cultural awareness college essay

Cultural Awareness: Understanding and Acceptance Essay

Depending on the context in which it has been used, the term ‘culture’ can mean many different things. In this study, I shall focus on the meaning that is linked to the customs, beliefs and practices of a group of people.

Culture has been defined in different ways by different people. For instance, Brooks Peterson attempts to define culture as “Culture is the relatively stable set of inner values and beliefs generally held by groups of people in countries or regions and the noticeable impact those values and beliefs have on the peoples’ outward behaviors and environment” (Peterson, 2004).

However, to provide an adequate definition for the word ‘culture’, we must include a few things in the definition: language, arts and sciences, thought, religion or spirituality, social activity and interaction. Therefore to define culture, one must highlight the above aspects of an individual’s life. In my opinion, culture is the combination of language, arts, custom, beliefs/ religion or spirituality, thoughts, sciences, social activities and interactions of a group of people.

Multicultural Education

For us to correctly define what ‘multicultural education’ is, we must first determine what the terms ‘multicultural’ and ‘education’ mean. Multicultural refers to the presence of a number of distinct cultures. Education is the process of passing knowledge through a structured learning process.

According to Thomas L. Wells, Multicultural education refers to ‘…an education in which the individual child of whatever origin finds, not mere acceptance or tolerance, but respect and understanding. It is an education in which cultural diversity is seen and used…to enrich the lives of all…in which differences and similarities are used for positive ends. It is an education in which every child has the chance to benefit from the cultural heritage of others as well as his or her own’ (Shapson, 1984).

Multicultural education is, therefore, education which highlights diversities with respect to culture. These diversities are used to create awareness among children in a class setting. In multicultural education, a child learns to appreciate other cultures, as well as their own.

How multicultural education address cultural differences and cultural bias in an educational setting

Multicultural education addresses cultural differences and cultural bias by recognizing these differences and using them to educate students in class. For instance, by celebrating and taking note of holidays and great men and women in different cultures, students are able to learn about other cultures and appreciate their histories (Banks, 2010).

Multicultural education could also be used to eliminate cultural bias by incorporating certain cultural aspects and practices into the learning process. This diversifies the syllabus and enables students to view their cultures as well as other student’s cultures through different perspectives. This promotes understanding which breeds unity (Gargiulo, 2012).

Organizing a day for students to highlight the practices and customs of their culture is also essential in enabling the teacher to understand individual students better. During these ‘culture days’, there should be open class discussions which provide students with the opportunity to talk about their cultures openly. For instance, if in a certain culture maintaining eye contact is frowned upon; the teacher understands it when a student from that culture never maintains eye contact while answering questions in class (Banks, 2007).

To breed further unity in a class setting where different cultures are represented, it is important to ensure that interaction between the students promotes cultural awareness and understanding. For instance, when organizing group discussions, the instructors should ensure that all groups are well represented. The membership of each group should be diverse to promote equality through interaction.

This system of education ensures that learners and teachers alike avoid cultural bias. Teachers are expected to understand that cultural differences directly influence a student’s behavior. Students should not be expected to react and behave in the same ways.

My Preconceptions and how this research has changed them

Prior to this research, I was under the impression that cultural differences were mainly with respect to race and skin color. However, I have now learnt that the differences are diverse, ranging from customs, religion, spiritual beliefs, language etc.

My preconceptions about multicultural education revolved mainly on educating students about their cultural differences. I was also focused on ways in which they should embrace unity and equality and avoid cultural bias. However, form my research, I uncovered that multicultural education is involved in a wider scope of cultural education and awareness. Aside from highlighting cultural differences, multicultural education incorporates these differences into the class setting and provides students with the opportunity to share, explain and celebrate the different aspects of their cultures. My research also helped me discover that students can be useful tools in dissuading cultural bias, and promoting understanding in the class setting. This is duty is not reserved for teachers and educators.

The impact of this new understanding

With this new understanding, I am now able to make use of the various mechanisms available through multicultural education to avoid cultural diversity. I will use this knowledge to try and understand students from different cultures better.

To ensure that no culture bias is bred among my students, I will make sure that, in all group discussions, there is diversity in terms of the cultures represented in each group. This will help breed unity among the students, irrespective of individual backgrounds.

I will also encourage my students to celebrate their cultures as well as other cultures by organizing a day each month for this purpose. On these days, we shall hold open class discussions and students will be given the opportunity to talk freely about their cultures. This will provide an insight into other cultures as well as appreciating one’s own culture.

To further promote cultural understanding, I plan on initiating projects such as asking the students to write papers on a different culture from their own. This will help me understand the students’ perspective on other cultures and whether there are any issues that need to be addressed.

I also intend to celebrate special cultural days and heroes from different cultures. This will enable my students to realize the importance of other cultures, their beliefs as well as their practices. This will ensure that there is no room for cultural discrimination and bias in my classroom.

This study has also helped me realize the impact of cultural diversity on a student’s behavior. It is clear that no two students can be expected to behave the same, not even those who share the same cultural background. This enables me as an instructor to avoid putting pressure on my students to behave in a certain manner.

Banks, J. A. (2007). Educating citizens in a multicultural society (2. ed.). New York: Teachers College Press.

Banks, J. A., & Banks, C. A. (2010). Multicultural education: issues and perspectives (7th ed.). Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley.

Gargiulo, R. M. (2012). Special education in contemporary society: an introduction to exceptionality (4th ed.). Los Angeles: SAGE Publications.

Peterson, B. (2004). Cultural intelligence: a guide to working with people from other cultures . Yarmouth, Me.: Intercultural Press.

Shapson, S. (1984). Bilingual and multicultural education: Canadian perspectives . Clevedon, Avon: Multilingual Matters.

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IvyPanda. (2022, July 18). Cultural Awareness: Understanding and Acceptance. https://ivypanda.com/essays/cultural-awareness-understanding-and-acceptance-essay/

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Best Culture Essay Examples

Cultural awareness.

787 words | 3 page(s)

This assignment will be about cultural awareness. It will discuss bullet points outlined in the instructions and then close with some gains and new awareness brought up from personal growth as well as what has been learned during the duration of taking this course. Let’s begin about where I originally came from as it is important to the entire message within this paper.

I grew up in a very small town in the flat and desolate state of Kansas. If there was such thing as culture it probably revolved around sports and religion. Growing up there was television, but it never does it justice in comparison to real life. When I did finally move to a larger city, it was very shocking to see other cultures moving about, going about their daily lives. What is interesting is in the beginning you don’t really know how to act. I felt like a foreigner in my own country. It should be stated that outlook has vastly changed over the course of fifteen years.

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I would say there have been many internal hurdles that were faced early on with basic interactions with other cultures. Every culture has minor nuances, and some may practice other moral codes than some other. Luckily I was blessed with the ability of silent observation and so I would take in the actions of mannerisms of other cultures, while silently formulating my own opinions. By doing this it allowed me to adjust to any awkward situations, without making a scene. Although the drawback to this is that sometimes it causes a person to make too many assumptions, and that is the foundation for prejudices and stereotypes. Although in contrast stereotypes have to exist based on some reoccurring pattern; we are just a society of: guilt by association.

Another way to overcome this is to simply take an interest in other cultures. Traveling and diverse schools are a great way to integrate one’s self into other cultures first hand. Traveling abroad puts you out of your element, and makes you humble and vulnerable; the only option you have is to adapt and accept. The same rule applies in any large city in the United States. Places like New York, L.A., San Francisco are melting pots which have hosted diverse cultures since they were first founded.

In today’s society you have to let go of biases, they will only hold you back. Racism, or prejudices in the workplace will get you no where and you be legally terminated from jobs based on racist behavior. The country has adopted a no tolerance to this now as it should be. In regards to a managerial role involving biases, you have to look beyond that. Focus on the qualifications and skills of the candidate, and most importantly how personable they are in relation to working well in a team. Culture, religion, sex, sexual preference, race, or gender should not even be a factor.

This course has taught me a lot in regards to dealing with cultural diversity in the workplace. With all of the examples used during this course it is actually quite sickening to think about how things used to be done in the workplace. We as a society seem so modern in comparison to only 50 years ago. One great example of workplace evolution is the C.I.A. In the 1940’s nearly no women held any position of authority, and were used as spies. Fast forward to current times and now the C.I.A. is made up of nearly all women, with the number two in charge being a woman.

You can also be legally sued or terminated for any type of discrimination. In this tough economy it would be wise to keep any negative opinions of any other culture or sexual orientation out of the equation, lest you be fired and probably blacklisted from trying to find any other type of work. People work better together if they know they can be comfortable and free. While this doesn’t give anybody the right to push their beliefs or sexual preferences upon anyone, especially in the workplace, but if they or I conduct myself in a professional manner befitting of the workplace; than that should be fine. In the end even outside of the workplace you will be a better person for not making assumptions or casting discrimination upon any race or gender. It is the right way to live, to accept people from all walks of live. America was founded on immigrants from other places, so the fact that the country has had a history of racism and discrimination is contradictory to the whole premise of the country in the first place.

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Cultural Diversity Essay & Community Essay Examples

If you’ve started to research college application requirements for the schools on your list, you might have come across the “cultural diversity essay.” In this guide, we’ll explore the cultural diversity essay in depth. We will compare the cultural diversity essay to the community essay and discuss how to approach these kinds of supplements. We’ll also provide examples of diversity essays and community essay examples. But first, let’s discuss exactly what a cultural diversity essay is. 

The purpose of the cultural diversity essay in college applications is to show the admissions committee what makes you unique. The cultural diversity essay also lets you describe what type of “ diversity ” you would bring to campus.

We’ll also highlight a diversity essay sample for three college applications. These include the Georgetown application essay , Rice application essay , and Williams application essay . We’ll provide examples of diversity essays for each college. Then, for each of these college essays that worked, we will analyze their strengths to help you craft your own essays. 

Finally, we’ll give you some tips on how to write a cultural diversity essay that will make your applications shine. 

But first, let’s explore the types of college essays you might encounter on your college applications. 

Types of College Essays

College application requirements will differ among schools. However, you’ll submit one piece of writing to nearly every school on your list—the personal statement . A strong personal statement can help you stand out in the admissions process. 

So, how do you know what to write about? That depends on the type of college essay included in your college application requirements. 

There are a few main types of college essays that you might encounter in the college admissions process. Theese include the “Why School ” essay, the “Why Major ” essay, and the extracurricular activity essay. This also includes the type of essay we will focus on in this guide—the cultural diversity essay. 

“Why School” essay

The “Why School ” essay is exactly what it sounds like. For this type of college essay, you’ll need to underscore why you want to go to this particular school. 

However, don’t make the mistake of just listing off what you like about the school. Additionally, don’t just reiterate information you can find on their admissions website. Instead, you’ll want to make connections between what the school offers and how you are a great fit for that college community. 

“Why Major” essay

The idea behind the “Why Major ” essay is similar to that of the “Why School ” essay above. However, instead of writing about the school at large, this essay should highlight why you plan to study your chosen major.

There are plenty of directions you could take with this type of essay. For instance, you might describe how you chose this major, what career you plan to pursue upon graduation, or other details.

Extracurricular Activity essay

The extracurricular activity essay asks you to elaborate on one of the activities that you participated in outside of the classroom. 

For this type of college essay, you’ll need to select an extracurricular activity that you pursued while you were in high school. Bonus points if you can tie your extracurricular activity into your future major, career goals, or other extracurricular activities for college. Overall, your extracurricular activity essay should go beyond your activities list. In doing so, it should highlight why your chosen activity matters to you.

Cultural Diversity essay

The cultural diversity essay is your chance to expound upon diversity in all its forms. Before you write your cultural diversity essay, you should ask yourself some key questions. These questions can include: How will you bring diversity to your future college campus? What unique perspective do you bring to the table? 

Another sub-category of the cultural diversity essay is the gender diversity essay. As its name suggests, this essay would center around the author’s gender. This essay would highlight how gender shapes the way the writer understands the world around them. 

Later, we’ll look at examples of diversity essays and other college essays that worked. But before we do, let’s figure out how to identify a cultural diversity essay in the first place. 

How to identify a ‘cultural diversity’ essay

So, you’re wondering how you’ll be able to identify a cultural diversity essay as you review your college application requirements. 

Aside from the major giveaway of having the word “diversity” in the prompt, a cultural diversity essay will ask you to describe what makes you different from other applicants. In other words, what aspects of your unique culture(s) have influenced your perspective and shaped you into who you are today?

Diversity can refer to race, ethnicity, first-generation status, gender, or anything in between. You can write about a myriad of things in a cultural diversity essay. For instance, you might discuss your personal background, identity, values, experiences, or how you’ve overcome challenges in your life. 

However, don’t feel limited in what you can address in a cultural diversity essay. The words “culture” and “diversity” mean different things to different people. Above all, you’ll want your diversity essays for college to be personal and sincere. 

How is a ‘community’ essay different? 

A community essay can also be considered a cultural diversity essay. In fact, you can think of the community essay as a subcategory of the cultural diversity essay. However, there is a key difference between a community essay and a cultural diversity essay, which we will illustrate below. 

You might have already seen some community essay examples while you were researching college application requirements. But how exactly is a community essay different from a cultural diversity essay?

One way to tell the difference between community essay examples and cultural diversity essay examples is by the prompt. A community essay will highlight, well, community . This means it will focus on how your identity will shape your interactions on campus—not just how it informs your own experiences.

Two common forms to look out for

Community essay examples can take two forms. First, you’ll find community essay examples about your past experiences. These let you show the admissions team how you have positively influenced your own community. 

Other community essay examples, however, will focus on the future. These community essay examples will ask you to detail how you will contribute to your future college community. We refer to these as college community essay examples.

In college community essay examples, you’ll see applicants detail how they might interact with their fellow students. These essays may also discuss how students plan to positively contribute to the campus community. 

As we mentioned above, the community essay, along with community essay examples and college community essay examples, fit into the larger category of the cultural diversity essay. Although we do not have specific community essay examples or college community essay examples in this guide, we will continue to highlight the subtle differences between the two. 

Before we continue the discussion of community essay examples and college community essay examples, let’s start with some examples of cultural diversity essay prompts. For each of the cultural diversity essay prompts, we’ll name the institutions that include these diversity essays for college as part of their college application requirements. 

What are some examples of ‘cultural diversity’ essays? 

Now, you have a better understanding of the similarities and differences between the cultural diversity essay and the community essay. So, next, let’s look at some examples of cultural diversity essay prompts.

The prompts below are from the Georgetown application, Rice application, and Williams application, respectively. As we discuss the similarities and differences between prompts, remember the framework we provided above for what constitutes a cultural diversity essay and a community essay. 

Later in this guide, we’ll provide real examples of diversity essays, including Georgetown essay examples, Rice University essay examples, and Williams supplemental essays examples. These are all considered college essays that worked—meaning that the author was accepted into that particular institution. 

Georgetown Supplementals Essays

Later, we’ll look at Georgetown supplemental essay examples. Diversity essays for Georgetown are a product of this prompt: 

As Georgetown is a diverse community, the Admissions Committee would like to know more about you in your own words. Please submit a brief essay, either personal or creative, which you feel best describes you. 

You might have noticed two keywords in this prompt right away: “diverse” and “community.” These buzzwords indicate that this prompt is a cultural diversity essay. You could even argue that responses to this prompt would result in college community essay examples. After all, the prompt refers to the Georgetown community. 

For this prompt, you’ll want to produce a diversity essay sample that highlights who you are. In order to do that successfully, you’ll need to self-reflect before putting pen to paper. What aspects of your background, personality, or values best describe who you are? How might your presence at Georgetown influence or contribute to their diverse community? 

Additionally, this cultural diversity essay can be personal or creative. So, you have more flexibility with the Georgetown supplemental essays than with other similar diversity essay prompts. Depending on the direction you go, your response to this prompt could be considered a cultural diversity essay, gender diversity essay, or a college community essay. 

Rice University Essays

The current Rice acceptance rate is just 9% , making it a highly selective school. Because the Rice acceptance rate is so low, your personal statement and supplemental essays can make a huge difference. 

The Rice University essay examples we’ll provide below are based on this prompt: 

The quality of Rice’s academic life and the Residential College System are heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural traditions each student brings. What personal perspective would you contribute to life at Rice? 

Breaking down the prompt.

Like the prompt above, this cultural diversity essay asks about your “life experiences,” “cultural traditions,” and personal “perspectives.” These phrases indicate a cultural diversity essay. Keep in mind this may not be the exact prompt you’ll have to answer in your own Rice application. However, future Rice prompts will likely follow a similar framework as this diversity essay sample.

Although this prompt is not as flexible as the Georgetown prompt, it does let you discuss aspects of Rice’s academic life and Residential College System that appeal to you. You can also highlight how your experiences have influenced your personal perspective. 

The prompt also asks about how you would contribute to life at Rice. So, your response could also fall in line with college community essay examples. Remember, college community essay examples are another sub-category of community essay examples. Successful college community essay examples will illustrate the ways in which students would contribute to their future campus community. 

Williams Supplemental Essays

Like the Rice acceptance rate, the Williams acceptance rate is also 9% . Because the Williams acceptance rate is so low, you’ll want to pay close attention to the Williams supplemental essays examples as you begin the writing process. 

The Williams supplemental essays examples below are based on this prompt: 

Every first-year student at Williams lives in an Entry – a thoughtfully constructed microcosm of the student community that’s a defining part of the Williams experience. From the moment they arrive, students find themselves in what’s likely the most diverse collection of backgrounds, perspectives, and interests they’ve ever encountered. What might differentiate you from the 19 other first-year students in an Entry? What perspective would you add to the conversation with your peer(s)?

Reflecting on the prompt.

Immediately, words like “diverse,” “backgrounds,” “perspectives,” “interests,” and “differentiate” should stand out to you. These keywords highlight the fact that this is a cultural diversity essay. Similar to the Rice essay, this may not be the exact prompt you’ll face on your Williams application. However, we can still learn from it.

Like the Georgetown essay, this prompt requires you to put in some self-reflection before you start writing. What aspects of your background differentiate you from other people? How would these differences impact your interactions with peers? 

This prompt also touches on the “student community” and how you would “add to the conversation with your peer(s).” By extension, any strong responses to this prompt could also be considered as college community essay examples. 

Community Essays

All of the prompts above mention campus community. So, you could argue that they are also examples of community essays. 

Like we mentioned above, you can think of community essays as a subcategory of the cultural diversity essay. If the prompt alludes to the campus community, or if your response is centered on how you would interact within that community, your essay likely falls into the world of college community essay examples. 

Regardless of what you would classify the essay as, all successful essays will be thoughtful, personal, and rich with details. We’ll show you examples of this in our “college essays that worked” section below. 

Which schools require a cultural diversity or community essay? 

Besides Georgetown, Rice, and Williams, many other college applications require a cultural diversity essay or community essay. In fact, from the Ivy League to HBCUs and state schools, the cultural diversity essay is a staple across college applications. 

Although we will not provide a diversity essay sample for each of the colleges below, it is helpful to read the prompts. This will build your familiarity with other college applications that require a cultural diversity essay or community essay. Some schools that require a cultural diversity essay or community essay include New York University , Duke University , Harvard University , Johns Hopkins University , and University of Michigan . 

New York University

NYU listed a cultural diversity essay as part of its 2022-2023 college application requirements. Here is the prompt:

NYU was founded on the belief that a student’s identity should not dictate the ability for them to access higher education. That sense of opportunity for all students, of all backgrounds, remains a part of who we are today and a critical part of what makes us a world class university. Our community embraces diversity, in all its forms, as a cornerstone of the NYU experience. We would like to better understand how your experiences would help us to shape and grow our diverse community.

Duke university.

Duke is well-known for its community essay: 

What is your sense of Duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you? If there’s something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well.

A top-ranked Ivy League institution, Harvard University also has a cultural diversity essay as part of its college application requirements: 

Harvard has long recognized the importance of student body diversity of all kinds. We welcome you to write about distinctive aspects of your background, personal development, or the intellectual interests you might bring to your Harvard classmates.

Johns hopkins university.

The Johns Hopkins supplement is another example of a cultural diversity essay: 

Founded in the spirit of exploration and discovery, Johns Hopkins University encourages students to share their perspectives, develop their interests, and pursue new experiences. Use this space to share something you’d like the admissions committee to know about you (your interests, your background, your identity, or your community), and how it has shaped what you want to get out of your college experience at Hopkins. 

University of michigan.

The University of Michigan requires a community essay for its application: 

Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong and describe that community and your place within it. 

Community essay examples.

The Duke and Michigan prompts are perfect illustrations of community essay examples. However, they have some critical differences. So, if you apply to both of these schools, you’ll have to change the way you approach either of these community essays. 

The Duke prompt asks you to highlight why you are a good match for the Duke community. You’ll also see this prompt in other community essay examples. To write a successful response to this prompt, you’ll need to reference offerings specific to Duke (or whichever college requires this essay). In order to know what to reference, you’ll need to do your research before you start writing. 

Consider the following questions as you write your diversity essay sample if the prompt is similar to Duke University’s

• What values does this college community have? 
• How do these tie in with what you value? 
• Is there something that this college offers that matches your interests, personality, or background?  

On the other hand, the Michigan essay prompt asks you to describe a community that you belong to as well as your place within that community. This is another variation of the prompt for community essay examples. 

To write a successful response to this prompt, you’ll need to identify a community that you belong to. Then, you’ll need to think critically about how you interact with that community. 

Below are some questions to consider as you write your diversity essay sample for colleges like Michigan: 

• Out of all the communities you belong to, which can you highlight in your response? 
• How have you impacted this community? 
• How has this community impacted you?

Now, in the next few sections, we’ll dive into the Georgetown supplemental essay examples, the Rice university essay examples, and the Williams supplemental essays examples. After each diversity essay sample, we’ll include a breakdown of why these are considered college essays that worked. 

Georgetown Essay Examples

As a reminder, the Georgetown essay examples respond to this prompt: 

As Georgetown is a diverse community, the Admissions Committee would like to know more about you in your own words. Please submit a brief essay, either personal or creative, which you feel best describes you.

Here is the excerpt of the diversity essay sample from our Georgetown essay examples: 

Georgetown University Essay Example

The best thing I ever did was skip eight days of school in a row. Despite the protests of teachers over missed class time, I told them that the world is my classroom. The lessons I remember most are those that took place during my annual family vacation to coastal Maine. That rural world is the most authentic and incredible classroom where learning simply happens and becomes exponential. 

Years ago, as I hunted through the rocks and seaweed for seaglass and mussels, I befriended a Maine local hauling her battered kayak on the shore. Though I didn’t realize it at the time, I had found a kindred spirit in Jeanne. Jeanne is a year-round resident who is more than the hard working, rugged Mainer that meets the eye; reserved and humble in nature, she is a wealth of knowledge and is self-taught through necessity. With thoughtful attention to detail, I engineered a primitive ramp made of driftwood and a pulley system to haul her kayak up the cliff. We diligently figured out complex problems and developed solutions through trial and error.

After running out of conventional materials, I recycled and reimagined items that had washed ashore. We expected to succeed, but were not afraid to fail. Working with Jeanne has been the best classroom in the world; without textbooks or technology, she has made a difference in my life. Whether building a basic irrigation system for her organic garden or installing solar panels to harness the sun’s energy, every project has shown me the value of taking action and making an impact. Each year brings a different project with new excitement and unique challenges. My resourcefulness, problem solving ability, and innovative thinking have advanced under her tutelage. 

While exploring the rocky coast of Maine, I embrace every experience as an unparalleled educational opportunity that transcends any classroom environment. I discovered that firsthand experience and real-world application of science are my best teachers. In school, applications of complex calculations and abstract theories are sometimes obscured by grades and structure. In Maine, I expand my love of science and renourish my curious spirit. I am a highly independent, frugal, resilient Mainer living as a southern girl in NC. 

Why this essay worked

This is one of the Georgetown supplemental essay examples that works, and here’s why. The author starts the essay with an interesting hook, which makes the reader want to learn more about this person and their perspective. 

Throughout the essay, the author illustrates their intellectual curiosity. From befriending Jeanne and creating a pulley system to engineering other projects on the rocky coast of Maine, the author demonstrates how they welcome challenges and work to solve problems. 

Further, the author mentions values that matter to them—taking action and making an impact. Both facets are also part of Georgetown’s core values . By making these connections in their essay, the author shows the admissions committee exactly how they would be a great fit for the Georgetown community. 

Finally, the author uses their experience in Maine to showcase their love of science, which is likely the field they will study at Georgetown. Like this writer, you should try to include most important parts of your identity into your essay. This includes things like life experiences, passions, majors, extracurricular activities for college, and more. 

Rice University Essay Examples

The Rice University essay examples are from this prompt: 

The quality of Rice’s academic life and the Residential College System are heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural traditions each student brings. What personal perspective would you contribute to life at Rice? (500-word limit)

Rice university essay example.

Like every applicant, I also have a story to share. A story that makes me who I am and consists of chapters about my life experiences and adventures. Having been born in a different country, my journey to America was one of the most difficult things I had ever experienced. Everything felt different. The atmosphere, the places, the food, and especially the people. Everywhere I looked, I saw something new. Although it was a bit overwhelming, one thing had not changed.

The caring nature of the people was still prevalent in everyday interactions. I was overwhelmed by how supportive and understanding people were of one another. Whether it is race, religion, or culture, everyone was accepted and appreciated. I knew that I could be whoever I wanted to be and that the only limitation was my imagination. Through hard work and persistence I put my all in everything that I did. I get this work ethic from my father since he is living proof that anything can be accomplished with continued determination. Listening to the childhood stories he told me, my dad would reminisce about how he was born in an impoverished area in a third world country during a turbulent and unpredictable time.

Even with a passion for learning, he had to work a laborious job in an attempt to help his parents make ends meet. He talked about how he would study under the street lights when the power went out at home. His parents wanted something better for him, as did he. Not living in America changed nothing about their work ethic. His parents continued to work hard daily, in an attempt to provide for their son. My dad worked and studied countless hours, paying his way through school with jobs and scholarships. His efforts paid off when he finally moved to America and opened his own business. None of it would have been possible without tremendous effort and dedication needed for a better life, values that are instilled within me as well, and this is the perspective that I wish to bring to Rice. 

This diversity essay sample references the author’s unique life experiences and personal perspective, which makes it one example of college essays that worked. The author begins the essay by alluding to their unique story—they were born in a different country and then came to America. Instead of facing this change as a challenge, the author shows how this new experience helped them to feel comfortable with all kinds of people. They also highlight how their diversity was accepted and appreciated. 

Additionally, the author incorporates information about their father’s story, which helps to frame their own values and where those values came from. The values that they chose to highlight also fall in line with the values of the Rice community. 

Williams Supplemental Essay Examples

Let’s read the prompt that inspired so many strong Williams supplemental essays examples again: 

Every first-year student at Williams lives in an Entry—a thoughtfully constructed microcosm of the student community that’s a defining part of the Williams experience. From the moment they arrive, students find themselves in what’s likely the most diverse collection of backgrounds, perspectives and interests they’ve ever encountered. What might differentiate you from the 19 other first-year students in an entry? What perspective(s) would you add to the conversation with your peers?

Williams college essay example.

Through the flow in my head

See you clad in red

But not just the clothes

It’s your whole being

Covering in this sickening blanket

Of heat and pain

Are you in agony, I wonder?

Is this the hell they told me about?

Have we been condemned?

Reduced to nothing but pain

At least we have each other

In our envelopes of crimson

I try in vain

“Take my hands” I shriek

“Let’s protect each other, 

You and me, through this hell”

My body contorts

And deforms into nothingness

You remain the same

Clad in red

With faraway eyes

You, like a statue

Your eyes fixed somewhere else

You never see me

Just the red briefcase in your heart

We aren’t together

It’s always been me alone

While you stand there, aloof, with the briefcase in your heart.

I wrote this poem the day my prayer request for the Uighur Muslims got denied at school. At the time, I was stunned. I was taught to have empathy for those around me. Yet, that empathy disappears when told to extend it to someone different. I can’t comprehend this contradiction and I refuse to. 

At Williams, I hope to become a Community Engagement Fellow at the Davis Center. I hope to use Williams’ support for social justice and advocacy to educate my fellow classmates on social issues around the world. Williams students are not just scholars but also leaders and changemakers. Together, we can strive to better the world through advocacy.

Human’s capability for love is endless. We just need to open our hearts to everyone. 

It’s time to let the briefcase go and look at those around us with our real human eyes.

We see you now. Please forgive us.

As we mentioned above, the Williams acceptance rate is incredibly low. This makes the supplemental essay that much more important. 

This diversity essay sample works because it is personal and memorable. The author chooses to start the essay off with a poem. Which, if done right, will immediately grab the reader’s attention. 

Further, the author contextualizes the poem by explaining the circumstances surrounding it—they wrote it in response to a prayer request that was denied at school. In doing so, they also highlight their own values of empathy and embracing diversity. 

Finally, the author ends their cultural diversity essay by describing what excites them about Williams. They also discuss how they see themselves interacting within the Williams community. This is a key piece of the essay, as it helps the reader understand how the author would be a good fit for Williams. 

The examples provided within this essay also touch on issues that are important to the author, which provides a glimpse into the type of student the author would be on campus. Additionally, this response shows what potential extracurricular activities for college the author might be interested in pursuing while at Williams. 

How to Write a Cultural Diversity Essay

You want your diversity essay to stand out from any other diversity essay sample. But how do you write a successful cultural diversity essay? 

First, consider what pieces of your identity you want to highlight in your essay. Of course, race and ethnicity are important facets of diversity. However, there are plenty of other factors to consider. 

As you brainstorm, think outside the box to figure out what aspects of your identity help make up who you are. Because identity and diversity fall on a spectrum, there is no right or wrong answer here. 

Fit your ideas to the specific school

Once you’ve decided on what you want to represent in your cultural diversity essay, think about how that fits into the college of your choice. Use your cultural diversity essay to make connections to the school. If your college has specific values or programs that align with your identity, then include them in your cultural diversity essay! 

Above all, you should write about something that is important to you. Your cultural diversity essay, gender diversity essay, or community essay will succeed if you are passionate about your topic and willing to get personal. 

Additional Tips for Community & Cultural Diversity Essays

1. start early.

In order to create the strongest diversity essay possible, you’ll want to start early. Filling out college applications is already a time-consuming process. So, you can cut back on additional stress and anxiety by writing your cultural diversity essay as early as possible. 

2. Brainstorm

Writing a cultural diversity essay or community essay is a personal process. To set yourself up for success, take time to brainstorm and reflect on your topic. Overall, you want your cultural diversity essay to be a good indication of who you are and what makes you a unique applicant. 

3. Proofread

We can’t stress this final tip enough. Be sure to proofread your cultural diversity essay before you hit the submit button. Additionally, you can read your essay aloud to hear how it flows. You can also can ask someone you trust, like your college advisor or a teacher, to help proofread your essay as well.

Other CollegeAdvisor Essay Resources to Explore

Looking for additional resources on supplemental essays for the colleges we mentioned above? Do you need help with incorporating extracurricular activities for college into your essays or crafting a strong diversity essay sample? We’ve got you covered. 

Our how to get into Georgetown guide covers additional tips on how to approach the supplemental diversity essay. If you’re wondering how to write about community in your essay, check out our campus community article for an insider’s perspective on Williams College.

Want to learn strategies for writing compelling cultural diversity essays? Check out this Q&A webinar, featuring a former Georgetown admissions officer. And, if you’re still unsure of what to highlight in your community essay, try getting inspiration from a virtual college tour . 

Cultural Diversity Essay & Community Essay Examples – Final Thoughts

Your supplemental essays are an important piece of the college application puzzle. With colleges becoming more competitive than ever, you’ll want to do everything you can to create a strong candidate profile. This includes writing well-crafted responses for a cultural diversity essay, gender diversity essay, or community essay. 

We hope our cultural diversity essay guide helped you learn more about this common type of supplemental essay. As you are writing your own cultural diversity essay or community essay, use the essay examples from Georgetown, Rice, and Williams above as your guide. 

Getting into top schools takes a lot more than a strong resume. Writing specific, thoughtful, and personal responses for a cultural diversity essay, gender diversity essay, or community essay will put you one step closer to maximizing your chances of admission. Good luck!

CollegeAdvisor.com is here to help you with every aspect of the college admissions process. From taking a gap year to completing enrollment , we’re here to help. Register today to receive one-on-one support from an admissions expert as you begin your college application journey.

This essay guide was written by senior advisor, Claire Babbs . 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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Cultural Identity Essay

27 August, 2020

12 minutes read

Author:  Elizabeth Brown

No matter where you study, composing essays of any type and complexity is a critical component in any studying program. Most likely, you have already been assigned the task to write a cultural identity essay, which is an essay that has to do a lot with your personality and cultural background. In essence, writing a cultural identity essay is fundamental for providing the reader with an understanding of who you are and which outlook you have. This may include the topics of religion, traditions, ethnicity, race, and so on. So, what shall you do to compose a winning cultural identity essay?

Cultural Identity Paper: Definitions, Goals & Topics 

Before starting off with a cultural identity essay, it is fundamental to uncover what is particular about this type of paper. First and foremost, it will be rather logical to begin with giving a general and straightforward definition of a cultural identity essay. In essence, cultural identity essay implies outlining the role of the culture in defining your outlook, shaping your personality, points of view regarding a multitude of matters, and forming your qualities and beliefs. Given a simpler definition, a cultural identity essay requires you to write about how culture has influenced your personality and yourself in general. So in this kind of essay you as a narrator need to give an understanding of who you are, which strengths you have, and what your solid life position is.

Yet, the goal of a cultural identity essay is not strictly limited to describing who you are and merely outlining your biography. Instead, this type of essay pursues specific objectives, achieving which is a perfect indicator of how high-quality your essay is. Initially, the primary goal implies outlining your cultural focus and why it makes you peculiar. For instance, if you are a french adolescent living in Canada, you may describe what is so special about it: traditions of the community, beliefs, opinions, approaches. Basically, you may talk about the principles of the society as well as its beliefs that made you become the person you are today.

So far, cultural identity is a rather broad topic, so you will likely have a multitude of fascinating ideas for your paper. For instance, some of the most attention-grabbing topics for a personal cultural identity essay are:

• Memorable traditions of your community
• A cultural event that has influenced your personality 
• Influential people in your community
• Locations and places that tell a lot about your culture and identity

Cultural Identity Essay Structure

As you might have already guessed, composing an essay on cultural identity might turn out to be fascinating but somewhat challenging. Even though the spectrum of topics is rather broad, the question of how to create the most appropriate and appealing structure remains open.

Like any other kind of an academic essay, a cultural identity essay must compose of three parts: introduction, body, and concluding remarks. Let’s take a more detailed look at each of the components:

Introduction 

Starting to write an essay is most likely one of the most time-consuming and mind-challenging procedures. Therefore, you can postpone writing your introduction and approach it right after you finish body paragraphs. Nevertheless, you should think of a suitable topic as well as come up with an explicit thesis. At the beginning of the introduction section, give some hints regarding the matter you are going to discuss. You have to mention your thesis statement after you have briefly guided the reader through the topic. You can also think of indicating some vital information about yourself, which is, of course, relevant to the topic you selected.

Your main body should reveal your ideas and arguments. Most likely, it will consist of 3-5 paragraphs that are more or less equal in size. What you have to keep in mind to compose a sound ‘my cultural identity essay’ is the argumentation. In particular, always remember to reveal an argument and back it up with evidence in each body paragraph. And, of course, try to stick to the topic and make sure that you answer the overall question that you stated in your topic. Besides, always keep your thesis statement in mind: make sure that none of its components is left without your attention and argumentation.

Conclusion 

Finally, after you are all finished with body paragraphs and introduction, briefly summarize all the points in your final remarks section. Paraphrase what you have already revealed in the main body, and make sure you logically lead the reader to the overall argument. Indicate your cultural identity once again and draw a bottom line regarding how your culture has influenced your personality.

Best Tips For Writing Cultural Identity Essay

Writing a ‘cultural identity essay about myself’ might be somewhat challenging at first. However, you will no longer struggle if you take a couple of plain tips into consideration. Following the tips below will give you some sound and reasonable cultural identity essay ideas as well as make the writing process much more pleasant:

• Start off by creating an outline. The reason why most students struggle with creating a cultural identity essay lies behind a weak structure. The best way to organize your ideas and let them flow logically is to come up with a helpful outline. Having a reference to build on is incredibly useful, and it allows your essay to look polished.
• Remember to write about yourself. The task of a cultural identity essay implies not focusing on your culture per se, but to talk about how it shaped your personality. So, switch your focus to describing who you are and what your attitudes and positions are. 
• Think of the most fundamental cultural aspects. Needless to say, you first need to come up with a couple of ideas to be based upon in your paper. So, brainstorm all the possible ideas and try to decide which of them deserve the most attention. In essence, try to determine which of the aspects affected your personality the most.
• Edit and proofread before submitting your paper. Of course, the content and the coherence of your essay’s structure play a crucial role. But the grammatical correctness matters a lot too. Even if you are a native speaker, you may still make accidental errors in the text. To avoid the situation when unintentional mistakes spoil the impression from your essay, always double check your cultural identity essay. 

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Cultural Awareness—How to Be More Culturally Aware & Improve Your Relationships

Wendy Wisner is a health and parenting writer, lactation consultant (IBCLC), and mom to two awesome sons.

Ivy Kwong, LMFT, is a psychotherapist specializing in relationships, love and intimacy, trauma and codependency, and AAPI mental health.  

The Importance of Cultural Awareness

How to be more culturally aware, what if i say the wrong thing, cultural awareness and sensitivity in intercultural/interracial relationships, can i ask someone to help me learn about their culture, pitfalls of not developing cultural awareness.

Cultural awareness, sometimes referred to as  cultural sensitivity , is defined by the NCCC (National Center for Cultural Competence) as being cognizant, observant, and conscious of the similarities and differences among and between cultural groups.

Becoming more culturally aware is a continual process and it can help to have curiosity, an open mind, a willingness to ask questions, a desire to learn about the differences that exist between cultures, and an openness to becoming conscious of one’s own culturally shaped values, beliefs, perceptions, and biases.

The Value of Cultural Awareness

Cultural awareness is important because it allows us to see and respect other perspectives and to appreciate the inherent value of people who are different than we are. It leads to better relationships, healthier work environments, and a stronger, more compassionate society.

Read on to learn more about cultural awareness, including the impacts it can have, how to become more culturally aware, how to approach conversations about cultural awareness, and how to address cultural awareness in intercultural relationships.

Cultural awareness involves learning about cultures that are different from your own. But it’s also about being respectful about these differences, says  Natalie Page  Ed.D., chief diversity officer at Saint Xavier University in Chicago. “It’s about being sensitive to the similarities and differences that can exist between different cultures and using this sensitivity to effectively communicate without prejudice and racism,” she explains.

5 Reasons Why Cultural Awareness Is Important

Here are five reasons why it’s important to become more culturally aware:

• When you strive to become more culturally aware, you gain knowledge and information about different cultures, which leads to greater cultural competence, says Dr. Page
• Engaging in cultural awareness makes you more sensitive to the differences between cultures that are different than your own, Dr. Page says; you also become less judgmental of people who are different than you.
• Studies have found that greater cultural awareness in the workplace leads to an overall better workplace culture for everyone involved.
• Research has found that cultural awareness creates better outcomes for people in healthcare environments, and in other environments where people are receiving care from others.
• According to Nika White, PhD, author of Inclusion Uncomplicated: A Transformative Guide to Simplify DEI , cultural awareness can improve your interpersonal relationships. “Just like any other relationship, you must understand their culture to truly understand someone’s lived experiences and how they show up to the world,” Dr. White describes.

Knowing about the importance of being more culturally aware is one thing, but actually taking steps to do so is something else.

It’s about being sensitive to the similarities and differences that can exist between different cultures and using this sensitivity to effectively communicate without prejudice and racism.

Here are a few tips for how to go about becoming more culturally aware.

Understand That It’s a Process

“Becoming culturally aware is a process that is fluid, birthed out of a desire to learn more about other cultures,” says Dr. Page.

She says it can be helpful to study the model laid out by Dr. Ibram Kendi, the author of How To Be An Antiracist . Dr. Kendi says that there are basically three paths to growing cultural awareness:

• “The first is moving from the fear zone, where you are afraid and would rather stay in your own culture comfort zone,” Dr. Page describes.
• Next is moving into the learning zone, where you strive to learn about different cultures, how people acquire their cultures, and culture's important role in personal identities, practices, and mental and physical health of individuals and communities. The learning zone can also include becoming more aware of your own culturally shaped values, beliefs, and biases and how they impact the way you see yourself and others.
• “The last phase is the growth zone, where you grow in racial advocacy and allyship,” says Dr. Page.

Ask Questions

Dr. White says that asking questions is a vital part of becoming more culturally aware. You can start by asking yourself some important questions, such as: “How is my culture affecting how I interact with and perceive others?” Dr. White suggests.

You can also respectfully ask others about their lives. But make sure the exchanges aren’t one-sided, she recommends: when you ask others about their cultures, tell them about yours, too. “Tell your own stories to engage, build relationships, find common ground, and become more culturally aware of someone from a different culture,” she says.

Educate Yourself and Do the Work

There’s no way around it: if you want to become more culturally aware, you need to take action and educate yourself.

“Don’t lean on assumptions,” says Dr. White. “Actually research cultures different from yours.” This can help you become more aware of how culture affects every aspect of your life and the lives of others. In addition to research, educating yourself often involves seeking and participating in meaningful interactions with people of differing cultural backgrounds. “Expand your network to include people from different cultures into your circle,” Dr. White recommends.

Study the Cultural Competence Continuum Model

The Cultural Competence Continuum Model is an assessment tool that helps us understand where people are on their journey to becoming more culturally competent.

Different people fall into various categories along the continuum. Categories include cultural destructiveness, cultural incapacity, cultural blindness, cultural pre-competence, cultural competence, and cultural proficiency.

Studying this model can help us become more aware of the process of moving toward more cultural sensitivity, and become more patient with ourselves and others as we move through the process.

Acknowledge Your Own Bias

We all have our own biases when it comes to cultural awareness, because we all begin by looking at the world and at others through our own cultural lens.

It is important to acknowledge this as it can help us see how our cultural  biases  may prevent us from being as culturally sensitive as we wish to be.

Often, people don’t want to address topics having to do with culture or race because they are afraid they will say the wrong thing or make a mistake while talking to someone.

The truth is, most people make mistakes on their journey toward cultural awareness, and that’s understandable, says Dr. Page.

“If you make a mistake, simply apologize and let the person that you may have offended know that you are learning and be open to any suggestions they may have,” she recommends. Sometimes it even makes sense to apologize in advance, if you are saying something you are unsure of. You can say, “I may have this wrong, so I apologize beforehand but…” Dr. Page suggests. “The key is to be sincere in your conversations and always open to learning from others,” she says.

Making mistakes is a necessary part of the learning process and it is important to approach these topics and conversations with shared respect, compassion, and grace.

If you are in a relationship with someone who is of a different race or culture than you, it’s important to have open, honest discussions about this. “If a person is going to grow in interracial and intercultural relationships, you have to step out of your cultural comfort zone and seek an understanding about other cultures,” says Dr. Page.

Questions to Ask Someone to Learn About Their Culture

Having a genuine discussion with someone about your differences can feel awkward, and it can be helpful to kick-start the conversation with a few open-ended questions. Dr. White shared some helpful questions:

• Can you tell me about your culture?
• Tell me a little something about how you were raised?
• What role does religion play in your life?

Here are some additional questions that could be asked with respect and consent, to another (and also to yourself!):

• What holidays and celebrations are important in your culture?
• What customs and etiquette are important in your culture?
• What is your favorite food in your culture?
• Is religion an important part of life in your culture? If so, what religion do people practice most often and why do you think that is?
• How do you express your cultural identity?
• What stereotypes or misconceptions do people from your culture often face and what do you wish more people knew?
• Is there anything about your culture that you find challenging?
• How has your culture changed over time?
• How do you think your culture has influenced your personal values and beliefs?
• What is the importance of family in your culture?

One of the important ways to develop culture awareness is to educate yourself about other cultures. Learning directly from people of different cultures is a fantastic way to get authentic information. But it’s important to engage in conversations with others about their cultures in respectful , appropriate manners.

When you decide to ask others about their culture, be mindful that they may not want to answer, and know that that’s okay, says Dr. White. It’s also important to make the conversation a two-way street. Don’t just ask them about their culture—talk about your culture as well. “Share your culture first to model the behavior and let others know it is safe to talk about their culture,” Dr. White suggests.

Finally, make sure to take it upon yourself to do some of the work. “Once you learn of someone’s culture you wish to cultivate a relationship with, do your homework to learn as much as you can,” Dr. White says. Don't simply rely on others to educate you—this may be seen as insensitive, Dr. White says.

The main pitfalls of not developing cultural awareness is that we don’t expand our understanding of other cultures, we don’t deepen our relationship with people who are different than we are, and that we risk continuing to have a narrow view of the world around us. 

“We live in an ever-changing diverse world,” Dr. Page says. “We rob ourselves when we only hang out with people from our cultural groups. We have to branch out and experience the beauty that others bring.”

Angelis T. In search of cultural competence . Monitor on Psychology. 2015;46(3):64.

Shepherd SM, Willis-Esqueda C, Newton D, et al. The challenge of cultural competence in the workplace: perspectives of healthcare providers . BMC Health Services Research. 2019;19:135. doi:10.1186/s12913-019-3959-7

Kaihlanen AM., Hietapakka L, Heponiemi T. Increasing cultural awareness: qualitative study of nurses’ perceptions about cultural competence training . BMC Nursing. 2019;18(38). doi:10.1186/s12912-019-0363-x

Calkins H. How You Can Be More Culturally Competent . Good Practice. 2020:13-16.

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Improving Cultural Competence .

By Wendy Wisner Wendy Wisner is a health and parenting writer, lactation consultant (IBCLC), and mom to two awesome sons.

College Essays about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

In recent years, many colleges and universities have expanded their supplemental college essay prompts to include topics about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This shift has increased dramatically in the past year, so read on to learn more about some of these prompts and how to prepare for your essays effectively and authentically.

What is the purpose of the DEI essay?

The increase in DEI essays shows that colleges want to know about students’ values and social awareness more than ever. They are looking for applicants who have bettered their communities in some way and who will bring those same contributions to their campus. Not only that, but they want to know about your personal identity; who are you and where do you come from? How do your values fit with their philosophy and how will you contribute to positive change on campus?

Giving students an additional space to discuss their identity and engagement gives admissions officers a more complete picture of an applicant. It also gives students more room to showcase various aspects of themselves without being limited to the personal statement or supplements that have a different focus. However, that is not to say you can’t talk about DEI in a non-DEI prompt! Just be mindful of whether a school has a dedicated space for this information so you’re not repeating the same content in multiple essays.

What questions might I be asked to answer?

DEI essays vary widely in scope and may cover topics such as social activism, identity, and cultural awareness. Some of the newly added prompts include: 

Brown : Brown’s culture fosters a community in which students challenge the ideas of others and have their ideas challenged in return, promoting a deeper and clearer understanding of the complex issues confronting society. This active engagement in dialogue is as present outside the classroom as it is in academic spaces. Tell us about a time you were challenged by a perspective that differed from your own. How did you respond?

Emory : Reflect on a personal experience where you intentionally expanded your cultural awareness.

Lehigh : What would you want to be different in your own country or community to respond to issues of inequality, inequity, or injustice?

Princeton : At Princeton, we value diverse perspectives and the ability to have respectful dialogue about difficult issues. Share a time when you had a conversation with a person or a group of people about a difficult topic. What insight did you gain, and how would you incorporate that knowledge into your thinking in the future? AND Princeton has a longstanding commitment to service and civic engagement. Tell us how your story intersects (or will intersect) with these ideals.

Richmond : Please share one idea for actions or policies that you think would begin to address an issue of racial or social injustice.

St. Olaf : We have a goal to create a community of students from diverse backgrounds with unique ideas, identities, and perspectives. Reflect on an experience that made you reconsider the way you see the world. How did you engage with new and challenging ideas?

Tufts : Where are you on your journey of engaging with or fighting for social justice?

Tulane : Tulane values the lessons gained from pursuing an education alongside a student body that represents a wide range of experiences and perspectives and is reflective of our multicultural world. If you would like to share a perspective related to your family, cultural group, sexual or gender identity, religious group, or some other aspect that has shaped your identity, please do so here.

UNC : Describe an aspect of your identity (for example, your religion, culture, race, sexual or gender identity, affinity group, etc.). How has this aspect of your identity shaped your life experiences thus far? AND/OR If you could change one thing to better your community, what would it be? Why is it important and how would you contribute to this change?

(not a new prompt, but) Duke : Duke University seeks a talented, engaged student body that embodies the wide range of human experience; we believe that the diversity of our students makes our community stronger. If you’d like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you’ve had to help us understand you better–perhaps related to a community you belong to, your sexual orientation or gender identity, or your family or cultural background–we encourage you to do so. Real people are reading your application, and we want to do our best to understand and appreciate the real people applying to Duke.

How can I prepare to write a DEI essay?

As mentioned earlier, DEI prompts are a way for admissions officers to learn more about students’ identities, values, and engagement in their communities. So, the first step in writing a DEI essay is to reflect on who you are. There may be clear markers of your diverse background, such as race or gender identity, but remember there are many more traits that make you unique. Do you speak another language? What is your family or personal history? What is your community like? How have your life experiences expanded your awareness? And most importantly, how do all of these characteristics impact who you are and how you see the world? And, don’t feel pressured to write about the most obvious “diverse” trait you have. Write about what is most important to you . 

Once you reflect on what defines your identity, think about your values. What issues are you passionate about and how will you address them? How does your identity impact your positionality in relation to these issues? It’s nice to talk about what you value, but it’s much more significant to show how you have put those values into practice, so consider what you can do to get involved in your community. Community engagement comes in many forms, from volunteering to fundraising to promoting awareness, so choose what you love and thrive doing. At the same time, push yourself to get out of your comfort zone, especially considering that some DEI prompts specifically ask about how you have challenged and exposed yourself to new perspectives. 

Many students shy away from including their community engagement experience on their college applications, thinking it could hurt their admissions chances. What if the person reading my application does not agree with what I did?  

If a school is directly asking about your values through a DEI essay, you should have nothing to worry about. But whether or not this is the case, it is important to be authentic in your application. As long as you did not engage in any irresponsible activities, you should not be penalized for participating in advocacy, no matter what kind. Admissions officers should put their personal biases aside when evaluating applications, but if it were the case that your actions negatively impacted your admission, then it is worth asking yourself: If this school does not agree with my values, is it really the right fit for me anyway?

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Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Cultural Diversity — The Importance Of Cultural Awareness

The Importance of Cultural Awareness

• Categories: Cultural Competence Cultural Diversity

About this sample

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Published: Mar 18, 2021

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College Essays

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Emory University is a prestigious private university ranked within the top 25 universities nationwide . To apply here, you'll have to submit your transcripts, SAT or ACT scores, and a few essays. But what do you actually have to write for your Emory essays?

Below, we present to you this year's Emory University essay prompts and offer you tips for figuring out which prompts you should choose for your application. We will also look at admissions officers' feedback for real Emory essays that worked.

Let's get started!

Feature Image: Nrbelex /Wikimedia Commons

What Are the Emory Essays?

All first-year applicants to Emory must submit one longer essay in response to either the Common Application or Coalition Application essay prompts and two short answers as part of the Emory supplement . For the first Emory essay, you must respond to the single prompt provided, and for the second essay, you can choose any one of the five prompts listed.

Here are the Emory University essay prompts for the 2022-23 application cycle:

Academics Essay (200 words max)

What academic areas are you interested in exploring in college?

Reflections Essay: Respond to one of the following (150 words max)

Reflect on a personal experience where you intentionally expanded your cultural awareness.

When was the last time you questioned something that you had thought to be true?

If you could witness a historic event (past, present, or future) first-hand, what would it be, and why?

Share a time when you were awestruck.

Which book, character, song, monologue, or piece of work (fiction or non-fiction) seems made for you? Why?

Fortunately, Emory offers a little advice on how you should answer these essay prompts: "We encourage you to be thoughtful and not stress about what the right answer might be. We simply want to get to know you better."

Now, let's take a closer look at each of the Emory University essay prompts.

How to Write the Emory Academics Essay

This is standard college essay prompt, asking you to elaborate on your academic plans. Emory is asking this because they want to get a better understanding of what you plan on studying in college and why you're excited about it. Students who have a solid plan for college and are genuinely passionate about their academics are more likely to do well in college and after graduation, and they're more likely to be involved on campus and give back as an alum.

As a reminder, this prompt is required for all applicants, and you can write up to 200 words.

So, what should you write about? Start with describing the academic area(s) you plan on focusing on in college. Then, dive into it more. If you want to major in biology, what areas of biology are you most interested in? What about these topics excites you? What career are you hoping to pursue with a biology degree? Are there internships/research opportunities you hope to do? You don't need to include all those parts, but be sure to give an in-depth answer that makes it clear what your academic interests and plans are.

But what if you don't know what you want to study? That's OK; this isn't a binding document that requires you to follow up on what you write about. Choose an area or areas that you're thinking about, and go with that. Don't write that you have no idea what you're going to study because that can cause Emory to worry that you won't be interested in your studies/won't be able to commit to anything.

How to Write the "Reflections" Emory Essay

For this essay, you'll have to select one prompt to answer (out of five possible prompts). These prompts are pretty varied, but they all ask you to reflect on something meaningful to you and that has helped you become the person you are today , whether that's an experience you had, an insight you gained, or a field you're passionate about.

As a reminder, your essay must be no longer than 150 words.

Now then, let's go through the "Reflection" Emory University essay prompts one at a time and give you tips on how to answer each of them effectively.

"Reflections" Emory Essay Prompt 1: Cultural Sensitivity

Emory is a competitive school and admits students from all over the world. In order to be a good member of the Emory community, you'll need to understand and thrive in a diverse environment. To that end, this essay gives you the opportunity to showcase your cultural sensitivity.

But what is cultural awareness? The National Center for Cultural Competence defines cultural awareness as "being cognizant, observant, and conscious of similarities and differences among and between cultural groups." So to answer this prompt, you'll have to share an experience where your understanding of cultural awareness grew.

A good place to start is to think about your experiences with people from different cultures. When have you been in this situation before? And what did you learn?

On the other hand, you may be a member of a cultural minority in the United States. If you are, this would be a great prompt to talk about how that has impacted you, and how that has shaped your own unique understanding of how cultural awareness works in American society.

Regardless of which strategy you choose, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to learn from others and your capacity to be thoughtful about your own actions. The kiss of death for this prompt? Bragging. No one is perfectly culturally aware: developing our cultural sensitivity is a lifetime process. Acting like you've got it all figured out isn't going to impress anyone, especially admissions counselors.

Should You Choose This Prompt?

Do you have a good understanding of diversity and what it means to be "culturally sensitive"? This goes beyond just knowing the definitions of these terms. Have you had experiences where diversity played a key role? You'll need real, first-hand experience if you want to tackle this prompt well. If you haven't had that, then this might not be the best prompt for you.

Tips for Answering This Prompt

• Be honest and specific about your experience. Do not make something up to try and answer this prompt! Additionally, make sure you're being honest about the experience in general. Don't try and make yourself into the "hero" of the situation. Instead, admissions counselors want to see that you can be thoughtful about cultural differences, and that you've learned something about being part of a diverse community.
• Explain how this will make you a better Emory student. Like we mentioned earlier, Emory is a diverse campus. How will you bring what you've learned about cultural awareness to Emory? Explain how what you've learned has prepared you for your Emory experience, and touch on how your experience will help you be a better member of the Emory community.

"Reflections" Emory Essay Prompt 2: Questioning Beliefs

Emory uses this question to get to know more about your opinions and how you have learned to think more objectively .

In other words, the admissions committee wants to see how you have become more open-minded and that you are ready and willing to explore outside your safe comfort zone. Are you intellectually curious? Are you willing to admit when you're wrong?

This is the type of student Emory is looking for—someone who can be honest and open with themselves , who is introspective and always willing to learn.

If you can easily think of a time when you questioned any major beliefs you used to hold—whether it was something religious, political, or otherwise highly personal—this would be a great prompt to choose for your first Emory essay.

For example, maybe you used to eat meat but became a vegetarian after visiting a slaughterhouse as part of a school trip.

Or maybe you used to think that libraries were completely useless and should simply go away. But after getting help from a kind librarian one day, you realized that libraries are necessary to have in society, especially considering that people of lower-income backgrounds typically do not have easy access to computers, books, and other repositories of knowledge.

• Follow a clear structure. Present what you used to believe, explain what or who caused you to question this belief, and finally clarify how this process has (positively) impacted you.
• Focus on a unique moment from your life. Don't just talk about how you used to believe in Santa Claus and eventually grew out of it—most, if not all, of us have had similar experiences. Try to find something unique to you and that will set you apart from other applicants.
• Think beyond religion and spirituality. It's not inherently bad to write an essay about how you used to practice a certain religion and now practice another one or none at all, but don't feel limited to only topics regarding faith or religion just because this prompt is asking about your beliefs!

"Tell Us About You" Emory Essay Prompt 3: Historic Event

This next Emory essay prompt is a fun and interesting way for admissions officers to get a clearer sense of what your interests, passions, and values are .

There are no limits to what you can put down here—you could focus on a big event from as recent as the late 20th century, such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, or something that happened thousands of years ago, such as the building of the great Egyptian pyramids.

Your goal should be to choose something that highlights a critical aspect of your personality and/or interests.

For instance, perhaps you want to minor in architectural studies, which is why you're so fascinated with how the pyramids were constructed. Or maybe your mother was present when the Berlin Wall fell and you'd love to have seen her expression of joy at having helped reunite her country.

Is there a specific moment from the past that you have always wished to see because it genuinely interests, excites, or fascinates you? Is there a certain event from history that means something special to you and/or your family, and that you wish you could have actually been there for?

If you answered yes to one of these questions, then this would be a great prompt to choose for your second Emory essay.

• Describe the event in detail. Before you jump into the "why" part of your essay, take care to set up the details of the scene by using literary devices such as images and metaphors. Doing this will show admissions officers that you're passionate about both this event and the details of how it happened.
• Clearly and cogently explain why this event is so important to you on a personal level. Once you've set up your essay with some details of the event, it's time to dive into the "why" with full force. A historic event could be special to you for a number of reasons: for example, maybe you've got a burning desire to study physics at Emory after learning about the Wright brothers' first successful flight.
• Try to find a more positive or empowering event. While it's not off the table to write about horrible (but important to know) things that have happened, such as the assassination of JFK or the Holocaust, make sure you manage to tie this back to yourself in a meaningful, positive way. For example, maybe you've always felt that witnessing the Holocaust with your own eyes could help you better relate to your great-grandparents who suffered through it.

"Reflections" Emory Essay Prompt 4: Awe

The purpose of this essay prompt is for the admissions committee to understand what really moves you.

To answer this prompt, think back to the times when you were overcome with a sense of wonder or awe. Did it happen when you reached the summit of a long hike and stared at the vista surrounding you? Or when you heard a particular piece of music for the first time? Or when you traveled to a new city that's nothing like your hometown?

As you think about what to write about here, remember that the most powerful answers will involve telling a story of some kind. Let's say you were awestruck the first time you got a clear view of the Milky Way Galaxy. You were ten years old, on a camping trip with your dad, and, since you'd grown up in the city, you'd never seen so many stars before. The sight of all of them made you appreciate the vastness of the universe, and ever since you've had a passion for outer space. Including those details will make your essay more memorable and unique to you.

As you tell the story, always remember to connect it to the most important part of your essay: your discussion of who you are as a person and what about you makes you a good fit for Emory.  In this example, you could say that you use that memory to remind yourself you're just a single person in a vast place, and it helps you stay humble and put your challenges into perspective.

This prompt is great for people who've experienced awe that caused some sort of change in their lives . If you're a thoughtful person who can reflect on that experience in positive ways, then this prompt is a good fit for you!

• Pick one experience and focus on that. Even if you regularly feel awe when you fly in an airplane, pick one specific example and focus on that for this essay. Discussing a single experience will make it easier for you to tell a story as well as keep within the wordcount for this essay. 
• Think about the long-term impact it had on you. In the moment you felt awe, but what were the lasting impacts of the experience? How did feeling awestruck convince you to change yourself/your plans/your view of the world? Emory wants to see the bigger picture in all of this, so make sure you include that in your essay. 

"Reflections" Emory Essay Prompt 5: Artistic Representation

The point of this prompt is for Emory to get a clearer, more holistic sense of not just who you are, but also how you see yourself. What qualities do you feel represent your personality? Your goals? Your best traits? Your challenges?

Remember that you should aim to tell the admissions committee something new and unique about yourself that they haven't yet gleaned from your application or other essays.

When thinking of how a piece of art represents you, don't think literally—try to go beyond generic and superficial traits and think about the deeper meaning and symbolism that speaks to you.

For example, maybe you've always felt a strong connection to the character of Forrest Gump—not because you literally fought in a war, started a restaurant, and met the president, but because you were always supported by your family, especially your mom, and believed that your optimism and positive outlook is what ultimately helped you attain some of your biggest goals in life so far.

My recommendation is to choose this prompt only if you can immediately come up with a specific piece of art or character you've always felt a strong personal attachment to. Remember that it's not just about something you like but something that truly gets across the essence of who you are .

If nothing comes to mind right away, it's probably best to go with another prompt. You don't want to write this essay and have it feel heavily forced or contrived!

• Choose a topic that emphasizes your most prominent and best qualities. Obviously, you don't want to compare yourself to something or someone that's notoriously corrupt, bigoted, immoral, mean, or unlikable. The point here is to show the Emory admissions committee key positive traits you have, such as your selflessness or ability to see the best in everyone.
• Avoid exaggeration. No matter how strong of a connection you might feel to Batman, your life is most certainly not a carbon copy of his. Don't hyperbolize any traits you (think you) share with your character or art piece by making ridiculous claims, such as how you're a real-life superhero or secret genius.
• Don't just choose something because it's famous or "impressive." If you've never actually read Great Expectations or have but never had any real connection to it, Emory admissions officers will be able to tell. So don't worry—it's OK to pick something that's less well-known or not very intellectual or scholarly, just as long as you can cogently explain how this piece of art or character encapsulates you .

Admissions Feedback for Emory Essays That Worked

One thing that can really help you while applying to Emory is seeing examples of real Emory essays that worked and secured students admission. Fortunately, the official Emory website has an entire series dedicated to going over their applicants' best personal essays .

The downside is that these are all for the Common App/Coalition App essay prompts, so they are a lot longer and do not respond directly to any of the short-answer supplemental questions above.

Still, you can use these essay examples and their feedback from admissions officers to get a better sense of what to write about, how you can effectively structure your thoughts, and what Emory is ultimately hoping to learn about you through your writing .

We've consolidated the most important ideas from admissions officers' feedback for you. Here's a basic overview of what Emory is looking for in your essays:

• "Expressive language," "interesting vocabulary," and showing instead of telling
• A sense of maturity
• Clear connections between your interests, experiences, and/or goals
• Authenticity
• The ability to reflect on your experiences (and learn from them)
• Either a unique topic or a unique approach to a more common topic

Make sure your Emory essays have most (ideally all!) of these essential qualities.

How to Write the Emory Essays: 4 Essential Tips

Here are four tips to keep in mind as you write your Emory University supplemental essays.

#1: Write Concisely

You have just 200 and 150 words for the supplemental Emory essays, so don't waste space— include only the most essential facts and information you want to present to the admissions committee .

Use these essays as an opportunity to practice writing more succinctly. Take your time to try to cut out any irrelevant or ineffective words or phrases that don't answer the prompt or reveal anything important or unique about you.

#2: Be Highly Specific

Don't make the mistake many students make by not being specific enough in your college essays—especially considering how little space you have for the Emory essays!

The trick here is to not dawdle in your writing : get straight to the point and overarching topic of your essay, and then dive right in so that you're fully answering the question.

To truly make your writing come alive, you must home in on the most essential info about yourself. Use examples, anecdotes, and plenty of details to paint an accurate picture of who you are and how you see yourself.

#3: Avoid Repeating Yourself

You have to write two short essays for the Emory supplement and one longer essay in response to one of the Common App or Coalition App prompts. Because some of these Emory University essay prompts are similar to the Common App/Coalition App ones, you'll want to check that you're not repeating anything you already wrote .

The point of all these essays is to give you the chance to introduce a range of different, but equally important, sides of yourself. Repeating yourself shows a lack of creative thinking and will most certainly not leave a good impression on the Emory admissions committee.

#4: Don't Forget to Proofread

Last, but certainly not least, remember to edit and proofread your Emory essays several times before you submit them with your application.

Once you've got a rough draft finished, put it away and don't look at it. After a few days, take it out and reread it, looking for areas that feel out of place, irrelevant, or unclear, and tweak as needed.

Lastly, give your draft to someone you trust , such as a teacher or parent, and have them read it over and give you some feedback. Ask them to also correct it for any technical or stylistic errors.

Do all this and you should have one unforgettable Emory essay ready to go!

What's Next?

Curious about what it takes to get into Emory as a freshman? Check out our Emory admission requirements page to learn the average GPA and SAT/ACT scores of admitted applicants.

Interested in applying to colleges in the South? Our expert guide walks you through all the very best schools in the South, including Emory .

Did you know that Emory University is one of a select number of schools that offers full-ride scholarships? To see even more colleges that do this, take a look at our complete list .

Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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How to Write the Emory University Supplemental Essays: Examples + Guide 2023/2024

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What are the Emory University essay prompts?
• How to write each prompt for Emory University
• Prompt #1: "Why major" essay
• Prompt #2: "Getting to know you" multiple essay options

In addition to its strong biology and writing programs, Emory University has plenty of personality: One of its more cherished traditions is Dooley’s Week, in which Dooley—the unofficial skeleton mascot and spirit of Emory—hosts a variety of festive events while also  randomly popping in to dismiss class. Like Dooley, Emory’s supplemental essay prompts ooze with personality, and they’re asking you to do the same.

But before you dive right into the prompts, you can get an extensive, by-the-numbers look at Emory’s offerings in its Common Data Set , and for deeper insights into how the university wants to grow and evolve, read its strategic plan .

What are the Emory University supplemental essay prompts?

Emory university supplemental essay prompt #1.

What academic areas are you interested in exploring at Emory University and why? (200 words)

Emory University Supplemental Essay Prompt #2

“Getting to know you” Category: Respond to one of the following. (150 words): Which book, character, song, monologue, or piece of work (fiction or non-fiction) seems made for you? Why? Reflect on a personal experience where you intentionally expanded your cultural awareness. Emory University aspires for all students to flourish on campus. Reflect on what flourishing at Emory means to you. Emory University's core mission calls for service to humanity. Share how you might personally contribute to this mission. Emory University has a strong commitment to building community. Tell us about a community you have been part of where your participation helped to change or shape the community for the better. Reflection is a central tenet of Emory University's values. Craft a personal email giving advice to yourself in your first year of high school.

How to Write Each Supplemental Essay Prompt for Emory University

How to write emory supplemental essay prompt #1.

What academic areas are you interested in exploring at Emory University and why? (2oo words)

This essay is what we call a “Why Major” essay. 

You’ll find a step-by-step guide to writing this essay at this link , but here’s the short version:

Step #1: Imagine a mini-movie of the moments that led you to your interest and create a simple, bullet point outline.

Step #2: Put your moments (aka the “scenes” of your mini-movie) in chronological order, as it’ll help you see how your interests developed. It also makes it easier to write transitions.

Step #3: Decide if you want to include a specific thesis that explicitly states your central argument—in this case, what you want to study and why. This thesis can be at the beginning, middle, or end of your essay.

Step #4: Write a draft!

We don’t have an Emory-specific example to share. But here’s a great example, written for another school’s very similar prompt. Note that this example is nearly 250 words, and yours will need to be no more than 200 words. 

My interest in Gender and Sexuality Studies was sparked in my eighth grade Civics class when we studied topics pertaining to sexual equality. I went into the class knowing I believed women had a right to make choices for their own bodies and that view remained the same, but I discovered the complexity of abortion debates. I challenged myself by thinking about the disparity between actual and potential personhood and the moral rights of unconscious lives. If pregnancy had the same consequences for men as it does women, how might the debate be different? Would this debate even exist?  A year later, I shadowed an OB/GYN at a nearby hospital. On my first shift, I watched an incarcerated woman receive a postpartum exam after giving birth in her cell toilet with just Advil, and the issues discussed in Civics suddenly became urgent and real. My school projects have often focused on reproductive rights. I’ve spent numerous hours delving into summaries of Supreme Court cases on abortion and contraception, and I’m even known as the “Tampon Fairy” at school because I frequently restock the school bathrooms with tampons and condoms.   I’m interested in exploring how Gender and Sexuality Studies connect to Public Health and Reproductive Biology, as well as Public Policy and Law. The interdisciplinary nature of this major will allow me to investigate many other areas of study and create a more nuanced understanding of how this particular field interacts with our world and society. (246 words) — — —

Tips + Analysis

Brevity is key. We know what you’re thinking: “Not even Quentin Tarantino can write an award-winning 200-word script!” (Are we the only ones mentally smack-talking Pulp Fiction right now?) True, you’re not given much real estate space, but look at how much this student conveyed in fewer than 250 words. Channel your inner director and plan your script by answering three key questions: Where did my interest start? How has it evolved? What do I hope to achieve through further study? 

Think breadth over depth. Every iconic movie has iconic scenes. Rafiki holding baby Simba in The Lion King. The Cantina scene in Star Wars. What are your iconic scenes? You likely have several reasons you’re considering a particular major, so let’s hear them. Keep it to one scene per sentence if you have a lot of ground to cover, or you may prefer a short paragraph for each scene to add more detail. Either way, each quick glance should show how your interests developed.

Add the unexpected. Most students with a clear academic interest have taken a course, pursued an extracurricular, or completed a project (maybe all three) related to that interest. But how many incorporate that interest into their everyday life with such zeal—like appointing themselves their school’s “Tampon Fairy”? We guarantee that image is in your head right now and will stay there for a while. Why? Because we didn’t see it coming. Consider how you can add impact by using unexpected (read: uncommon) language and details.

Breathe. It’s OK to not know your major. Yes, we called it a “Why Major” essay, but not everyone applies to college knowing exactly what they want to do or be (here’s us at your age, raising our hands high). And that’s the great thing about college—you’ll have a chance to explore and find your interests. So if you’re undecided, instead of focusing on a major, select a few specific areas of interest and explain how you’ve satisfied your curiosity in each. Or pick a singular theme (problem solving, experimentation, etc.), share the ways that theme has shown up in your life, and explain how a particular field of study can help you further explore it.

how to write Emory Supplemental Essay Prompt #2

“Getting to know you” Category: Respond to one of the following. (150 words)

• Which book, character, song, monologue, or other creative work (fiction or non-fiction) seems made for you? Why?
• Reflect on a personal experience where you intentionally expanded your cultural awareness.
• Emory University aspires for all students to flourish on campus. Reflect on what flourishing at Emory means to you.
• Emory University's core mission calls for service to humanity. Share how you might personally contribute to this mission.
• Emory University has a strong commitment to building community. Tell us about a community you have been part of where your participation helped to change or shape the community for the better.
• Reflection is a central tenet of Emory University's values. Craft a personal email giving advice to yourself in your first year of high school.

Which book, character, song, monologue, or piece of work (fiction or non-fiction) seems made for you? Why? (150 words)

While it may be tempting to select a work that sounds impressive, if you don’t have strong feelings about it, it will be pretty difficult to explain how it represents you. The real opportunity to impress with this prompt is not by showing off what you’ve read, heard, or seen, but by demonstrating the kind of reader, listener, or viewer you are. 

Choosing a work (book, character, song, or piece of fiction or non-fiction) for this is tricky, but here are some questions you can ask yourself to help you get there:

Is there a work that embodies a core value or important detail I haven’t shared yet? 

Is there a work that marked the beginning of my interest in a certain genre, author, or movement? 

Is there a work I experienced that led to a particularly vibrant conversation with friends or family? A hotly contested debate in class?

Is there a work that I thought I was going to hate, but loved?  Or hated at first but grew to love?

Or maybe there’s a work you could say a million things about. If so, odds are high that a work you’ve thought about that much has come to represent some part of you, so it could be a pretty promising topic. 

Let’s take a look at a strong student example:

Example:  

“If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” the book goes, then the mouse will ask for a glass of milk. If you ask me a question, I’ll answer with another question.  I’m naturally inquisitive. As a girl, I’d interrogate my parents during 13-hour flights to Beijing: “If we’re traveling to a later time zone, does that mean we’re entering the future?” or “If planes have autopilot, why do we need pilots?”  Today, my curiosity has transitioned to topics like thermodynamics. Through questioning, I’ve made boring lectures more engaging for me and my peers, while also helping us better internalize the information and develop an appreciation for scientific theories—the ideal gas law and atomic configuration—that help us make sense of our surroundings.  Questioning my surroundings has allowed me to find my voice in the crowd, letting me step out of my comfort zone, while furthering me and my peers’ knowledge. — — —

Hook the reader by alluding (maybe in the first sentence) to how the work embodies you. By focusing on the common core value you share with a particular work, you take the reins of your essay. Notice how this author compares her own curiosity and hunger for knowledge to the greedy mouse of the famed children’s book—and that’s the last time she mentions the book. This allows her to focus more on her value of why asking questions is important and less on the book itself.  She also does a smart thing by connecting her curiosity to her academic interests.

Employ the “super” essay approach when possible. This tip is important because when you can use the same essay for multiple prompts (tweaking as necessary to fit each prompt), it can save you a ton of time. This essay, for example, was excerpted from another school’s “Why Major” prompt. By properly strategizing what you write about in your personal statement, you can use all your supplemental essays as opportunities to talk more about what you’re interested in studying or doing in the future—even if the prompts themselves aren’t asking those particular questions directly.  

Consider ending with a clear “so what?” After showing the way her question-asking has changed over time, this author makes sure the reader leaves with a clear takeaway: “Questioning my surroundings has allowed me to find my voice in the crowd, letting me step out of my comfort zone, while furthering me and my peers’ knowledge.” These supplementals are short, but don’t be afraid to show first, then tell the reader what’s important to understanding you and why.

Reflect on a personal experience where you intentionally expanded your cultural awareness. (150 words)

The word “intentionally” pops out because it highlights the active nature of how you should respond to this prompt. Cultural awareness encompasses a wide variety of experiences, so we encourage you to lean into the purposefulness of expanding yourself. It’s easy to stay in your comfort zone, but this prompt asks you to consider a time when you either stepped out of your comfort zone or sought out more information to broaden your understanding of the world around you. 

Some things to think about as you explore:

Society is in a constant state of cultural evolution, so perhaps identify a topic that emphasizes your cultural awareness of the current times. Culture can be defined as the symbols, language, beliefs, values, and artifacts that are part of any society. In anthropology, it’s often defined as a “system of meaning-making.” Those are quite broad definitions to work with, so think through which aspects resonate with you and your experiences (race & ethnicity, socioeconomic class, learning a new language, etc.).

Maybe you have a personal experience related to your own culture or someone else’s culture and sought out more information to build on your knowledge. How did you approach the situation, and what specifically did you do? What did you learn—about yourself, about others, and about the broader community and your place in it?

This is a great opportunity to demonstrate your fit on a campus that celebrates diversity. Communicate your level of cultural sensitivity or your commitment to equity and inclusion. Perhaps you’ve reached out to community members for support and guidance with a service project. Maybe you’ve advocated for social justice by lobbying your elected officials. The key is to share how you’ve accepted, adapted, or integrated different perspectives into your own experiences. 

Reflect on a personal experience where you intentionally expanded your cultural awareness. In 2018, I was eager to see the Senate vote on DACA, an issue I only knew through debate, so I sat in the Senate gallery for 8 hours, surrounded by DREAMers in neon-orange shirts. When Senator McConnell quoted the White House calling the DREAMers unlawful immigrants, we exchanged grimaces. When Senator Schumer listed all he was willing to give up to save DACA, I smiled at the woman next to me.  As we sat for hours with no food, water, or bathroom breaks, I began to understand the gravity of the issue, realizing the impact 60 people can have on millions, through just one vote. After the government shut down without passing protections for DREAMers, I understood the human impact of our immigration policies. This experience expanded my awareness of the struggle that immigrants go through, and I recognized my responsibility in seeking justice for others.  — — —

Keep it specific. While “intentionally” is a key word here, so is “experience.” (Although truthfully, just as every word counts in your essay, every word in the prompt counts too.) It might seem easier to talk about something profoundly life-changing that you read or watched, but Emory wants to know how you really got to work and got your hands dirty, so to speak, to actually and purposefully live a moment that broadened your awareness of the world around you—like this student did in attending, and soaking in, the Senate vote on DACA.

Remember that big things can come in small packages. Don’t discount something “small” that expanded your awareness just because you don’t think it sounds as impressive as sitting in a Senate gallery for eight hours. The archaeologist who discovered trilobites is no less important than the one who uncovered the first T-Rex. They’re just different. Each experience is important in its own way, and it’s the way it changed you that will be more impactful to the reader.

Connect it with the present. Technically, the prompt is asking about a past experience, but admission officers want to know how this experience both changed you then and still affects you now. As with so many essays, you want to be able to answer, “so what?” or “Why does that matter?” Answer those questions by showing how you plan on continuing to expand that awareness. How will it impact your activities, attitude, and even intentions moving forward? That insight doesn't have to be a whole paragraph (especially with such a small word budget). For this student, it involved just a few words: “I recognized my responsibility in seeking justice for others.”

Emory University aspires for all students to flourish on campus. Reflect on what flourishing at Emory means to you. (150 words)

One way to approach this prompt is as a version of a really short “Why us?” prompt. 

Think about the human being you want to be in 5, in 10, in 20 years. How does Emory help you on that path?

Because it’s so short, you’ll want to find a few specific reasons how Emory helps you grow and flourish, both academically and  personally. And remember that it’s a “Why us?”—as in you + the school, and why you’d be a great fit together, and not simply “why them.” One way we sometimes joke about this is to think about the essay as though you’re helping the school understand why your online dating profile and its online dating profile are perfect for each other, and how you’d probably make great partners.

For a complete guide to “Why us?” essays, click here . Here’s a condensed version:

Five Common Mistakes Students Make on “Why Us?” Essays

Mistake #1: Writing about the school's size, location, reputation, weather, or ranking

Mistake #2: Simply using emotional language to demonstrate fit

Mistake #3: Screwing up the mascot, stadium, team colors or names of any important people or places on campus

Mistake #4: Parroting the brochures or website language

Mistake #5: Describing traditions the school is well known for

Mistake #6: Thinking of this as only a "why them" essay (as mentioned above)

So, if those are things you shouldn’t write about, what should you write about? Here are some steps to figure that out.

Step #1: Do your research.

Spend 1 hr+ researching 10+ reasons why this college might be a great fit for you (you’ll only use a few of them, but try to find more than you’ll need for the essay so you can choose the strongest).

Step #2: Use this chart to map out your research.  

Step #3: Decide on your approach.

Approach #1: The “3-5 Unique Offerings” Strategy

Find 3-5 opportunities that are particular to the school (i.e., available at no other school or no other school you’re applying to) and connect each one back to you.

Approach #2: The “One Value” Strategy

How it works: Identify one core value that links you to the school and tell a story. Like so:

1. Find a way in which you and the school are deeply aligned.

2. Take your time crafting the essay.

3. Find a way to be vulnerable.

Could I create a hybrid approach by focusing on a central theme, but still listing a few reasons?

We don’t have an example written specifically for Emory, but the below example written for a very similar prompt for Carnegie Mellon can show you the direction to head in (though CMU allows for double the word count).

“New Data Shows Largest Number of People in Poverty on Record.” I couldn’t stop scrolling through the gut-wrenching graphs and pictures in the New York Times, each painting a more horrifying picture than the last. As a young adolescent, I was already committed to becoming a service-oriented and proactive student, I have sought opportunities to give back through volunteering at my local library and tutoring for the National Honors Society. Pursuing Finance and Entrepreneurship concentrations and abundant community service opportunities at Carnegie Mellon will give me the tools to keep making a positive impact on the world around me—my personal benchmark for a successful college experience. Inside the classroom, I look forward to learning in an environment that centers on hands-on, collaborative learning. New Venture Creation under Dave Mawhinney will immerse me in an environment where I’ll be able to share ideas and learn from others to put together an effective business plan, skills that I’ll need to tackle the global education crisis. Learning under David about the inner workings of successful startups would help me start my own ventures in finance to fund education systems around the world, which would provide much-needed long-term economic growth in many communities around the world.   Outside the classroom, 1000plus Day of Service will allow me to continue striving to make a positive impact in under-developed communities around the world through education and civic engagement. Through 1000plus Day of Service, I will ultimately learn more about the culture around CMU through serving my campus and the surrounding city. Obtaining and putting my in-depth knowledge about finance and entrepreneurship to use by helping others, whether through short-term opportunities such as 1000plus Day of Service, or long-term such as a startup aimed at funding education around the world, will define my successful college experience.  — — —

Define what success/flourishing looks like to you. The prompt asks you to reflect on what flourishing at Emory means to you. Every student has their own dreams and goals for what their college experience (and beyond) will look like, and the admissions readers aren’t mind readers, so it’s important to define this somewhere in your essay. This student does it really clearly in their first paragraph, where they say that their personal benchmark for a successful college experience means that they get to keep making a positive impact on the world around them.

Show that you’ve done your research. The “Why Us” essay is not only a good opportunity to show readers why the university is a good fit for you, but it’s also an opportunity for you to learn more about the school and get excited about the different things that would be available to you. This student gives us a few reasons why CMU would help fulfill their meaning of success, from the learning environment to major-specific classes to extracurricular activities—they do a great job at telling us about the different parts of the college experience they’re excited about at CMU. 

Connect the dots & craft a narrative. This student allows the reader to see how many of their interests, past extracurricular activities, and aspirations can come together at a university that will help them achieve their goals. That sounds like a lot, but this sentence sums it up really well: …I have sought opportunities to give back through volunteering at my local library and tutoring for the National Honors Society (past extracurriculars). Pursuing Finance and Entrepreneurship concentrations and abundant community service (interests) opportunities at Carnegie Mellon (university) will give me the tools to keep making a positive impact on the world around me (future goals). By connecting these dots here and elaborating later on, it creates a story of the path you’ve been on and hope to take, as well as that university’s role in your future. 

Emory University's core mission calls for service to humanity. Share how you might personally contribute to this mission. (150 words)

One way to approach this prompt is to talk about whichever community service project/s you’ve been most involved in, and how you hope to continue serving others in college and beyond. 

Essentially, you can treat this as a combo community service + “how will you contribute” prompt.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to extracurricular activity essays that can give you guidance and examples for how to brainstorm and write about community service.

For the second part of the prompt, you’ll want to connect what you’ve already done with some “Why Us” details about Emory—show how you want to continue engaging in Emory’s mission, and possibly how your Emory education can prepare you for service post-graduation. 

STEP 1: DECIDE WHAT SERVICE ACTIVITY YOU WANT TO WRITE ABOUT

Generally you’ll focus on issues that are most important to you and that you’ve spent time engaging on over the past few years.

STEP 2: USE THE BEABIES EXERCISE TO GENERATE YOUR ESSAY CONTENT

You’ll find detail on the BEABIES Exercise + a chart you can use at that link.

STEP 3: DO SOME “HOW WILL YOU CONTRIBUTE” RESEARCH

You’ll want to offer a few specific ways that show how the experience/s you’re discussing in your essay will allow you to contribute to the college. The easiest way to do this is to do some “Why Us”-like research and find ways you’ll engage with and contribute to the school’s community. 

STEP 4: PICK A STRUCTURE (NARRATIVE OR MONTAGE)

STEP 5: WRITE A FIRST DRAFT!

Here are some example essays written for similar prompts from other schools to show you the direction to head here.

During my time at UT-Austin and beyond, I want to be an active participant in efforts to implement effective climate change legislation on the state and national levels. At UT, I’d like to be part of student teams across majors, disciplines, and geographical areas working to educate communities on climate and local environmental initiatives. This is why I would love to be part of the Students Fighting Climate Change Club as together we can help spread the message that global warming is a real issue affecting cities all over the country. Right now, I am the social media coordinator for a non-profit, We Dance For Change. From my social media background, I hope to use my expertise and work with  the other members of SFCC to inspire more people join the cause. I regularly post on all social media sites like Instagram and Twitter on ways that we can combat climate change and lessen our global footprint, whether by carpooling, for example, or consuming less meat. Also, I believe in the importance of engagement and dialogue, especially amongst the younger generations. It is critical that people understand the voting process early on so they can become more active participants in our democracy. At my school, as part of the Social Studies Honor Society, I spend time registering high school students to vote. I would love to continue this work with TX Vote Club and ease the process of registering as many people as possible. Additionally, when I joined V3ssel I realized how important it is for people my age to have a say in their government. After drafting legislation for financial literacy to be taught in schools I see how it should be more feasible for students to have a say in laws that impact them. — — —

Start with a strong opening sentence. First sentences are a reader’s first impression of an essay and/or paragraph, and it can also work as a mini blueprint to tell readers what they can expect to find in the rest of your essay. In their first sentence, this student writes that they want to “implement effective climate change legislation on the state and national levels.” This does a nice job of clearly setting up that we’ll be seeing more about this student’s work and aspirations at UT regarding climate change. This student does so again for their second paragraph, which guides the reader and makes the essay clear, straightforward, and easy to follow. With shorter supplemental essays, you don’t have a ton of space for flowery language, and your reader will thank you for clarity.

Show what’s important to you & how it connects with the university.   This prompt specifically references Emory’s value of service to humanity, and this student does a great job by talking about what service to humanity means to them, touching on climate change and voting. By writing about these two issues, we not only see some of their values and beliefs come out, but it also probably made researching this part of “Why Us” a lot easier—they knew what to look for on the university website or what to ask about during a tour. 

Build on previous experiences. While this prompt is relatively future-facing (share how you might contribute to service to humanity), you can use your previous experiences to talk about what you’ve learned and how exactly you might contribute to this mission in the future. This gives you an opportunity to talk about an activity in context, exploring the why for your what, which is tough to do in your activities list. This student says that using their social media background, they hope to use this experience to inspire more people to join the cause for fighting against climate change. Using the BEABIES exercise , you can brainstorm what you’ve done and what skills have you gained that can help you succeed in the future. 

Option: Forgo a “conclusion.” For shorter essays, you don’t always need to end the essay by tying everything up with a nice bow. Depending on the word count allowed, you might decide that your word count is better used to focus on your actions, values, and impact, for example. While there are many different ways to end an essay, this student simply closes out their thoughts on voting, but most importantly, they answer the question to the fullest extent possible with the allotted word count. 

And here’s another example essay, for further illustration.

Bonus Example:

As Co-Head of Roman2Roman, a program intended to help integrate incoming ninth-graders into my school community, I have become a creative, open-minded, and empathetic leader by understanding the dynamics of communication and responsibility.  From leading bi-weekly committee meetings to pairing 135 freshmen with older mentors, coordinating with administrators, planning and orchestrating events for 350 people, and finding unique ways to involve the greater community, my role in the R2R program has equipped me with managerial skills that will be helpful in college and beyond.  As a result of my leadership experience, I was selected to be Co-Head of The Student Service Learning Board. In this role, I organized successful food, clothing, and book drives, in addition to planning meal-packing projects for the homeless, card-design activities for veterans, and beach clean-ups to support local parks, all of which involved participants ages K-12. Within my family’s Farm Foundation, I also assumed leadership responsibilities as I coordinated our annual Thanksgiving meal donation at the local fire station which entailed fundraising, communications, purchasing, packaging, and operations.  As a Longhorn, I hope to expand my leadership opportunities and make a lasting impact on the UT community. Through establishing meaningful connections among R2R members, and understanding the importance of an inclusive community, I am interested in getting involved with The Transfer Student Agency of Student Government as a way to help incoming transfer students integrate into the UT community. I’d love to participate in The McCombs Leadership Program to hone my leadership skills through retreats and workshops focusing on cooperation, communication, and contributions to society. Hunger and Homelessness Outreach would also be an ideal opportunity for me to continue my leadership and service and utilize my experiences on the SSLB and my family’s farm foundation to organize volunteer opportunities to aid members of the Austin community. — — —

“ Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. ”

Emory University has a strong commitment to building community. Tell us about a community you have been part of where your participation helped to change or shape the community for the better. (150 words)

If you’ve written (or are writing) other essays for other schools that ask about communities you’ve been a part of, how you’ve contributed to them, what you’ve gained from them, then you can probably re-use that essay for this prompt. Here’s a guide on how to re-use all sorts of essays (and maybe save yourself 20+ hrs on this whole process).

For this specific essay, here’s a step-by-step guide that offers a short exercise to help you think through all the communities you’re a part of that might make a good topic for this particular essay.

Here’s the TL;DR version:

Step 1: Create a “communities” chart by listing all the communities you’re a part of. Keep in mind that communities can be defined by so many different variables, including place, culture, interests, political beliefs, hobbies, sexual identity, and even favorite sports team. Get creative.

Step 2: Use the BEABIES exercise to generate your essay content for 2-3 of these communities. Simply ask yourself and jot down notes to these questions:

What kinds of problems did you solve (personally, locally, or globally) in that community?

What specific impact did you have?

What did you learn (skills, qualities, values)? 

How did you apply the lessons you learned inside and outside of that community?

Step 3: Pick a structure for writing this essay and focus on the community that you feel is most compelling and reveals the most about you. I recommend either a narrative structure (focusing on a single moment or story) or montage structure (focusing on several moments that are united by a common theme).

Here’s a particularly well-written essay:

Decorated with bright red paper banners, my grandma’s store stands out from surrounding mud farmhouses and grey cement dwellings. As the only store in rural Qianpu, Jiaying’s sells daily supplies for local farmers and industry workers. Every day, a single mother would come into the store. Abandoned by her husband, she lived on the street with her kids. When she purchased groceries, my grandma would give her extra toiletries and snacks for her children. Sitting at the cashier desk daily after school, I learned that it is important to respect everyone’s background, especially women. I will bring this valuable quality to Emory. Joining She’s the First and Candler Women, I will fundraise and provide advocacy for underprivileged women. With HerCampus, I will promote women's leadership. Attending Emory Women in Business and participating in Personal Branding Workshop, I will use my own business expertise to support women around the world. — — —

Hook the reader with a vivid description. With only 150 words available, a hook isn’t necessary, but the author’s contrast of the standout red banners, mud farmhouses, and grey cement sweeps us away from a computer screen and into another world. What are the colors, sounds, and distinctive places in your story? Using a little descriptive language goes a long way toward preparing readers to understand the abstract “standouts” you love about your community.

Connect your extracurricular experience to a value. If the community essay guide isn’t yielding what you want, go through the Best Extracurricular Activity Brainstorm I’ve Ever Seen (AKA BEABIES exercise). These exercises together should help you decide which topic might create the best content for your essay. If you’re unsure, try writing a simple outline for two different topics. 

We don’t know if this student included working at her grandmother’s store in her Activities List, but this essay likely adds new depth and reveals something different from the rest of her application. Beyond stating what you’ll bring to Emory point-blank, make it resonate for the reader by connecting it to some aspect of what makes you, well, you. Here the author focuses on how her after school job taught her the importance of respecting women in society. 

Describe how you’ll engage with the campus community. While they don’t directly ask you to in this prompt, you have the option of showing how your past experiences connect to how you want to continue engaging with community at Emory. Be just as precise with your word choice as you are with researching what resources you’ll want to get involved with at Emory. After the author shows the values of compassion, respect, and equity that she learned working in her grandmother's store, she names how she will fundraise, provide advocacy, and promote the empowerment of women on campus. We know that you may not yet know exactly what your future on-campus involvement will look like, but choosing the right action verbs make your plans sound as concrete and specific as your aspirations are.

Reflection is a central tenet of Emory University's values. Craft a personal email giving advice to yourself in your first year of high school. (150 words)

Whether you realize it or not, you’ll have experienced tremendous growth from the time you started high school to when you apply to college. The beginning of high school is filled with opportunity and potential. 

Put yourself back into your shoes as a freshman/first-year and think about lessons you’ve learned now that could’ve been useful then. Perhaps you would’ve joined that Glee Club or taken that AP Calc course. Maybe you would’ve dedicated more time to family and friends. 

Whatever advice you choose, make sure it highlights your personal development over the course of your high school years. Remember that this prompt is under the “reflections” category: This is an opportunity to show insight into your choices and the lessons that have come from those decisions, and the values you’ve developed along the way.

Here are some steps to help you brainstorm and write this essay:

Step 1: Take a moment to do this Values Exercise .

Step 2: Are your top values the same now as they were a few years ago? And has what any of those values mean to you changed over the past few years? Choose one and backtrack to the experiences that led to the change in your values or how you see/embody your values. How have those experiences shaped the person you are now? Write out the ways you’re different today than you were when you started high school. What do you know now that you didn’t know four years ago? See if you can remember specific moments that contributed to your personal growth. 

Step 3: Show the impact of how you’ve changed. How have you applied this insight, and what more could you have done or accomplished had you known this advice when you were younger? What’s the takeaway as you prepare for college?

Special thanks to Elica for writing this blog post.

Elica (she/her) is a college essay specialist who has a love of language in all forms; she has degrees in linguistics, has taught academic writing at the university level, and has been coaching students on their college and graduate school admissions essays for over 7 years. When she’s not working with students or writing, Elica can be found reading, printmaking, and exploring nature. 

Top Values: Collaboration | Curiosity | Patience

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Cultural Awareness

Updated 10 November 2022

Subject Communication

Downloads 30

Category Culture ,  Sociology

Topic American Culture ,  Cultural Competence

Cultural Competence

Cultural competence is the ability of people from various cultural backgrounds to communicate effectively with one another. It primarily entails comprehending people of various ages, abilities, races, gender, and national origin, among other things.

American Culture

The American culture, for example, is competent and encourages material accumulation, religious freedom, individualism, and equal opportunity for all people (Hecht et al., 2012).

Traditional African American Ideals

On the other hand, traditional African American ideals include traditional kinship, spiritual principles, community versus person thought, and holistic thinking, among others. In a case study, this paper examines African American cultural competence by assessing how a more profound cultural awareness may have affected the teacher's responses.

Case Study 3.8: African American Cultural Competence

In the case study 3.8 which talks more about the African American culture, the time frame is based on the early childhood education of eight years old Jamal who is a student at Simpson Elementary school.

Jamal's Disruptive Behavior

Jamal is very disrespectful to his teacher Ms. Anderson since he fails to complete his classwork on the required time. Moreover, Jamal could engage in other activities like sharpening the pencil or talking to classmates thus obstructing other students during the learning hours. This behavior greatly annoyed the teacher who assumed that Jamal had no interest in academics.

Teacher's Perception and Recommendation

She ended up developing a perception that the curriculum of Simpson school surpassed Jamal's ability and recommended a referral to a special education learning center where Jamal could improve on his studies and behaviors.

Parents' Rejection and Test Results

Despite the fact that Ms. Anderson recommended the referral of Jamal to a special school to improve his studies, Jamal's parents, on the other hand, did not adhere to this idea. This is because the parents believed that their child was bright and energetic enough to excel in the same school. However, the parents accepted to let Jamal tested for any complications by the school psychologists, Dr. Mann. After the test, it was found that Jamal had a special gift and this was the reason for his argumentative nature in class. Dr. Mann recommended that Jamal should be transferred to a challenging environment that would stimulate him academically.

Ms. Anderson's Work Ethics

Also, Ms. Anderson had good working ethics as far as being a teacher is concerned. This is because before making the final decision of transferring Jamal to a special learning center, she decided that Jamal should be tested for any complications. In contrast to this, Ms. Anderson portrayed poor qualities of a teacher by giving up easily on Jamal when she recommended his transfer to a special learning center instead of trying to develop a way to improve on Jamal's character.

Peer Pressure and African American Culture

As far as work ethics of Ms. Anderson is concerned, peer pressure in African American culture is a major factor that leads to poor performance of the students. Peer pressure mainly affects the male child who at most times work hard to be assimilated in the peer group other than working hard in academics. This leads to their underperformance as peer pressure rewards underachievement at all times.

Recommendations for the Teacher

Furthermore, the teacher seems to be in a dilemma whether to adapt to Jamal's behavior or to nurture him to change and become a better student and adapt to the curriculum of Simpson school. However, the teacher seems to rely more on referring the student to a special learning center other than focusing on how to nurture the student. To help the teacher out of this dilemma, it is advisable for the teacher to develop a good and healthy relationship with the student (Hecht et al., 2012). This is because most students work hard when they have respect for the teacher and after they have created a good rapport with each other. Also, creating a good relationship will enable the teacher to understand the student well and work on the negative aspects of the student (Lynch et al., 2013).

African American Communication

The African American communication is mainly the verbal communication which has been drawn from their origin, the West African culture. Their communication styles mainly include The oral tradition, call and reaction patterns, the use of idiomatic expressions, vocal variation and the use of nonverbal communication e.g. gestures to intensify the meaning of the message being passed from one person to another.

It is worth noting that cultural competence plays a vital role in helping people of different cultural backgrounds to relate well with each other. In African American culture, they mainly embrace the traditional values like kinship and traditional religious beliefs. In addition, they use the verbal type of communication such as the use of idiomatic expressions and vocal variation, an oral tradition among others. In a school situation, the teachers have to create a good relationship with their students since they come from different cultural backgrounds and they need to understand each other well.

Hecht, M. L., Collier, M. J., & Ribeau, S. A. (2012). African American communication: Ethnic identity and cultural interpretation. Sage Publications, Inc.

Lynch, E. W., & Hanson, M. J. (2013). Developing cross-cultural competence: A guide for working with young children and their families. Paul H. Brookes Publishing.

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A List of 185 Interesting Cultural Topics to Write About

Culture is a set of knowledge, behaviors, and beliefs shared by a group of people. You would probably agree that it’s an integral part of humanity. It’s no wonder that students are often assigned to write about it.

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That’s why we came up with a list of interesting and creative culture essay topics. Whether you are writing a research paper, an essay, or a speech, our list of culture topics is for you. You can find various topics from popular culture and funny aspects of culture to cultural diversity. They will be useful for middle school, high school, and college students.

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• 🔝 Top 10 Topics
• 🏺 Western Culture Topics
• 📚✍️ Cultural Criticism
• 🎥 Cultural Phenomena
• 🧔👓 Subculture Topics
• 🧑🤝🧑 Socio-Cultural Topics
• ⛩️🕌 Cultural Diversity
• 👥 Cultural Anthropology

🔝 Top 10 Cultural Topics

• What causes culture shock?
• Cultural appropriation in fashion
• The Cold War’s impact on culture
• Women’s role in Italian culture
• Global impact of American culture
• How to preserve cultural diversity
• Pros and cons of cultural globalization
• Cultural differences in East Asian countries
• How do people assimilate into a foreign culture?
• Cultural background’s effect on one’s personality

🏺 Western Culture Topics to Write About

Much of today’s culture takes roots in the Western world. With this subject, the possibilities are endless! You can write about ancient civilizations or modern European culture. Sounds interesting? Then have a look at these topics:

• Write about a Greek myth of your choice.
• Research the history of the ancient Roman theater.
• Pick a Greek philosopher and describe their legacy.
• The heritage of the Roman Empire in the modern world.
• Discover the history of the Olympic Games .
• How did Christianity spread throughout Europe?
• The architecture of ancient Britain.

• How did the Great Plague influence western culture?
• Write about the key Renaissance artists .
• How did humanism emerge in British culture?
• Pick a European country and analyze how its traditions developed.
• The impact of the Renaissance on Europe’s worldview.
• Research the latest archeological discoveries of western civilization .
• How did the Protestant Reformation influence German culture?
• The legacy of the Renaissance artworks.
• What was the effect of the 1848 revolution on art?
• The role of scientific discoveries in Europe’s socio-cultural formation.
• Analyze the influence of colonization of African culture.
• Describe the highlights of the Enlightenment period .
• How did Brexit affect the British lifestyle?
• Did the American Revolution bring change in culture?
• What attitude does Poland have about their World War II heritage?
• How did the technological revolution impact everyday life in Europe?
• The influence of World War I on French culture.
• Write about European fashion during a specific period.

📚✍️ Cultural Criticism Essay Topics

Cultural criticism looks at texts, music, and artworks through the lens of culture. This type of analysis suggests that culture gives an artwork a specific meaning. The following topics will guide you towards an excellent critical essay:

• Analyze the cultural aspects of your favorite novel.
• Ethnicity in Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates .
• What’s the meaning of financial stability in The Great Gatsby ?
• Discover social changes in Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind .
• The effect of industrialization in John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath .
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and its context.
• Representation of race in Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison .
• Note the cultural features of The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais.
• Write about the main character’s mindset in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini .
• What are the main character’s values in A Bronx Tale ?
• Hispanic customs in The Tortilla Curtain by T. C. Boyle.
• Discover cultural clashes in Fury by Salman Rushdie.
• Pick a movie and analyze the cultural impact on your perception of the plot.
• Discuss the beliefs of white women in The Help .
• Does the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding portray Greek-American culture correctly?
• How did the background story in Slumdog Millionaire change your perception of the main character?
• What’s the meaning of gender in Bend It Like Beckham ?
• Far and Away : integration into a new society.
• Pick a painting and analyze its cultural background.

• Compare depictions of Christ from different continents.
• Discover the context of Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People .
• What’s the context of Punjabi Ladies Near a Village Well ?
• Discuss the symbolism of Girl with a Pearl Earring .
• Write about social roles based on Homer among the Greeks by Gustav Jäger.
• Select a song and analyze how culture is reflected in the lyrics.

🎥 Cultural Phenomena Topics for an Essay

Cultural phenomena refer to developing certain beliefs or preferences among many people. It is also called the bandwagon effect . Keep in mind that the fact of something becoming popular is not a phenomenon. This notion is more concerned with the process of gaining fame than with fame itself. Take a look at these helpful topic ideas for your paper:

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• Describe any cultural phenomenon in your area.
• Reasons why TikTok gained popularity in the U.S.
• How did the Pokemon Go! fad spread across the world?
• Analyze the percentage of people worldwide who like McDonald’s .
• What factors made “the dab” popular?
• Can the bandwagon effect explain bullying ?
• Discover cross-cultural fashion trends.
• Does social media facilitate cultural phenomena?
• Pick a celebrity and analyze their fanbase.
• How can you explain the high demand for Apple products?
• What made sitcoms popular?
• Write about Thanksgiving celebrations outside the U.S.
• Reasons why famous authors from the past remain influential.
• Does effective marketing cause the bandwagon effect?
• Discuss the tendency to follow trends for social acceptance.
• Choose a classic movie and analyze its popularity.
• Examine similar TV talent shows across nations.
• Discover why some dishes are considered “America’s favorite.”
• Explore the psychological side of cultural phenomena.
• List criteria needed for becoming a famous musician.
• Analyze the bandwagon effect in history.
• Why was holocaust normalized in some nations?
• Explain why Nike products are popular all over the world.
• Did the bandwagon effect play a part in the Renaissance?
• Can the spread of religious beliefs be called a cultural phenomenon?

🧔👓 Subculture Topics for an Essay

The term “subculture” means “a culture within a culture.” In other words, it’s a smaller group, inside a larger one, with its own beliefs and interests. You can write about a specific subculture or discover why such groups form. Feel free to use these essay topics:

• Write about the athletic community.
• Are marketing strategies aimed at subcultures effective?
• Why is the deviation from social norms considered dangerous?
• What makes the Amish stand out?
• Can a subculture serve as a basis for a culture?
• Does the U.S. benefit from cybersport?

• Tell about a social group that you’re a part of.
• Clothes as an identifier of a subculture.
• Pick a religious organization and describe it.
• Why did the anime community grow worldwide?
• Explain why some subcultures are considered dangerous.
• How do social groups emerge?
• Should parents encourage children to join an interest group?
• Describe the way people develop mutual beliefs cross-culturally.
• How does social media influence one’s lifestyle?
• Which interest group does your family belong to?
• Do subcultures benefit society?
• Analyze the Social Disorganization Theory concerning subcultures.
• How did hipsters influence global fashion trends?
• What are the requirements for becoming a skater?
• Discover the history and lifestyle of Goths .
• What is the basis of scumbro culture?
• Belonging to an interest group as a healthy social practice.
• What are the most popular subcultures amongst generation Z ?
• Discuss the importance of the hairstyle for subcultures.

🧑🤝🧑 Socio-Cultural Essay Topics

Let’s break the word “socio-cultural” in two parts. Social aspects include people, their roles, and available resources. Cultural factors refer to language, laws, religion, and values. Therefore, socio-cultural issues revolve around the unique design of a specific culture. Here are some topic ideas on this subject that you might find helpful.

• Describe the social stigma attached to single mothers .
• What pushes the elderly to the edge of poverty?
• Do marketing strategies vary from country to country?
• Is receiving psychological assistance culturally accepted in developing countries?
• Can art be misunderstood because of the socio-cultural context?
• Compare the average wage in the U.S. and the country of your choice.
• Does the increased use of technology in schools affect society?
• What factors push Americans to abuse drugs ?
• Which socio-cultural aspects make drunkenness acceptable?
• Describe the social environment in a country that legalizes slavery .
• Why do Christians get persecuted in some countries?
• How does information overload impact modern teenagers?
• Is child abuse justified outside the U.S.?
• Does technology affect the emotional maturity of children?
• Free education in Europe: pros and cons.
• Prove that the U.S. healthcare system should help the homeless.
• How often does cyberbullying occur worldwide?
• What does successful life mean for a third world country citizen?
• Does globalization put the national identity in danger?
• The importance of developing cultural sensitivity .
• Write about various religions in America .

• Discuss the correlation between the economic level and crime rates .
• Manifestations of ethical egoism in modern society.
• Cross-cultural missionary work: pros and cons.
• Does social stigma towards HIV contribute to its spread?

⛩️🕌 Cultural Diversity Topics for an Essay

America is one of the most diverse nations in the world. Each culture has its language, customs, and other factors that enrich a country like the U.S. The life of a culturally diverse community has its advantages and challenges. In your paper, unpack one of the aspects of such an environment. Take a look at these essay topics:

• Discuss ethnic groups within the U.S. which have the highest suicide rate .
• Is it essential for American psychologists to develop cultural competence ?
• Describe the basic principles of cultural respect.
• Prove that racism should not be tolerated.
• Does the American education system embrace ethnic minorities?
• Analyze the benefit of ethnic inclusiveness for the U.S. food industry .
• How can managers encourage a multiethnic environment in the workplace?
• White about the challenges of second-generation Americans.
• Should the term “ immigrant ” be banned?
• Discuss the advantages of the U.S. as a multicultural nation.
• Prove that the English language proficiency test shouldn’t be required for U.S. citizenship.
• What is the effect of prejudice against ethnic minorities?
• How does diversity find a place in American traditions ?
• Describe the culture shock experience of an international student.
• Is transracial adoption becoming more common in the U.S.?
• What is cultural narcissism, and how can you avoid it?
• Effective strategies for conflict resolution in a diverse environment .
• What multiculturalism policies currently exist in the U.S.?
• Analyze the heritage of a specific nation.
• Should learning a second language be mandatory in America?
• What are the stereotypes associated with different ethnicities?
• Describe the benefits of ethnic diversity.
• Write about the widespread interracial marriages in the U.S.
• How can one avoid cultural ignorance?
• Are the Americans guilty of ethnocentrism ?

👥 Cultural Anthropology Topics for a Paper

Cultural anthropology is a study of beliefs, practices, and social organization of a group. The shaping of ideas and the physical environment are in the focus of this study. In other words, anthropology discovers why people live the way they do. This list will help narrow down your attention on this subject.

• Why are social networks commonly used in the U.S.?
• Explain the popularity of online shopping worldwide.
• Will e-books replace paper books in developed countries?
• Artificial intelligence technologies in Japan.
• Pick two American states and compare their laws.
• Why is cycling so prevalent in the Netherlands?
• How architecture reflects a nation’s history.
• Why is it easier to receive citizenship in some countries than in others?
• Explain why Americans have a strong sense of national pride.
• Analyze the perception of time in tropical countries.
• Are most Swiss households wealthy?
• Discover how language reflects a cultural worldview.
• Does the country’s economy affect the self-esteem of its citizens?
• Reasons for the political division in the U.S.
• Analyze the difference in lifestyles between the Northern and the Southern states .
• Why is it common in some countries to be bilingual ?
• Analyze the cultural values of a communistic nation.
• How can liberalism affect the education system?
• What’s the social meaning of disease in third world countries?
• Examine how the two-child policy affects the Chinese lifestyle.
• Free health care: pros and cons.
• Write about the way the former Soviet Union countries transitioned from communism.
• Do Christian traditions vary from culture to culture?
• Analyze the impact of refugee presence in European countries.
• Does traditional food reflect the history of a nation?

We hope you were able to pick a culture topic for your paper after reading this article.

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Good luck with your assignment on culture!

Further reading:

• 497 Interesting History Topics to Research
• 137 Social Studies Topics for Your Research Project
• 512 Research Topics on HumSS (Humanities & Social Sciences)
• How to Write an Art Critique: Examples and Simple Techniques
• 430 Philosophy Topics & Questions for Your Essay
• 267 Hottest Fashion Topics to Write About in 2024

🔍 References

• So You’re an American?: State.gov
• A Brief History of Western Culture: Khan Academy
• What Exactly is “Western Culture”?: University of California, Santa Barbara
• What is Cultural Criticism?: University of Saskatchewan
• What is a Subculture?: Grinnell College
• Socio-Cultural Factors and International Competitiveness: ResearchGate
• Cultural Diversity: Definition & Meaning: Purdue Global
• What Is Cultural Anthropology?: US National Park Service
• Cultural Anthropology: Encyclopedia Britannica
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Cultural Appreciation Clubs: Celebrating Your Heritage, Educating Others, and Boosting Your College Applications

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There’s no denying the importance of strong extracurricular activities these days. As college admissions become increasingly selective, a strong academic record and test scores to match often aren’t enough to get into the most selective schools any more. In fact, most selective colleges are forced to turn away many academically qualified students each year. So what sets apart those who get in? It’s hard to say exactly, but we do know what’s left after academics are considered: essays, recommendations, and extracurriculars.

Most students find that they are able to participate in extracurricular activities that reflect their existing interests and values, but what happens when you can’t find a club that reflects an important part of who you are? What if you feel that a critical part of your identify or values isn’t reflected by the existing offerings?

If you feel that your culture isn’t reflected in your activities or in your school community, you might consider creating a cultural appreciation club. In these clubs, you’ll reaffirm your own identify while sharing your unique traditions and values with others. To learn how to start a cultural appreciation club, keep reading.    

What Is a Cultural Appreciation Club?

A cultural appreciation club is a club dedicated to spreading awareness, understanding, and appreciation of a particular culture, its people, diversity, and values. Often, cultural appreciation clubs also serve to support and unite members of a cultural identity while helping the community to understand common misconceptions associated with that culture.

Cultural appreciation clubs exist at many different levels, often starting at the elementary school level and continuing on through college and sometimes into adulthood through local community centers or libraries. In college in particular, cultural appreciation groups can serve an important function, uniting students who might feel disconnected from their culture as they are often living away from home for the first time.

Why Start a Cultural Appreciation Club?

The most obvious reason to start a cultural appreciation group is to get in touch with your culture and share it with others. You might learn more about your culture and get the chance to teach others how you celebrate it. Furthermore, you might also potentially practice foreign language skills, or appreciate different cultures through food, music, clothing, or movies.

Finally, many colleges have cultural appreciation groups. Getting involved now, while you’re still in high school, might situate you well to transition straight into a college club where you’ll find classmates with the same interests and appreciation.

What Type of Cultural Appreciation to Start

Usually, students are self-motivated to start a cultural appreciation group as a means of connecting with a side of their culture that they either don’t feel is represented at school or that they want to learn more about. Usually, in this model, the founder is also a member of the culture to be explored and celebrated.

Sometimes, though, especially in schools without much diversity and where a single culture may not have enough representation to warrant a club, a multicultural appreciation group might be formed to celebrate and learn about different cultures each month. In this model, the calendar is broken into different units of study and celebration, usually based around significant cultural events. For example, you may learn about and celebrate African cultures during Black History Month.

Another form of cultural appreciation group arises when a student feels that a culture has been treated unfairly or is commonly misunderstood, and hopes to educate his or herself and others about it and share in celebrating it. If you find yourself in such a position with regards to a culture that is not your own, it’s important that you proceed respectfully. First, reach out to members of that cultural community to see if they would like to be involved in guiding and forming this group. If so, follow their lead for the vision of the club.

Also keep in mind that there is a fine line between appreciating a culture and appropriating a culture. Appreciation avoids generalizations and stereotypes while learning about another culture with respect and courtesy. Appropriation often takes and uses the sacred history, traditions, or styles of another culture for aesthetic or entertainment purposes without knowledge of their significance. -->

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How to Get Started Forming A Cultural Appreciation Group

Most schools have a formal process for starting a new school-sanctioned club. You can talk to your adviser or another mentor to get a better idea of what your school requires, but generally there will be an application process and a prescribed timeline for completing it. Usually, you will need to submit the application for a new school club during the winter or spring before it becomes an official school club. This means planning ahead for the following school year.

Another critical piece of forming a school club will be finding a faculty adviser. Ideally this will be someone with whom you’ve worked closely in the past and who also shares an appreciation for or connection with this particular culture. 

You don’t have to start a school-sanctioned club, though. If you think that there is interest in your greater community, you could start a cultural appreciation club outside of school. Doing so through a community center or your local library are two possible options. Contact each to get an idea of what this would entail. Sometimes, you only need approval to use a room for meetings, and the rest will be up to you.

Gather Interested Members

Once your club is established, you’ll need to gather interested members. You can advertise your club through flyers, posters, school announcements, and social media. Get classmates talking about it so that they can share the news with others as well.

Be sure to communicate that your cultural appreciation club is open to anyone. You don’t need to be Italian or even speak Italian in order to participate in the Italian culture club. You only need to have respect and admiration for the culture, and an earnest desire to learn more about it. Make sure that your club is welcoming to people of all backgrounds.

Form a Leadership Committee

There are varying levels of formality involved in forming a club’s leadership. Sometimes, if the club is formally established through your school, you will need to hold formal nominations and elections for club officers. Check with your school to see what is required of school clubs.

Other times, if the club is formed more casually, leadership might be self-appointed by the founders at the beginning, in order to get the club moving forward. This casual leadership can always be reassessed as the club progresses, and you can always hold more formal elections later on, once the club is up and running.

What To Do in a Cultural Appreciation Club

There are many different ways in which a cultural appreciation club will function on a daily basis. Sometimes, during regular club meetings, it’s likely that you’ll spend time discussing various important aspects of the culture. Other times, you might be planning public outreach events or participating in more hands-on cultural appreciation experiences.

Your discussions might include common points from popular media or current events, ways in which your culture impacts your everyday interactions, and how others view your culture. Sometimes your discussions might be about serious topics like stereotypes or discrimination, and other times it will be more light-hearted, like reminiscing about your favorite childhood traditions or meals.

Your cultural appreciation club might also hold public events aimed at welcoming and educating the general public. These events could include sharing of arts, foods, customs, or habits that characterize a culture. You might incorporate a fundraising element to benefit a cause that’s important to your culture, or you may fundraise to help sustain your club itself.

Sometimes, your regular club meetings might include special events, like sharing and then cooking favorite recipes, bringing in cultural artifacts, or inviting guest speakers. It’s important to avoid stereotypes or generalizing a culture, so always bear in mind that members of a culture each choose their own ways of connecting with that culture. By inviting others to share those connections, you will learn more about your own culture too.

Starting a cultural appreciation club is a great way to connect with others, take initiative and show leadership, and validate an important part of your identity. In addition, educating others about different cultures is increasingly important as our society becomes more and more diverse. By sharing your culture with others, you’ll not only hold on to an important part of who you are, but you’ll also have the opportunity to teach others about why it matters.

Looking for help navigating the road to college as a high school student? Download our  free guide for 9th graders  and our  free guide for 10th graders . Our guides go in-depth about subjects ranging from  academics ,  choosing courses ,  standardized tests ,  extracurricular activities ,  and much more !

For more information about culture or starting a club in high school, check out these posts:

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If we aren’t understanding of the variances between cultures and the way they communicate verbally, emotionally, and nonverbally this can create considerable issues. The three primary problems that could arise if we don’t have an understanding of cultural differences are the ways we interpret others comments and actions, how we predict future behaviors, and conflicting behaviors of others (“Differences in Culture,” n.d). Culture plays a significant part in peoples lives because it shapes our personal values and views on the world. Having a perspective and understanding a persons culture is important because each culture is different in respect to personal views and behaviors, but it is key to respect their culture because just like us it shaped who they are. The reason we have stereotypes of other cultures is because of this particular reason, we assume that our culture is superior and the correct way to do things. For example, I have heard the stereotype that French people are impolite, offensive, and they hate Americans, but was this stereotype created because of a misunderstanding between cultures? Cultural differences can be educational because it allows us to understand the uniqueness of a culture and allows us to learn new things. Cultural differences allow people to feel a sense of belonging, which can be empowering knowing

Response to Bell Hook's Keeping Close to Home

The values that I learned from my parents as an infant, child, adolescent, and, most recently, as an adult, are continually enforced and taught to me today. It is because of this strong family support that I have stayed the same as I was before entering college. My family has always preached strong family values that will be with me for the rest of my life, and will be passed on to my children and grandchildren. Some of the family values that I have learned from my family are to always respect my elders and to have good manners no matter what.

The Importance Of Cultural Identity In Counseling

Understanding race, ethnicity, and culture is an extremely important aspect of being a counselor. If an individual does not have cultural identity of their own or understand his or herself as a cultural, ethnic, or racial individual, it may be difficult to help your clients. Understanding and being aware of your cultural identity will help the counselor be conscious of their own prejudice. Being aware of your own prejudice towards any culture, race, or ethnic group may help you redirect your negative thinking into a positive active role as a counselor. Having awareness will make an individual an improved counselor able to empathize and understand any individual who seeks therapy.

Culturally Responsive Teaching Essay

According to Gay, culturally responsive teaching is employing previous experience, performance style of student, and cultural knowledge for the purposes of making learning more suitable and effective for students (Gay, 2000). In other words, culturally responsive teaching practice is using cultural experiences, perceptions of ethnically, and cultural features of student to facilitate when teaching. Furthermore, culturally responsive teaching practice teaches through and to the strength of students. Culturally responsive teaching practices is necessary in connecting the cultural knowledge of students, style of performance, and previous experience to the knowledge of academic with the goal of legitimizing what the students already know. Therefore,

Cultural Relativism Essay

...as well as understand it. Culture is gray; there is no black and white. There are many aspects that come into play in the importance of culture, such as political economy. Being able to maintain my culture here in Los Angeles has become more important to me after moving from Minnesota. Just because I am not geographically in the Minnesota anymore doesn’t mean I feel any less Minnesotan. It is also important to overcome the stereotype of knowing everything about a culture because a lot of the time, and in my personal experience, I am just a piece of the puzzle. This is especially true when it comes to the culture of a state. Therefore, the duality that I believe exists in this idea of cultural relativism has proved my ambivalence toward it due to my experience living in a culture where aspects of both the principle of cultural relativism and its criticisms are true.

Multicultural Culture Essay

Cultural Appropriation versus Multiculturalism In today's society, there are many different cultures that individuals identify with. Culture is very important to many people and is something that helps define who we are. When different cultures are respected and appreciated, it is a beautiful thing, it can bring individuals in society closer to one another. Ideally, this understanding of one another’s cultures can lead to multiculturalism.

Why My Parents Have Taught Me

Both of my grandparents raised my own parents when being young kids into having discipline, responsibilities and obligations. Back in the day, the years were different and it required a lot more education/principles. Education has been one of the most maybe top five of me, my character. Since what I remember by parents always taught me the right path, not wrong, they always tried to fix my mistakes so I wouldn 't repeat them or make myself look bad in front of other people. They wanted me to be an educated person with principles, but I never understood why

Importance Of Cultural Diversity Essay

In the future, the world will only become more diverse. People should learn to appreciate it by acknowledging the differences around them. Sometimes people are scared that “recognizing differences will divide people from each other. However, learning about cultural differences can actually bring people closer together” ( “Section 1”). It would be better if people became closer together instead of growing apart because of discrimination and other mistreatment. Building relationships with different cultures should be a goal of everyone and even nations as a whole. Each group has different strengths that can benefit the the community altogether. Since the world will definitely become more diverse, it is important to be informed about cultural groups so you can become more marketable and succeed in a diverse world.

Personal Essay: Gaining My Experience In College

Growing up, my parents, they always told me keep my grades up, to never put important things aside. They said learn from them, they had my oldest sister at a young age and they were not able to graduate or go back to continue educating them self. They struggle for so long, from buying themselves clothes, to paying the mortgage. Always put school first, work on myself to have the life I want when I am older, my parents said. Saying that, I believe; all the money I am spending, sacrifices I am making, skills I am gaining, and being able to say I fulfilled my goal will be worth it in about seven years for me.

More about Essay On Cultural Awareness

Related topics.

• The Culture
• Intercultural competence
• Anthropology
• Communication