MrSimpleSimple

I am considering writing this essay for my common application when I'm applying to schools like W&M and UVa.

Like countless school's across the nation, my school has countless people who are involved in drugs such as marijuana.

I try to be a strong Muslim so I would never even dream of being involved with drugs. I hate it. And I'm often even judgemental (I probably shouldn't be) against those who are involved in drugs and underage drinking.

I was thinking of making my essay about the following experience (I believe its the first option on the Common App form)

Recently a friend of mine, who I had known to be a devout Muslim, became corrupted and involved with drugs. He began doing it more and more often. He would apparently, "wake and bake" quite often. Soon apparently he began doing it atleast 10 times a week (from what I hear).

I had known him to be from a good, religious family who were strongly against such blasphemous practices.

At first when he expressed interest to me about trying the drugs, I tried to persuade him to NOT do it. He did it anyways.
Then I tried to persuade him to stop, but he wouldn't.
Then I showed him direct quotes from the Qu'ran that displayed explicit directions to stay AWAY from drugs and such things. He stopped...but resumed again soon enough.
Finally I did something very risky. The way I saw it, he was ruining his future and his religious devotion. I secretly contacted his mom and told her everything. His mom was shocked, and started keeping him on lockdown. She thanked me several times.
He hates me though, and never talks to me anymore. But I don't regret my decision.





Would this be a good topic to write about? Would it be too controversial? Would it just make me look like a whiny snitch? Or could it help strengthen the view on my integrity and make me look like a good law abiding student?

MrSimpleSimple

Could someone please answer this

h1lbert

It will probably make you look like a tattle tale. Dont do it - especially not for conservative schools like UVA and W&M.

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pokemonfan

^ Agreed. Maybe, depending on the tone, you could pull it off. Generally, I'd sway my level best away from an essay like that. It's also a cliche topic.

tedders83

Yeah your tone would most likely come off as "better than thou" and colleges don't like that.

gospelgirl

I think it's a fantastic topic to write about - in this day and age, many many teens are losing their way and turning to drugs, and it's a serious issue that we all need to do something about. Even though we may not agree on religion (proud Christian girl here!), I applaud your sense of moral decency and if some colleges don't respect that, they probably aren't places you'd want to attend anyway.

pokemonfan

^ it could seem condescending and close-minded. It could seem that she thinks she is better off not doing drugs, because of correlational studies and blind obedience, when in reality our last three presidents of the US consumed drugs in college.

gospelgirl

@pokemonfan: I keep hearing about the importance of being "open minded" but I don't see the value in being open minded if all it's doing is making sin acceptable...
MrSimpleSimple is quite brave for standing up to this culture of leniency and sticking up for what's right.

swizzle13

@gospelgirl Not everyone believes in the same "sins" as you do, hence why people do drink and take drugs.

To the OP: Yeah, I agree with everyone else. I understand your point of view and respect how you handled the situation, but admissions officers may not see it in the same light. Since there's that "maybe", I'd steer away from using this example. But maybe you can find some other way to talk about your devotion to your religion since it is clearly what motivates you!

AustroHungarian

As long as you can avoid sounding as though you feel "holier than thou" and don't come across as a religious fanatic, I think it is great that you can show your moral and religious attitude. If it's who you are, show that to the admissions officers.

lacrossemom

Don't risk offending anyone, select something else.

Good luck!

MrSimpleSimple

What if I wrote about the topic in a moralistic view as opposed to a religious one? And I can see the potential perspective of me looking like a snobby brat. But what if I wrote it in the sense that I emphasized on how I only told his mom because he was going crazy with it and it was potentially detrimental to his future and health?

magentaturtle

Shouldn't have ratted out your friend buddy.

MrSimpleSimple

What if I wrote bout it in a more moralistic sense? Like I told his mom because I didnt want him to ruin his future (by getting trouble or something). I caught him doing drugs in the school bathroom once.. So he was getting reckless.

SgtDonut

I think it sounds interesting if done correctly. This could fit under the ethical dilemma section of the Common App. If you do decide to go with the idea, I'd love to read it.