Applicants who wish to be considered for the summer program must submit a diversity essay (max 400 words) that details how the program would benefit them and how they meet one or more of the following criteria:

1. Being a member of an ethnic or racial group historically underrepresented in higher education (African American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian or other Native Pacific Islander, Mexican American, Puerto Rican, or other Hispanic American; permanent residents whose ethnicity corresponds to these groups also meet this criterion)
2. Participant in one of the following programs: McNair Scholar, Mellon Mays Scholar, Posse Program, LSAMP Scholars, Ryan Scholars, NACME Scholars, Pre-Professional Programs (P3), HEOP/EOP, Gates Millennium Scholars
3. Experiences overcoming any significant challenges in your path toward college (examples include, but are not limited to, being a first generation college student, being a Veteran, being a single parent, holding DACA status, and/or managing a disability)

Because success in education requires significant persistence and resilience, you should use your supplemental essay to address how your personal, academic, and/or experiences demonstrate your ability to be both persistent and resilient, especially when navigating challenging circumstances.