At some point over the course of your time at college, it is basically inevitable that you will have your most fiercely-held beliefs challenged. (Unless you go to a college where everyone thinks exactly like you — but who wants that?!) Colleges want to know: how will you respond? Will you start blood feuds with people who disagree with you? Or will you meet those moments with grace, welcoming conflict as an (occasionally painful) opportunity for growth?
To answer this question, a growing number of colleges are including what we’re calling the “differing opinions” essay on their supplements. The prompts sound something like this:
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? (50-250 words)
Vanderbilt University values learning through contrasting points of view. We understand that our differences, and our respect for alternative views and voices, are our greatest source of strength. Please reflect on conversations you’ve had with people who have expressed viewpoints different from your own. How did these conversations/experiences influence you? (250 words)
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? (200-250 words)
There are slight variations in these prompts — for example, some specifically ask about a tough conversation, while others ask more broadly about experiences — but the gist is the same. They are all asking you to think about how you communicate with those who have different viewpoints from you. They all ask you to reflect on a moment in which your beliefs were challenged by someone else and discuss what you learned from that interaction. As you begin crafting your “differing opinions” essay, use the “dos” and “don’ts” below to guide you.
DON’T
Limit yourself to conversations in which you were obviously in the right.
In fact, it can be especially powerful to write about a conversation or experience that caused you to seriously reconsider the beliefs you once considered irrefutable.
Make things too tidy.
It can be tempting to end your narrative with total agreement or resolution. Ex., “My mom once thought all gay people were just going through a phase, but I gave her a stern talking-to, and now she’s an enthusiastic ally!” Resist the urge to tie a neat bow on your essay! More often than not, disagreements about deeply-held beliefs don’t end so tidily, and acknowledging the ongoing messiness of the interaction can demonstrate a lot of maturity and nuance.
Get didactic.
The point of this essay is not to convince your reader to adopt your viewpoint. Don’t hold forth or lecture your reader about your beliefs — the essay should be less about the beliefs themselves and more about how challenges to those beliefs have influenced you
DO
Cast a wide net.
If you’ve had formative arguments with your friends, family members, or classmates about hot-button issues like mental illness, race, or gender identity, then those conversations can obviously serve as the basis for an essay like this. But they aren’t your only options! Profound reflection can originate from less “serious” subject matter. We’ve seen successful essays written about clashes over food preferences, clothing choices, and group chat etiquette. As long as the takeaway goes deep, the idea could work.
Consider how encountering or acknowledging an opposing point of view has helped you grow.
Discuss how you grew in maturity, in compassion, or in some other way. Remember that this is, ultimately, an essay about you. Even if the prompt necessitates that you allocate space in your essay toward describing another person’s perspective, it’s always a good idea to continue bringing the essay back to your development.
Maintain compassion and respect.
Even if you’re describing an encounter with true bigotry, NEVER bash the person you’re writing about. You will always come off best if you maintain respect and kindness for people with whom you disagree, especially if that disagreement is heated. This might mean that there are certain topics that are simply off-limits for you because they’re too fresh; if you can’t write about that argument with your dad without your rage pouring onto the paper, then maybe it’s just too soon. Try to pick a topic that you can write about clearly and reflectively.
Consider writing a dual purpose essay.
Sometimes, a “differing opinions” essay can also work as a community essay. Can you think of any conflicts that have arisen within your communities that have been critical in cultivating your personal growth or enriching your perspective? If so, you might be able to write an essay that can work for both community AND differing opinions prompts.
Check out our full College Essay Hub for tons of resources and guidance on writing your college essays. Need more personalized guidance on brainstorming or crafting your supplemental essays? Contact our college admissions team.
