Colgate University 2019-20 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Colgate University 2019-20 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 2 essays of 250 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Oddball, Community

Please reflect, in a short written response of 250 words or less, to the following prompts below:

At Colgate, we believe that a diverse community is a strong community. Reflect on an experience that demonstrates your commitment to inclusion and diversity.

Diversity applies to many facets of who we are, including: cultural heritage, ethnic background, gender, socioeconomic upbringing, or an intersectional combination of all of the above. No matter who you are, you bring something to the table, and admissions wants to know about how you encourage others to participate in the conversation. Diversity and inclusion are about metaphorically holding the door open for someone else to enter, making room for another seat at the table (spoiler alert: there’s plenty of room), amplifying the voice of someone who may not have otherwise been heard. Reflect on your activities and community and share an experience in which you made sure a group, activity, or event was not homogenous. 

With over 500 liberal arts and sciences colleges in the United States, what inspired you to apply to Colgate?

This is a why essay through and through (even though the word “why” is nowhere to be found in the prompt). Why are you applying to Colgate? Did a campus tour knock your socks off? Are both your parents alumni and you can’t wait to experience campus for yourself? Is there a star in your career field who went to Colgate? Do you hope to follow in his or her footsteps? Make sure to go beyond the basics (world-class professors, fairytale campus, etc.) and dig into how Colgate will help you pursue your passions and achieve your goals.