In theory sure. But an essay by nature gives all kinds of information that they’re likely using as proxies for leadership, and most of them are indicative of race, religion, social class, and political affiliation. They want people who volunteer, but be honest, if one kid volunteers at a Pro-Life organization and a second in a soup kitchen and a third at a Pro-Palestinian group, who gets that one spot even if all three show “leadership?” Does it sound better if the things they were doing happen in America, near their home, or in Kenya? Keep in mind that only people likely to be able to afford to give gifts to the college post graduation are likely to be able to afford sinecures in NGOs doing interesting work in a far away country. There isn’t really a way around this. The nature of an essay is that it cannot help but give out information that has nothing to do with “leadership”.
wow, how the heck did you come across this very old post?? i mean, going back to 2013-ish! my views certainly have developed since then, reading back on it…