Politics in Essay

bg445522ar · June 23

Hi guys, I am new here so if I am doing anything wrong, I apologize.

I am applying to college next year; I have respectable SAT , GPA, etc. for Ivy League-caliber schools. I am considerably politically involved for my age (I am a staunch liberal); my college counselor said I should discuss this in my essay (I will be applying pretty much only to liberal universities). I personally thought that this was not the best idea because the person reading my essay might be conservative and therefore might view my comments negatively (I have no intention whatsoever of insulting conservatives at all in my essay; I am just worried that they might be rubbed the wrong way).

My counselor said that (elite) colleges don't want people who "play it safe"; he said that they wanted people who are bold and willing to express their opinion (without insulting anyone of course).

The point is that I am not sure what I should do. Should I openly discuss politics or not? The essay is not intended to be a boring, trite, cliche discussion of politics or something, by the way.

Any help is sincerely appreciated.

SJ2727 · June 23

Universities don’t only admit people AOs agree with. A great example is how Harvard admitted both anti and pro gun students from Parkland (the fact that one later got rescinded was for different reasons). If your essay is focusing on your political involvement, what you do and your personal motivations, and if it is indeed a big part of your life, then it makes sense to talk about it.

austinmshauri · June 23

I think the essay is to tell adcoms something about you that they won't get from the rest of your app. It should give them a reason to admit you. I don't see how explaining your political views accomplishes that. What major are you interested in?

SJ2727 · June 23

@austinmshauri , I read it not so much about views but actual actions/involvement and motivations. (Both the Parkland students referred to above wrote about their respective involvement in pro/anti gun movements in their college essays.) I agree if it is just talking about views it is not appropriate for an essay.

Empireapple · June 24

IMHO, what you are describing about yourself (being a staunch liberal) is typical for the schools you are interested in. That doesn't set you apart. It makes you typical. If the goal is to show that there is something about you that makes you a better choice for their community than someone else, this isn't your ticket.

Massmomm · June 28

I would wager that the vast majority of college applicants are fairly left-leaning. If you want to talk about your politics, talk about groups you are involved in, or how your liberal values shape your life choices.

Politics in Essay

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