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I'm applying to a few colleges, and I've never felt so wrong to be writing an essay.
The University of Colorado at Boulder's Flagship 2030 strategic plan promotes exceptional teaching,
research, scholarship, creative works, and service distinguishing us as a premier university. We strive to
foster a diverse and inclusive community for all that engages each member in opportunities for academic
excellence, leadership, and a deeper understanding of the world in which we live. Given the statement
above, how do you think you could enrich our diverse and inclusive community and what are your hopes for
your college experience?
Demographics of CU:
30,196 - Degree-seeking students, a new record
25,408 - Undergraduate enrollment, an all-time high
15.1 percent - Undergraduate minority students, up from 14.9 percent
520 - Number of minority graduate students, the highest ever
There are 520 minority graduate students enrolled on the Boulder campus -- which is 29 more than last year and 22 more than the previous high, set in 1995.
17 percent - Decrease in out-of-state freshmen
CU is incredibly easy to get in to for in state freshmen. I cannot stress this enough it is INCREDIBLY EASY to get in. A student with GPA of 3.25 and SAT combined scores of less than 1300 can be guaranteed admission. If you're instate and don't meet these requirements it's just fine because the median GPA and SAT scores of instate graduates who didn't meet the auto-acceptance policy are below those numbers.
I'm going to put it bluntly. CU is a slacker school. Within the last 10 years CU has been rated one of the top 10 party schools. Every single person I know who goes there says their classes are easier than when they attended high school. I fit this demographic wonderfully! I'm a slacker and I love every moment of it! This is the school for me! Now let's return to the essay question.
In a school that houses 4,788 graduate students 520 of them, yes 520, are minorities. The out-of-state enrollments are dropping, and enrollments of minorities are hardly getting better. The essay question for admission is asking how I'm going to bring diversity with my white slacker ass. I feel like I have some to offer, after all I consider myself at least somewhat smart, but are they serious with this question? So many schools ask questions that help you explain what defines you, and that is hard enough to answer, but CU's essay question crosses the line. At multiple instances they label their white middle class university as diverse and inclusive, and I have to explain how I'm going to add to that diversity.
It seems like the essay question is there to paint a picture of CU rather than to get information about myself. Please CU, could you let me explain who I am without having to lie and pretend to be a diverse worldly individual rather than what I am: A middle class white kid who's going to get into your school even if I write, "PISS IN THE ASS," over and over for my essay?
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I never wrote an essay for my application, but then again I was applying to UMD as an in-state student with a 3.2 gpa, which basically means you just get in.
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On November 12 2009 05:05 Sadistx wrote:
I never wrote an essay for my application, but then again I was applying to UMD as an in-state student with a 3.2 gpa, which basically means you just get in.
i have a 3.5 gpa and 1920 SAT. can i get into UMD?
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CU is always in the top 5 party schools.
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Just copy and paste your blog and hand it in. Prove how smart you are!
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You can write whatever you want. All they'll are about is whether it's grammatically correct and well-organized.
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You don't have to be diverse and worldly, you just have to "enrich their diverse and inclusive community," and tell what you hope for in your college experience.
Just whip up some B.S. about how you hope to learn so much in college and that you'll bring your unique perspective to your peers and professors... something like that.
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from what i remember college essays are supposed to reveal something about yourself.
Like when they ask you "why do you want to come to this school" or w/e you explain stuff and why you like it/couldn't give a shit but fake it.
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i go to CU and i'm in the engineering school. my classes are way harder than HS classes. like a billion times harder. it's not a complete slacker school.
it all matters what classes you take, and your major. CU is awesome you're not giving it enough credit.
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I avoided the "How are you diverse" question for the general app. Apparently CU is actually a decent school, it just has lower standards than some of the nerds here 
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Yeah just bullshit and you'll be fine, as long as you have nice format.
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United States24753 Posts
The prompt is not asking you how you are going to bring diversity to CU... it's asking how you are going to enrich the community which happens to be diverse and inclusive.
Talk about how you are going to do things which make the college seem like it is branching out into the outside community/world... or anything else for that matter. It's not as limiting as you are making it sound.
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Haha.. I got to CU and am reading this from the engineering center's computer lab (one of them).
That definitely wasn't the essay topic I had to write about to get in, back in 2007. Most of the reason why this school isn't that diverse is because it's SO EXPENSIVE for out-of-state students. Colorado's also ranked almost last in state-funded student aid, which doesn't help much. I have a friend from california who's going here right now and his tuition is almost double mine. It's absolutely ridiculous. You should say "I'm going to run for student council and get more undergraduate financial aid."
But yeah, this school is really easy to get into, especially if you're doing some bullshit major like writing or psychology. If you're going straight into mechanical or aerospace engineering you need a higher GPA (3.5+). I'm currently Mech E, and had to spend my first year undeclared because of that, which has been messing up my schedule every semester since
Also, I believe getting into the business school requires higher standards than what you listed.
Like ulszz said, you're not giving it enough credit. I don't consider working 50+ hour weeks (as a junior, 15 credits) "slacking."
As far as the engineering school goes, CU actually has some kick-ass utilities. Multi-million dollar public undergraduate labs and machine shops, with a staff that runs them who you can go to if you need pretty much anything, and some pretty great professors (I had a nobel-prize winner teach me experimental physics).
Of course, I have no idea what the rest of the university's courses are like, as non-engineering degrees are a waste of time 
edit: Over the course of the past two years I've noticed at least 4 or 5 people from TL saying they go to CU on these forums. We should get together and sign up for the next CSL imo. Midwest represent!
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i wrote about how i chased leprechauns as a little boy. i'm now a sophomore here, so i guess they liked it
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For those who responded saying that you go to CU I am aware that the engineering program is quite hard. In fact, I know CU is the leader in the astrophysics field and several others related to science + engineering types. However, I'm talking about the basic college of arts and sciences most students participate in. I just didn't think I needed to put in that nuance.
@Meta + ulszz baring disaster I'm going to CU. You guys gonna be there next year?! It'd be sick to meet some local TL people.
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I'm applying for master's programs at UC San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Wisconsin. No, I am not good enough to join your CSL teams.
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Baa?21244 Posts
CU easy you can write about anything and they'll take you. You're from Fairview, that's like auto-in at CU
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United States10774 Posts
you can probably write any bs and get in..but for diversity i guess you would have to talk about a unique experience, talent or hobby that you have. it doesn't have to be ethnic.
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Write your essay in gangsta rap format.
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Yeah those essay prompts are the worst. Especially the ones that specifically mention ethnic or cultural diversity. Are people really that proud of their ancestors/the color of their skin? Seems like something a weak or insecure person would cling to.
In terms of your essay, I think there's nothing you can do except a) define "diversity" as broadly as possible or b) pile on the bullshit as high as you can.
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EPT
