA.

Questions to consider when deciding what makes you different from others.

Use these questions as a basis for figuring out what makes you unique. You can use one as your overarching idea or simply tell a story based off of one of these questions about something important in your life. Also note that you do not have to say, “I am diverse because…”

Your essay will be stronger if you focus on telling a story about the kind of person you are:

• How did the location you grew up in influence your identity?
• Does your family emphasize the importance of religion or culture?
• Did you grow up in an area with a lot of diversity?
• What are some of the things that get you fired up? What are you passionate about?
• Is there something that you could bring to NCSU that they don’t already have? (Example: You are a master at solving Rubik’s Cubes and would love to bring this quality to share with others at NC State.)

Benefiting From Diversity

The admissions officers will gather a lot about how you can contribute to diversity at NCSU. They also want to know how you will benefit from being around so many unique people. Note: It is okay to mention both what you will bring and how you will benefit but, as there is a limited amount of words for this essay, you could also focus on one.

• Have you lived in a diverse area before? If not, is there something that you think can be gained from diversity? Be specific! Avoid saying that you want to just “learn new things from new people,” but rather explain why this could be helpful to your education or growth as a person. For example, you could talk about how being around students who come from different cultures will help you realize how different people and beliefs intertwine. You could talk about how you are interested in learning about Middle Eastern Studies but haven’t ever met anyone from the Middle East. If you have, what did you gain from the interaction? What else would you gain from NC State? Talk about some of the benefits of diversity and how you expect, or do not expect, something similar at NC State.
• How would diversity help you understand the world around you or help prepare you for a job in the future? NCSU places a high priority on preparing you for a career after graduation. For example: You could talk about how with globalization, the world is getting smaller. It is now more important than ever to learn about other cultures. You could even mention how, along with this, you want to study abroad and experience even more diversity across the globe.

The University Honors Program provides a transformative learning experience that empowers students to critically engage meaningful problems in the world. Students in the University Honors Program are capable and motivated students who embrace interdisciplinary coursework and participate in disciplinary based research, scholarship, and creative activities.

The goal of HON seminars is to give honors students an interdisciplinary education based on research and discussion. You will want to start the essay by telling the story of the moment when you realized why such an education is important for the world we live in today. For example, the introduction could be:

We didn’t win the bottle rocket competition in AP Physics by chance. There was something our team had that resulted in the creation of the Velox rocket, a four foot, multi-chambered missile made from Sprite bottles. Our team had José, who laid the blueprints for our rocket with attention to detail. Muhammadu kept the team united and focused with his management skills, while Alexis crunched the numbers to optimize our aerodynamics. I added a Space X-style paint job to the body and fins and wrote our project report. I believe that our rocket soared into the sky on launch day not because each of us was a genius, but because we combined our diverse perspectives and skills with open communication and a passion for research. As our rocket landed on a nearby house, I saw the power of interdisciplinary teamwork.

Interdisciplinary teamwork not only produces bottle rockets, but real rockets. It is crucial for the undergraduate experience today because…

To explain how HON seminars are important to you specifically, think about your goals. What skills and personal values do you want to develop during undergrad, and what are you intellectually curious about? Look into the details of the HON seminars and choose a specific seminar that would help you go beyond your general education and reach your unique goals. 

You can begin this part of the essay with a connecting phrase such as “Interdisciplinary teamwork would be crucial for my own undergraduate experience.” Explain how your skills and personal values could benefit from an interdisciplinary environment and learning by doing. For example, if you wanted to develop your leadership skills during undergrad, you could talk about how an HON seminar would allow you to intellectually lead through discussion-based classes and research conducted with a socratic philosophy. 

Mention a topic that you would be excited to explore in your chosen HON seminar. Highlight why you have intellectual curiosity about this topic, and what questions you have about it. Show your passion here by probing deep. If you are interested in astrophysics, talk about how you would like your idea of starting an asteroid mining business to be intellectually challenged during the Science, American Style HON seminar. 

Conclude by tying your own intellectual curiosity back to the NC State community. Explain how you are ready to meet others who love asking questions, enjoy working with people who have completely different backgrounds and perspectives, and value mind-on learning.

A good start to this essay would be to show, rather than tell, what being a culturally-connected, informed, and engaged citizen means to you. The one thing you do not want to do with this essay is define the terms in the format of a list, e.g. “being culturally-connected means x, being informed means y, and being engaged means z.” Instead, describe moments in your life when you lived out these citizenship values firsthand.

One example could involve being an event planning volunteer at the International Festival of Raleigh. Here you would paint a picture of cultural connectedness using words, like this:

And so, the festival was coming to an end. As I gazed at the country flags on the ceiling of the Raleigh Convention Center, I saw a human story in every one. The flag of Belarus took me back to the first time I tried blini at the food stand, and the flag of Timor Leste reminded me of asking Cidália how the tais cloth at her booth was made. Reflecting on these experiences, I felt culturally-connected─I could attach cultures not to academic ideas or stereotypes, but to complex and authentic human stories.

Continue this model to explain what being an informed and engaged citizen means. To define “informed,” ask yourself what subjects should ideally be considered the most important for students to learn during their K-12 education before entering “the real world.” To define “engaged,” ask yourself what activities are essential to keeping society functioning or making it run better. 

Next, connect yourself to the picture with a few sentences such as the following:

I aspire to be an engaged citizen by working to solve my community’s shortage of rare earth minerals ─ now by taking apart old phones, and in the future by mining asteroids. Most of all, I aspire to live life as a leader who gives everyone a seat at the table. 

Then explain why you have these goals. Avoid making this part a “Why This Major” essay, and focus your attention on linking your choices to being a culturally-connected, informed, and engaged citizen.

While writing this part, take a look at the University Scholars Program (USP) website . Pull one recent news story, engagement activity, or Scholars Forum topic from the website that interests you and goes along with your goals. Weave this into your explanation of what and who you want to be. Conclude with the message that you hope to emulate the engaged citizenship displayed by the USP activity or graduate you choose as a hopeful USP graduate yourself. Here is an example:

I know that the University Scholars Program is the right program for me because its Scholars Forum speakers gaze at the stars like I do. I am thrilled to see that Christina Hammock was a USP alumna and that the program helped launch her success at NASA. She undoubtedly benefited from the USP’s encouragement of bold intellectual curiosity through its interdisciplinary, research-based education. Just NC State’s electrical engineering and physics programs were able to give Christina the opportunities to research science instrument development, they could afford me hands-on opportunities to build a prototype asteroid mining excavator. I hope to be an engaged citizen by creating the most environmentally friendly solution possible to the rare earth mineral shortage, and most of all, an accomplished USP physics and electrical engineering graduate like Christina. 

Good luck on your North Carolina State University application!

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NC State reverses course on DEI application question

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February 21, 2023

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North Carolina State University will no longer require applicants to answer an essay question affirming the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) agenda, according to the school’s media relations department.

N.C. State has come under fire for the question , which tells students the university “is committed to building a just and inclusive community” and rejects “unjust or inhumane treatment” and will denounce it “clearly and loudly.” The university then prompts students to write a maximum 250-word essay describing “what those words mean to you and how you will contribute to a more diverse and inclusive environment.”

In a statement emailed to Carolina Journal, NC State media relations head Mick Kulikowski said the essay question was made mandatory beginning with the 2021 admissions cycle, saying, “Students were not able to submit their applications without answering the question.”

But moving forward, “the question will no longer be required,” Kulikowski said.

Asked which criteria are used to evaluate answers to the DEI essay question, Kulikowski said, “NC State reviews applications holistically taking into account the student’s academic achievement, involvement outside of the classroom, interest in academic major, and the applicant’s story.”

The UNC System Boards of Governors is meeting this week to consider passing a policy banning the type of statement included on the NC State application.

The wording of that resolution states: “The University shall neither solicit nor require an employee or applicant for academic admission or employment to affirmatively ascribe to or opine about beliefs, affiliations, ideals, or principles regarding matters of contemporary political debate or social action as a condition to admission, employment, or professional advancement.”

The university’s application question came to light after Carolina Partnership for Reform raised concerns that it signaled that the school discourages dissent or would force self-censorship among students.

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NC State Demographics & Diversity Report

Nc state student population, how many students attend north carolina state university, nc state undergraduate population.

The full-time NC State undergraduate population is made up of 49% women, and 51% men.

NC State Racial/Ethnic Breakdown of Undergraduates

NC State Graduate Student Population

About 52% of full-time grad students are women, and 48% men.

NC State Racial-Ethnic Breakdown of Graduate Students

Racial/Ethnic Diversity

Nc state racial demographics:.

High Racial/Ethnic Diversity Among Faculty

North Carolina State University Faculty Racial/Ethnic Demographics:

NC State Male/Female Diversity

Even balance of male & female teachers.

There are more female teachers than male teachers at this school.

Average Geographic Diversity

The undergraduate student body is split among 40 states (may include Washington D.C.). Click on the map for more detail.

Top 5 States

International Students at NC State

High student age diversity.

A traditional college student is defined as being between the ages of 18-21. At NC State, 54.50% of students fall into that category, compared to the national average of 60%.

Notes and References

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The Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity (OIED) is now the Office of Equal Opportunity. NC State’s campus community centers are moving from OIED to the Division of Academic and Student Affairs (DASA). The Disability Resource Office will move from DASA to the Office of Equal Opportunity. We are in the process of updating our website to reflect these changes.

Our NC State value of 'respect' conveys the hope and expectation that your unique expression of yourself will be valued, and likewise that you are called upon to value the same in others.

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NC State Supplemental Essay Examples

North Carolina State University is a highly-ranked public research university in Raleigh, North Carolina . Holding the #72 spot on the U.S. News Best National Universities list, NC State is known nationwide. Accordingly, NC State admissions is competitive, meaning applicants must craft strong NC State supplemental essays for a chance of acceptance. Reading effective NC State supplemental essay examples can help you learn how to craft your own.

NC State essay examples, like any well-written sample college essay, each work for their own reasons. This guide will delve into three NC State supplemental essay examples, starting with a why this major essay example. Then, we’ll analyze an obstacle essay. Finally, we’ll closely read a cultural diversity essay. By breaking down NC State supplemental essay examples, we’ll help you prepare to write your own NC State supplemental essays.

How many essays does NC State require?

Before approaching any NC State supplemental essay examples, you should know how many you’ll have to write. To put it simply, there are three required essays and one optional essay. If you know how to get into NC State, you know that all your essays should be as strong as possible. But what exactly are the NC State supplemental essays?

Applicants can complete the NC State application on either the Common Application or Scoir (also known as the Coalition Application). The NC State personal statement is the essay required by these application platforms. As it’s so common, there is no shortage of sample college essay resources for this NC State personal statement. In this guide, however, we will only review NC State supplemental essay examples for the NC State-specific prompts.

It’s important to note that while the NC State admissions page only lists one required prompt, there are indeed three. You can confirm which NC State supplemental essay examples are required on the Common App website . We’ll further explore the essay prompts for the NC State application soon.

Applicants may also indicate their interest in the prestigious NC State University Honors Program. There are additional required NC State supplemental essays for applicants to the UHP.

NC State University Honors Program

The NC State University Honors Program challenges highly motivated students with unique opportunities, including Honors seminars and the Honors Forum. Additionally, Honors students can engage in special research, creative, and academic pursuits both on- and off-campus. The application process is correspondingly challenging, requiring more NC State supplemental essays.

There are two additional NC State supplemental essays you must write for the UHP . We don’t have NC State supplemental essay examples for these two, but the prompts are similar to those of other Honors programs nationwide.

Here are the UHP essay prompts:

1. one of the key components of the university honors program is a special set of courses called honors (hon) seminars. you can learn more about them here. these discussion-based seminars are designed to expose students to the ways multiple disciplines approach and solve problems. review the courses we have offered in recent years and write a 250-350 word essay in which you explain why one particular course will be of interest, furthering your academic, professional, and personal goals while engaging you and your peers., 2. another key component of the university honors program is the honors forum. the honors forum is designed to help students become active, informed, and engaged citizens. it delivers debates and discussions about contemporary social, political, and scientific issues; lectures from people with compelling stories to tell; and performances from a diverse collection of artists. you can learn more about it here. as a uhp student, imagine you are tasked with helping select speakers and topics for the honors forum. in an essay of 250-350 words, tell us what speaker, creative figure, or topic would you promote how did you make your choice how does your choice educate, challenge, and inspire others.

In general, these essays should be particularly strong, featuring introspection on your experiences and your future. You should emphasize academic curiosity, particular offerings of the program , and, if possible, concrete aspirations. Make sure to highlight your thirst for knowledge and willingness to engage with the world and people around you. Check out our guides for Boston , Brown , Purdue , and Clemson Universities for some advice on similar essays.

NC State Supplemental Essay Prompts

As stated above, our three NC State supplemental essay examples will cover the three NC State supplemental essay prompts. All NC State supplemental essays have a 250-word limit. The prompts are:

1. Explain why you selected the academic program(s) above and why you are interested in studying these at NC State.

2. nc state university is committed to building a just and inclusive community, one that does not tolerate unjust or inhumane treatment, and that denounces it, clearly and loudly. please describe what those words mean to you and how you will contribute to a more diverse and inclusive nc state environment., 3. discuss any other obstacles and/or hardships that you have encountered that have affected you personally or academically and how you dealt with them..

Of course, the wording of the prompts can change between admissions cycles. As a result, NC State supplemental essay examples that worked may look different from year to year. In fact, two of our NC State supplemental essay examples address slightly different versions of the current prompts. However, the best approach for NC State essay examples is still the same.

NC State Supplemental Essay Prompts Breakdown

Let’s briefly discuss the best way to approach each prompt. Keep these tips in mind as you read our NC State supplemental essay examples and our specific commentary on each one. How can you implement these in your own essays?

Why this major essay

The first prompt is a fairly standard why this major essay example combined with a why school essay example. When applying to NC State, first-year applicants are required to choose a first- and second-choice major . There are scores of NC State majors but no undecided option. So, even if you aren’t entirely sure, do your best to choose a major you’re interested in.

NC State essay examples that answer this prompt well are clear about their interest in a specific field of study. Equally important is specificity regarding the school. You’ve probably heard this advice a thousand times: talk about programs, professors, or courses you like. It’s cliché, but it’s true. Doing your research on a school never hurts, and the best NC State essay examples leverage that research.

Cultural diversity essay

The next prompt is essentially a cultural diversity essay, asking about your contribution to a diverse community. NC State essay examples answering this will have an extra point to consider: denouncing injustice. There are infinite ways to approach this one, as everyone brings something unique to campus. But it’s important to address the prompt’s question of what a “just and inclusive community” means to you.

Obstacle essay

Lastly, there is the optional obstacle essay. At first, “any other obstacles” may make it seem like this is a space to detail extenuating circumstances. Indeed, writing about personal hardships is absolutely acceptable, especially if you’re explaining a dip or gap in your academic history. On the other hand, if you have a more general academic or personal challenge, write it. Knowing how to get into NC State means knowing how to deepen your personal narrative . These 250 words can do just that. In other words, don’t think of this as just an optional essay.

Finally, before we look at some NC State supplemental essay examples, remember that they’re broadly useful. Even if you’re not completing an NC State application, these NC State supplemental essay examples answer common essay prompts. In other words, the NC State supplemental essay examples and advice we give may prove helpful with other college essays.

NC State Essay Example #1 – Why Major/Why School?

The first of our NC State supplemental essay examples answers the following prompt:

Discuss your reasons for pursuing the Major/Academic Program selected above.

You’ll notice it’s a reworded version of the first prompt. Here is the sample college essay:

NC State Essay Example #1

As an innovator and creative thinker with a love of math and science, I am interested in pursuing a career in engineering. I will contribute my natural curiosity to the NC State learning community while developing critical thinking skills and collaborating with my peers. 

Why this NC State essay worked

First of all, you’re may be thinking, “Is that it?” Remember that prompts can change from year to year. When this essay was submitted, this prompt had a 50-word limit. However, even short NC State essay examples have something to teach us—especially for other short-answer essays. In essays this short, every word counts.

When writing NC State supplemental essay examples, it can be challenging to stay concise. With a prompt this short, you have no choice. Short NC State supplemental essays have no room for the anecdotes and dialogue found in an NC State personal statement. This writer states clearly what kind of student they are, their areas of interest, and aspirations for college and beyond. Although stylistically different from a narrative why this major essay example, it still checks all the boxes of an effective sample college essay.

In fact, it’s not a far leap to adapt NC State essay examples like this for the current prompt. The author could write about a time they demonstrated the qualities laid out so neatly in this essay. If you’re getting lost in the weeds drafting an essay, take a step back. Can you write what you want to say in 50 words? Give it a try—you may find that you just need to clarify your vision.

NC State Supplemental Essay Example #2 – Obstacle Essay

The second of our NC State supplemental essay examples is about obstacles. Specifically, it answers this prompt:

Discuss any obstacles and/or hardships you have encountered and how you dealt with them.

This is nearly identical to the current third prompt, except that the current version specifies that obstacles can be personal or academic. Let’s read the essay, which also had a different—longer—word limit when it was submitted:

NC State Essay Example #2

A familiar sense of dread washed over me as I contemplated suffering through yet another group project. My AP Language class was essentially a yearlong exercise in collaboration. The groups always consisted of a leader personality and a few follower types, and I had come to expect directing projects assuming all responsibility. This time, I would have to lead my team in creating a video and website, while resisting the temptation to do the project myself. I struggled to make myself vulnerable by releasing control. 

I was always placed with two students who consistently saved their work until the night before it was due. My mind went on autopilot, organizing my time to complete the entire project myself. I tirelessly researched facts and wrote a script for our video, individually bearing the load of an assignment designed for three people. As the deadline approached, my stress level and workload increased. I realized something had to change. I embraced the different learning styles and work ethics of my group. Typically, I would choose to collaborate with students I know well, but it can prove deadly for creativity. While working on the website, I assigned each person a specific task so that everyone was invested in the outcome. Leading this diverse team by delegating produced better results. In the past, my classmates had depended on me, but this time, I insisted on equal contributions. Our website was much better as a culmination of everyone’s ideas instead of a reflection of only my own. Through this and future projects, I learned to thrive on collaborating for a common purpose. 

I have translated my delegation skills directly into my life. When I paint houses with Habitat for Humanity, I have seen how effective collaboration helps others who are less fortunate. Even though it can be challenging to entrust the outcome to others, each person in our group has a different skill set to aid in the completion of the house. Whether working at school or in the community, I have learned that delegating the work is essential to successful collaboration.

Why this NC Supplemental Essay worked

Effective NC State supplemental essays for this prompt will be both retrospective and introspective. That is to say, they reflect not only on the obstacle, but how you navigated it with your tools and knowledge. What did you learn about yourself in the process? Did overcoming this obstacle change you?

This author is frank about their control issues and how this character flaw was hindering their group work. Clearly, they have thought a lot about their approach to group projects, as well as their struggles with leadership. Additionally, they acknowledged their history of working with the same people and why that is often unproductive. Acknowledging personal flaws and growing with them is welcome in NC State supplemental essays.

Good NC State essay examples like this one are also full of specific details. Here, the writer delineates their process of realizing the problem, then delegating tasks. The reader can see into the writer’s thought process, following their shift in perspective. Details help to root NC State essays examples in reality and keep the reader engaged.

Finally, the writer draws connections between this experience and other areas of their life. This is a great strategy for showing that you can apply lessons to different situations and recognize those links. Good NC State supplemental essay examples are able to illustrate the relationships among various skills, experiences, and activities. Moreover, great NC State State essay examples can show those through time: how could this challenging experience inform your future?

NC State Essay Example #3 – Diverse Community Essay

The last of our NC State supplemental essay examples addresses the following prompt:

NC State is a community that is strong because of the diversity of our perspectives and experiences. Please describe how you could contribute to or benefit from campus diversity. 

This prompt looks the most different from its current version, though it’s still very similar. The current prompt includes NC State’s vision for an inclusive community and asks for a response. With that said, let’s read the last of our NC State essay examples.

NC State Essay Example #3

Diversity is the culmination of experiences and backgrounds within a community. 

Through my diversity of opinion, I have contributed to my high school classroom as well as [NAME OF SCHOOL REDACTED]. In my AP Literature class, I look beyond the literal meaning of a poem and into the deeper meaning, often suggesting a contrasting interpretation. I play the Devil’s advocate in an AP Government debate to explore the many facets of an issue. In my AP Spanish class, I apply my grammatical knowledge to our class discussion of the differences between the Mexican and American education systems. While attending [NAME OF SCHOOL REDACTED] for instrumental music, I had a unique perspective as a French horn player in a large orchestra. I will continue to seek out opportunities to provide various perspectives in a classroom setting, respect differences of opinion, and promote intellectual curiosity. 

Why this essay worked

By opening with their definition of diversity, the writer provides a frame for understanding the rest of their essay. This can be helpful for prompts that could have multiple different interpretations depending on the individual. Even more, it can help you set the theme for your essay.

This writer centers the intellectual diversity they bring to the table, from poetry analysis to debate. By providing several discrete examples, they evoke both the multitude of things they do and the various perspectives they hold. They show the reader that they consider topics from all angles and try to find new points of view.

Aside from the wealth of examples, the writer strikes a balance between showing and telling. Another piece of advice college applicants never stop hearing, showing-not-telling is important. However, it’s also critical to arrive at your point. What are these examples and anecdotes for? This writer closes by looking to the future and how their intellectual curiosity will underpin their approach to college.

Are NC State Supplemental Essays important?

As you cannot submit your application without NC State supplemental essays, yes, they’re important. But more than just fulfilling a requirement, NC State supplemental essays show NC State admissions officers who you are. In addition to the NC State personal statement, NC State supplemental essays demonstrate your personal and intellectual character. 

Even if you know all about how to get into NC State, an acceptance letter is never guaranteed. As one of the top schools in North Carolina , NC State is in high demand, especially among North Carolina residents. In light of that, highly polished and intentional essays are a must.

Another confounding factor is test-optional admissions . NC State has gone test-optional through fall 2024 in response to the challenges of testing during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the most recent admissions cycle, 53% of students applied without submitting test scores. In such cases, the rest of an NC State application is weighed more heavily. Especially for students applying without test scores, strong NC State essays can make or break your NC State admissions chances.

If you’re banking on financial aid and scholarships, applying early with well-crafted NC State supplemental essays is the best strategy. Early deadlines usually yield higher acceptances and more financial aid, no matter what school. The NC State Early Action deadline is November 1st , so make sure you start writing early to get ahead.

Getting Started on your NC State Essays

By now, you’ve read some NC State supplemental essay examples and are ready to start writing your own. Right? Or maybe you’re not sure what to write about. Choosing a topic is the first step to writing college essays. Reflection and brainstorming exercises can help you think of potential topics. Start your college admissions process early to give yourself plenty of time to think, draft, and edit.

For example, you might try a free write. Pick a prompt, set a ten-minute timer, and write anything that comes to mind. These could be isolated words or whole sentences spanning a wide range of possible topics. After the timer goes off, you may have the seeds for a few drafts.

You could also try making a mind map. Choose a prompt and a topic, like an extracurricular activity or experience, then make a web of ideas around it. This can be helpful if you already know your subject but aren’t sure about what exactly you want to say.

If you’re having trouble with the first prompt, try reading another why school essay example or two. Think about what you know about NC State, why you like it, and why it’s on your college list. There should be reasons beyond high rankings , like programs, location, or campus culture. Try to link those to your academic interests in your NC State supplemental essays.

However you approach your essays, make sure to edit your drafts with the help of others. Revise your NC State personal statement thoroughly , since you’ll likely send it to multiple colleges. Even before closely proofreading your essays, you should edit them for clarity—do they address the prompt? Also, you should ask a trusted peer or adult for feedback to further refine your essays.

More CollegeAdvisor Resources to Support You

CollegeAdvisor.com has no shortage of resources for you to use in your college admissions journey. If you’re still researching colleges, take a look at our college finder series. This series covers the college search , college list , and comparing colleges . If you’ve narrowed your scope to North Carolina, we have a list of the best colleges and universities in the state .

In addition to these NC State supplemental essay examples, we have sample college essay articles for dozens of colleges. Whether NC State is your dream school or you’re applying to other great universities, our essay guides can help you.

In particular, we have a whole guide to the “ why this school ” essay, featuring longer essay examples and detailed analysis. For help with the cultural diversity essay prompt, check out our webinar on highlighting your own diverse perspective. Finally, we have more general guides to writing outstanding supplemental essays, as well as a wide array of essay examples .

As for the NC State personal statement, we have a ton of panels and advice straight from Admissions Officers. We even have a webinar entirely on personal statement revision . And if you’re starting early (smart!), we have tips on using the summer to draft your personal statement.

NC State Supplemental Essay Examples – Final Thoughts

We looked at three different NC State supplemental essay examples and why they worked. Good NC State supplemental essays address the prompt directly and concisely. While narrative NC State supplemental essay examples are common, we saw that you don’t always need an anecdote. Rather, you should focus on clearly conveying the qualities that will help you succeed at and contribute to NC State.

NC State University is one of the best universities in North Carolina, and among the top universities nationwide. As a renowned research university, NC State offers a top-tier education for those who can impress NC State admissions. A successful NC State application needs polished NC State supplemental essays. Reading NC State essay examples is a good place to start.

As part of our mission to demystify college admissions, all of our articles and webinars are free to use. We also have an extensive network of Admissions Experts who can provide personalized, one-on-one support on your schedule. Whether you’re wrapping up sophomore year or about to become a senior, we’ll work with you on your admissions strategy.

This essay examples guide was written by senior advisor, Gina Goosby . Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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N.C. State Requires DEI Statements from Student Applicants

Only school in the UNC System to require a DEI statement

Princeton University prof: “There are a lot of similarities between these diversity statements as they’re being applied now and [McCarthy-era] loyalty oaths”

N.C. State University requires prospective students to explain how they intend to “contribute to a more diverse and inclusive N.C. State environment” if granted admission:

NC State University is committed to building a just and inclusive community, one that does not tolerate unjust or inhumane treatment, and that denounces it, clearly and loudly. Please describe what those words mean to you and how you will contribute to a more diverse and inclusive NC State environment.

By our analysis, it’s the only university in the UNC System to include such a requirement on its undergraduate application.

We can’t divine the intent of N.C. State’s application writers or the admissions officer who evaluates these statements to determine which students earn acceptance.

But we can render a pretty good guess on the impact: N.C. State’s DEI prompt almost certainly stops qualified and intelligent high school students who would have applied but for that question from entering N.C. State’s applicant pool. 

More ominously, it may keep qualified and intelligent high school students who answer the question honestly, but in a way that doesn’t adhere to N.C. State’s DEI orthodoxy, from being accepted at all. 

A popular (and nonpolitical) podcast that offers parents advice for helping their children navigate college admissions called the question “the loudest, most vocal, bold, even brazen” example of a DEI statement requirement they’ve seen in the admissions process.

Dissent Has No Place Here

In our view, the problem isn’t in the words themselves. One can imagine a broad array of potential responses to that question that fit well within the wide bounds of reasonable discourse.

The problem is two-fold: 1) The prompt is ripe for admissions officers to enforce intellectual conformity and root out students who don’t buy into social justice or critical theory dogma; and 2) It forces more sophisticated applicants to feign adherence to the doctrine that oozes from every word of that prompt.

On both counts, the question “clearly and loudly” discourages dissent from the prevailing orthodoxy that we’ve warned about for the past two months.

Start with problem one first. The prompt requires students to support a “just and inclusive community.” But what qualifies as “just and inclusive” is in the eye of the beholder – in this case, an admissions officer.

One can imagine a host of responses that a DEI-oriented admissions officer would find problematic. Here are some examples:

I will contribute to a more diverse N.C. State by loudly and boldly asserting my belief that DEI initiatives have zero impact on actually advancing diversity, and may even have negative impacts. I believe this based on research conducted by Harvard University’s Roland Fryer, who received a MacArthur “Genius” grant for his previous work. I intend to share my perspective in class and during DEI training sessions.

Former President Barack Obama said in his landmark 2004 DNC address, “Go into any inner-city neighborhood, and folks will tell you that government alone can’t teach kids to learn…That children can’t achieve unless we raise their expectations and turn off the television sets and eradicate the slander that says a black youth with a book is acting white.” I will use my training at N.C. State to work towards a more just future by building on research into cultural explanations, including “acting white,” for racial gaps in educational attainment.

We don’t know if those arguments are right or wrong, but we do know they’ve been advanced by former presidents and Ivy League economists, and that they belong within the realm of acceptable university discourse.

But just Google that passage from Obama’s 2004 speech and you’ll find pages and pages of vicious denunciations. The same goes for Roland Fryer.

It’s not hard to see how an admissions officer would conclude such views violate N.C. State’s “just and inclusive” mission, especially because they dissent from the ideology expressed on N.C. State’s own website.

You might think that only a fool would respond to the admissions prompt in that way, and you’re probably right. Which brings us to the second problem.

Does the Admissions Prompt Improve or Worsen Self-Censorship?

Most, if not all, prospective applicants who really think through the purpose of the prompt would craft a response that admissions officers want to hear. Either that, or the students will just not apply.

As the podcasters quoted at the top said, “If [admissions officers] get a response that is either just veiled platitudes or even just a ‘meh’ response…then [they’ll] pass, move onto the person that has a different reaction.”

It certainly is a special form of brazen to impose an admissions requirement of this sort right after the UNC System’s own survey concluded , “We find that a significant number of students have concerns about stating their sincere political views in class and have self-censored because they were concerned about the potential reactions.”

It’s this exact problem that Princeton University’s Keith Whittington addressed when he said this month , “There are a lot of similarities between these diversity statements as they’re being applied now and how [McCarthy-era] loyalty oaths worked.”

At bottom, N.C. State has to decide whether the benefits of requiring DEI statements from students outweigh the impacts on intellectual diversity and the fraught implications for admissions decisions.

In our view, there are plenty of other ways N.C. State can weed out actual white supremacists from its applicant pool if that is truly their goal.

But if their goal is to create a student body devoid of intellectual diversity and creativity, a student body that is indoctrinated into a way of thinking instead of being taught how to think, then a forceful, “brazen” DEI requirement clearly serves N.C. State’s purpose.

UNC-Chapel Hill Shows the Way

We kicked up a hornets nest. keep kicking.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, nc state's campus diversity.

Hey, I've been looking into NC State and I'm curious about the campus diversity there. What kind of a mix of students are there in terms of race, ethnicity, and background? Is it an inclusive environment?

NC State University is known to have a diverse student population. According to recent data, here is the demographic breakdown for degree-seeking undergraduates:

- White: 56.8%

- Black/African American: 10.5%

- Hispanic/Latinx: 9%

- Asian: 6.1%

- Two or more races: 4.7%

- Non-resident alien: 4.4%

- Unknown: 3.2%

- American Indian/Alaskan Native: 0.5%

- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.3%

This diverse mixture of students also comes from various ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, which contributes to an even richer campus life and plenty of opportunities to learn about other cultures from one's peers. NC State also offers several support resources to help create an inclusive environment. These resources include the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity (OIED), which promotes diversity and inclusivity through various programs, workshops, and initiatives.

NC State is also home to several cultural and diversity-focused student organizations, including the Black Students Board, Latin American Student Association, and Asian Students Association. These organizations host events, provide support, and create an inclusive environment for students of various backgrounds. Additionally, the Multicultural Student Affairs office also supports underrepresented students and helps develop cultural competence among the wider campus community.

While examining campus diversity, it's also essential to consider the personal experiences of current students and alumni. Though efforts have been made to ensure inclusivity, the environment may vary based on the experiences and expectations of individual students. To gain better insight into the campus atmosphere, you might consider reaching out to current students and alumni through social media platforms, forums, or campus visits if possible, especially those whose identities overlap with your own. Gathering a variety of perspectives will help you form a clearer understanding of the campus diversity and inclusivity at NC State.

If you think NC State is a place where you'd thrive, both personally and academically, and are looking for tips on how to maximize your chances of acceptance, check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which breaks down how to tackle their school-specific supplemental essays: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-north-carolina-state-university-essays. Good luck with your college search!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

Park Scholarships Announces the Class of 2028

The  Park Scholarships program provides a four-year scholarship to NC State University awarded on the basis of outstanding accomplishments and potential in scholarship, leadership, service and character.

Support the next generation of Park Scholars as they learn, lead, serve and grow

Become a Park Scholar

Park Scholars participate in a series of enrichment experiences for personal and professional growth

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The Park Scholarships network is a thriving resource for current students and alumni alike

What Makes a Park Scholar?

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Park Scholars are intellectually curious students who seek learning experiences beyond the classroom.

Daniel Haller ’22, a 2020 Goldwater Scholar, knew when he came to NC State he wanted to study global infectious diseases. More »

Park Scholars listen well, lead by example, take risks, and champion original ideas.

As Student Body President, Timothy Reid ’24 is working to advance policies to improve student well-being. More »

Park Scholars dedicate themselves to making a positive difference in their communities.

Nicholas Oyarzun ’24 and Sam Dotson ’24 created Park Under-Resourced Assistance (PURA) to help bring outstanding students to NC State and the Park Scholarships program. More »

Park Scholars demonstrate the highest levels of integrity, honesty, and conscientiousness.

Elizabeth Dogbe ’21 is passionate about transportation planning and traffic operations and will graduate ready to pursue a meaningful career making transit systems more equitable. More »

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