prankityclankity

I posted this in the parents forum, but I didn't get any responses so hopefully here it'll get more attention.

Anyways, I wrote an essay about my sidewalk counseling experiences and I mentioned my faith and how I have grown from those experiences. I didn't go into the whole Pro-life v. Pro-choice debate or preach. It definitely has a religious tone to it, but it's not overdone IMO and in good taste. However now I'm having reservations because adcoms might think I'm some religious nut, despite being in good taste and reject me. Some people don’t paint the rosiest picture of pro-lifers. Without getting into a debate about abortion, should I change my topic to something less controversial? I could find a different topic, but I might have a harder time standing out.

Also, I am applying to several religious affiliated schools (Pepperdine, Wake Forest, Rhodes, ND) and to some southern/midwest state schools

SarahLitke

Why dont you let me read it, ill give you some feed back. GL

TheDTrain989

I'm debating whether or not to write an essay about my "religious" experience to atheism and religion being the world's greatest corruptor of mind and disruptor of peace.

I might be viewed too much on the opposite end of the spectrum, esp if I get read by a religious guy. But ur screwed if u get read by an atheist, which there are more of in big universities.

Coffee

Although technically, the readers are supposed to be totally objective, it's honestly not likely.

kollegkid

PM me and I'll tell you what I think

bigp9998

Whatever you do, don't tell notre dame that religiion is the world's great corruptor of mind and disruptor of peace. Although I do agree with you.

prankityclankity

That is really unnecessary and the exact kind of post that will turn this thread into a religion bashing flame war, because of trolls likes you. So please keep your obnoxious comments to yourself unless you want to post something productive that will help me out in my situation.

And thanks Kollegkid and Sarah for offering to read my essay -- I appreciate it! I'm having trouble trying to fit the word limit and I'll touch it up some more, and then I'll be happy to PM ya'll. Is anyone else interested in reading my essay?

PhatAlbert

so what is this supposed to tell the adcom about you?

atomom

Parent, pro-life. PM me. I'll give you an honest opinion.

TheDTrain989

prankityclankity, I'm sorry if my beliefs offend you but I have every right to believe in what I want just like you do too. My post is not unnecessary because you fail to see that I'm in a very similar situation like you, except we're on different poles of the same dilemma.
Allow me to explain, I attend a very conservative Catholic school in Massachusetts. I've experienced firsthand the ridiculousness of religion. I'm one of the few in my entire school who has found the courage to speak out and doubt and criticize and think, to the chagrin of our administration. I'm thinking of writing an essay about my conversion from a deistic believer to an atheist as I have grow and learned about science, philosophy, history, and people.
I would be happy to read your essay and give my advice on it about mere grammar, flow, and structure. I'll be writing some drafts over the summer too.
Religion in essay
If you look at this thread, it seems that adcom don't want to same, play-it-safe rubbage they get by the boatload. I would hope the adcom at the colleges I want to go to respect my opinion and my intellect enough to appreciate free-thinking and a creative, wellwritten, and passionate essay.
And don't worry, no way in hell am I ever attending another Catholic hellhole like Notre Dame.
PhatAlbert, that's what I want to convey to my adcom.

TheDTrain989

I also suggest you read Richard Dawkin's The God Delusion and see the light.

prankityclankity

Your beliefs don't offend me. I'm completely secure with my faith that it doesn't bother me when people attack it. Your post seemed over the top and was a massive hyperbole, so I didn't take it seriously and I thought you were trolling. But anyways, I read that same thread awhile ago, but my circumstances are a little different than the OP's. I'm reading the book <i>On Writing the College Application</i> and I might have to change my topic afterall. I fell into a couple of traps that the author mentions in the book. :/

eboverli

Yeah, I was also wondering if I should mention my position as an atheist in my essay. I'm not ashamed of who I am, but I don't want it to hurt my chance if I get some religious finatic adcom. Have you decided whether or not you are going to talk about your atheist, thedtrain? I'd really like to know that people aren't evil enough to keep me out of the school I want because of religious preference, but I've seen regiously fueled hate before, and I don't think it stops at adcoms. So I'd really like to know how you plan to go about your essay.

pepsiholic

Yeah, The God Delusion shows the way. Although DTrain's comment was a bit exaggerated, it shouldn't be taken as more offensive than the same phrase with the words "Republicans" or "Democrats" replacing "religion." And I don't find that very offensive.

That said, back to the OP - if you don't make any overtly hostile arguments and back up your own assertions, I think you'll be fine. Adcoms are supposed to be open-minded, and you should stand up for your own beliefs.