kcdecember

For Yale's short answer supplement, question 5 states: What is something about which you have changed your mind in the last three years?

The first thing that comes to mind is religion. I used to believe wholeheartedly, but in the past years I've gradually become more skeptical. As a result, I've been more open to other religions/philosophies/cultures, and I think that I've grown more as a person.

However, I don't think it would be a good idea to write about a topic as sensitive as religion on my Yale app. What do you think?

The only other things I've changed my mind about is probably music. I used to listen only to top 40 type songs, and now I listen mostly to indie/alt rock. Would this be an adequate subject?

Thanks!

gibby

Yale is looking for honest, sincere and introspective answers. They are trying to get to know who you are as a person and how you think. Religion is a perfectly acceptable topic as long as you what you write doesn't come across as intolerant or unaccepting of anothers belief.

Hunt

I guess I agree with gibby, except I've got to say that a statement that you've become more open-minded about religion isn't very interesting or unusual. The music one might be more interesting, especially if it's amusingly specific.

yalemom15

Also short answers are just that, pretty short, so an in depth exploration of religious change might not be done justice within the word limit.

I bet if you think really hard about it there are a lot of things you've changed your mind about in three years. Three years ago you were a new freshman in high school, think how much you've grown and changed in three years. I doesn't need to be earth shattering, but it should be interesting. If it were my kid I'd suggest going back on your facebook page to 2009 and see what you were writing/posting/interested in, versus what you're up to now. If you don't facebook, maybe find some old essays for school that you wrote back then. I bet you'll surprise yourself with how many things big and small that you have changed your mind about.

gibby

As each "short take" is limited to 25 words, it's almost impossible to come up with a topic that an admissions director has not encountered before. What makes a "short take" interesting or unusual is for it to be as specific as possible as it relates to you -- and only you! And that can be done with just about any topic, including religion, music or broccoli.