You probably grew up hearing America be referred to as a melting pot to reference all the different cultures coming together in one nation. Diversity has its wonders, and like anything else, it also has its struggles. Diversity creates a space of constant learning, exchanging ideas and inventions, and a variety of solutions. Cultural diversity in the workplace has been a growing effort across different industries. 

According to LinkedIn data, the number of titles over the last five years have:

  • more than doubled (107% growth) for the head of diversity title
  • Increased by 75% for the director of diversity title
  • Increased by 68% for the chief diversity officer title

 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2020 report (BLS) “By race, “whites made up the majority of the labor force (78 percent).” And while women make up nearly ½ of the workforce, where they work is greatly concentrated in certain fields that oftentimes are notorious for low salaries. A BLS 2017 report found that women comprise “98% of speech-language pathologists, 93% of dental assistants and 82% of social workers.”

Lastly, as efforts grow to diversify workplaces, so does equal pay. BLS found that pay disparities exist even across the same occupational group. “For example, median usual weekly earnings of Asian men and White men working full time in management, professional, and related occupations, at $1,732 and $1,488, respectively, were considerably higher than the earnings of Hispanic men ($1,174) and Black men ($1,164) in the same occupational group.”

While it takes it can seem like an uphill venture to bring diversity into the workplace, there are great benefits for doing so. 

Increased creativity

A 2017 study in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that “Participants’ frequency of contact with American friends since returning to their home countries positively predicted their workplace innovation and the likelihood of becoming entrepreneurs. Going out with a close friend or romantic partner from a foreign culture can help people ‘go out’ of the box and into a creative frame of mind.”

Think of the saying, we don’t know what we don’t know. When it comes to diverse teams, it’s a lot more likely that one person may know what another person does not know. People’s life experiences greatly vary according to nationality, religion, race, etc, and a diverse group will also be diverse in their thinking. 

More innovation

Creativity and innovation go hand-in-hand. The same study found that “the frequency of contact with foreign friends positively predicted two organizationally meaningful creative outcomes— entrepreneurship and workplace innovation” 

A Forbes article by Viki shared that, “research on creativity and innovation has been consistent in showing the value of exposing individuals to experiences with multiple perspectives and worldviews. It is the combination of these various perspectives in novel ways that result in new ideas popping up.”

The combination of increased creativity and innovation can give a company the ability to flourish beyond its competitors. Creativity and innovation also mean teams are able to generate solutions quickly and a variety of them. 

More employee engagement

Work is where most Americans spend the majority of their awake hours. This is a place where preferably people feel comfortable and engaged. Feeling included is a huge part of increased employee engagement for diverse workplaces. If someone does not feel like they are included in a space, they’d rather put their head down, complete their work and leave. 

A 2013 study by Deloitte reported “[employee] engagement is an outcome of diversity and inclusion. Whilst those who feel highly included in a workplace with a low commitment to diversity are more engaged (67%) compared to those in a workplace with high diversity and low levels of inclusion (20%), it is the combined focus on diversity and inclusion which delivers the highest levels of engagement (101%).”

Reduced employee turnover

Employee engagement and reduced employee turnover go hand-in-hand. The more a workplace can be a place where employees feel included and comfortable, the less likely they are to leave. When employees feel ostracized, or out of place, eventually, they’d rather go to a different company making the same salary, if not more. It takes a lot of work to find a new job, but if an employee does not feel heard or valued, they will do the necessary work if they believe it could lead to a better work environment. 

Higher profits

The bottom line always matters for any company or organization.  All the benefits listed above, play a role in increased profitability for companies implementing diversity. Reduced turnover translates to less money being spent on hiring, training, paperwork, etc. More creativity and innovation leads to quicker problem solving, greater ideas, edging out competitors, which also leads to profitability. 

The 2019 McKinsey report found “that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on executive teams were 25 percent more likely to have above-average profitability than companies in the fourth quartile.” The same applied to ethnic and cultural diversity, “in 2019, top-quartile companies outperformed those in the fourth one by 36 percent in profitability. 

Another study by Boston Consulting Group reported, “companies that reported above-average diversity on their management teams also reported innovation revenue that was 19 percentage points higher than that of companies with below-average leadership diversity—45% of total revenue versus just 26%.”

Diversity in the workplace can be the key to keeping employees happy, increasing productivity, profits, innovation, and creativity, and ultimately, a stable and thriving business. 

When applying to selective institutions, supplemental essays are a huge part of the process. It is imperative that you take the time needed to write, edit, and revise a stellar supplemental essay. Supplemental essays are an essential tool admissions officers use to assess student fit. Think about it: every other part of the application is relatively generic. 

Every college will receive the same information from the student including their name, demographic information, transcripts, SAT/ACT scores, and personal statement.

Supplemental essays dig a bit deeper into the student’s personality, passions, etc. As such, these additional questions should be taken seriously. The college took the time to craft these questions on top of all the information they will collect through the application. They allocate resources and time for more information about you. It is important to use these essays to your advantage and prove to the school once more why you belong at that institution.

Use these essays to add another layer of depth to your essay. Think critically about what other facets of your personal life you would like admissions officers to know about you. Be strategic and specific in your answers.

About

About Duke University

 

Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina. Although it is not an Ivy League university, Duke University is a highly regarded institution. It is currently ranked #12 across all institutions in the country. Duke admits about 8% of applicants each year, and its applicants are extremely competitive. Duke’s class of 2023 earned a 1500-1560 on their SAT and/or a 33-35 on their ACT. 

Despite these competitive quantitative pieces, Duke still wants to know more about you, further emphasizing the importance of the holistic admission approach. Numbers are important but so are the other parts of your background, interests, and experiences. 

Essay Questions at Duke University

During the 2020-21 school year, Duke requires one 200-word essay, a 250-word essay, and two optional 250-word essays. 

Should you write the optional essays?

Yes, you should always write optional essays. It is more helpful to think of all essays as mandatory. You never want to miss an opportunity to impress the admission committee. Completing optional essays may even prove what kind of student you are. Wouldn’t you want to be the type of student that goes above and beyond? 

duke university supplemental essays
Essay Questions

Duke Supplemental Essay Questions


Please share with us why you consider Duke a good match for you. Is there something in particular about Duke’s academic or other offerings that attract you? 

 

This essay prompt and the essay prompt below seem very similar. Therefore, you must tailor your answers to the questions at hand. Use this essay to talk about your connection to the school. This connection may be about the culture, a personal experience with the school, a visit or a talk with an admissions officer. If you have not had the opportunity to visit, perhaps there are student support systems that appeal to you or alumni you look up to. There are many ways to approach this question, try to be as creative and specific as you can in your response. 

 Do not use this essay to brag to the university about how prestigious they are. In other words, don’t tell Duke you want to go there because Duke is a highly ranked institution; they already know that. What else matters to you about the institution? Do you like the culture, the classes, programs, majors? If you can’t think of a reason to attend Duke other than because it is Duke, you may want to reconsider why you’re applying.

If you are applying to the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences as a first-year applicant, please discuss why you consider Duke a good match for you. Is there something particular about Duke that attracts you? (Please limit your response to no more than 250 words.) 
If you are applying to the Pratt School of Engineering as a first-year applicant, please discuss why you want to study engineering and why you would like to study at Duke. (Please limit your response to no more than 250 words.)

You should approach this question as a “why this college?” essay. Pay attention to the phrase, “is there something in particular.” This question is asking you to provide specific reasons why you want to attend Duke University. Generic answers will not cut it here. You must be detailed and thoughtful in your response. Cite professors, professional resources, programs, internships, or other opportunities that genuinely excite you. However, it isn’t good enough to simply name a professor or class without connecting it to why it is important to you.

Don’t write: 

I imagine myself taking Professor Smith’s Data Visualization for Gender Inequities. The class seems interesting and I would be excited to learn how to visualize data. 

Instead, say:

I am infinitely curious about how we can use empirical data to rectify societal issues. I imagine myself taking Professor Smith’s Data Visualization for Gender Inequities. This class will provide an important framework about the ways in which we can not only obtain data but how to use it to inform policy. 

Generalized information does not effectively communicate your genuine interest in the school or how you plan to take advantage of the resources at such a reputable institution.  

OPTIONAL: 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 that would help us understand you better, perhaps a community you belong to or your family or cultural background, we encourage you to do so here. Real people are reading your application, and we want to do our best to understand and appreciate the real people applying to Duke. (250 words maximum)

 

Some keywords to pay attention to in this prompt are diversity, perspective, experiences, community, cultural background. This question is intentionally broad. Duke wants to know about an identity group that matters to you. 

You can use this essay to discuss a racial, cultural, or religious identity you belong to. But this identity should connect back to you in some way. It should offer a new perspective not offered anywhere else on your application. Therefore, if you wrote about your racial background in your personal statement, you shouldn’t write about it again in your supplemental essay. Discuss another facet of yourself that is important to who you are and how you operate in the world. 

Some students may feel their identities do not say anything special about who they are. That’s okay! If your race, culture, or other aspects of demographics have not impacted you in any way, think of other communities you belong to that matter to you. Perhaps the city where you live shaped your identity, perhaps the school club you belong to shaped your way of thinking. 

The major takeaway from this essay is how you will use these experiences to diversity the incoming class. For example, you may say growing up in a Hispanic household taught you the importance of family and community. You can discuss how to plan to be unconditionally kind and loving with your classmates to promote that culture at Duke. 

OPTIONAL: 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 that would help us understand you better, perhaps a community you belong to or your family or cultural background, we encourage you to do so here. Real people are reading your application, and we want to do our best to understand and appreciate the real people applying to Duke. (250 words maximum)

 

Try performing research over the summer, especially if you are interested in the sciences. Start by identifying a problem you want to learn more about. Use something you have some familiarity with and wouldn’t mind spending time learning about. Perhaps you want to learn more about the soil toxicity levels in your community. After you determine a subject, find a mentor or teacher who can help guide you through the process. For example, if you are trying to learn about soil toxicity, perhaps you want to reach out to your AP Environmental Science teacher or a professor at your community college.

Use your local library, the internet, and your mentor as tools to help you find answers to the questions you’re asking. Learning, experimenting, and asking questions is where you should spend the bulk of your summer. Afterward, try to find a place to publish your work. Consider academic journals, local newspapers, or even just as a report at your local community college. Whatever you decide to do, you should try to share your findings with your community. 

Duke’s commitment to diversity and inclusion includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. If you would like to share with us more about your identity, you can do so here, or use any previous essay prompt you feel is appropriate. (250 words maximum)

 

This essay is similar to the last essay. You should be careful about how you answer each question to ensure they are not too similar. Try to allocate your answers strategically. You may want to talk about an experience in the first essay and discuss a racial, gender, or sexual orientation identity in this essay. Even if you don’t feel your external identities are significant, you should not leave this answer blank. Who you are as a person has impacted your life in some way or another, it is important you discuss that in a positive and reflective way. 

What matters more than the identity you chose is how you explain the effect your identity had on you. In other words, do not simply write about your cultural heritage without explaining how it shaped you. Similarly, you shouldn’t write about your involvement in an organization without explaining why it was an important part of your growth. 

Or similarly, you can say volunteering with an environmental nonprofit every Saturday instilled the importance of environmental justice. Your essay should add another dimension to you as a person. 

Although difficult, these supplementals are an opportunity to prove you belong at Duke University. Use these supplementals to show just how stellar a candidate you are. Good luck!