Hi. 

There is no firm answer one way or another. It really depends on how you are thinking of using sexuality in your essay. I’ve written many essays in my life and have given advice to students applying to college and writing their own essays and this is what I tell them:

1. Write from the heart. Write something that speaks about you and your own experience. If it comes from the heart, it will show. 

2. Write for readability. A college essay doesn’t have to be like the 5 paragraph essay you write in english class. The prose you use should flow but don’t be so formulaic in your organization.

3. Write for impact. Tell your story in language that’s clear and not muddled with unnecessary adjectives and synonyms. Be bold with your claims. Be confident with your evidence. Say what you mean simply and genuinely. And don’t be afraid to cut to the chase. College essay readers don’t spend hours and hours reading all those essays because they like to sit through lengthy introductions and verbose fluff. Give them the meat of your message. Which means it’s important to know the meat of your message. Don’t waste time with intro paragraphs. Don’t waste time with set-up. Know what you want to say and say it.

4. Write about how you’ve overcome adversity. I think all colleges, in a way, want to see the real you in the essay, not the paper you that they look at in your resume. They want to know the ways in which you’ve been challenged, the ways in which you might have struggled, and the ways in which you’ve worked to overcome those struggles. They’re not looking for drama — their looking for honesty and authenticity. So tell it like it is — let them know who you are. Let them know the ways in which you’re becoming the person you will be at their university.

5. Write to let them know why their university would benefit from having you there. Unless you are super rich and the college knows they could drain you for cash in the coming years, colleges don’t want to hear about why this college would be good for you. Remember, for the college it’s not all about you. Instead turn it around and think about why the college would benefit from enrolling you. What would you bring to life at the college? How might your way of seeing the world enrich the community? Why might your voice be one that the college wants to claim as their own? Give them reason to want you in their classes!

Anyway I hope this helps. Sexuality can play a role in your story, but I think the more important thing is how you fit it in. If you have further questions about this particular school and their admissions culture, you may want to get in touch with a student there to gain a better sense of what they want and what they’re looking for.

Good luck!