Hi everyone! I have a quick question. For the common app, is it okay to use a religious picture as the basis of the essay? I’m not sure if it is risky or possibly offending to some people to use a religious picture that has been in the family since the Persian Gulf War as part of an anecdote in the essay. I really appreciate the help!
I would stay away from religous and political topics just because, as you say, everyone might not agree with you and adcoms are people.
If this is just a story that happens to have a religious artifact in it I dont see an issue.
Agree, I would not write a religious based essay, but if it is an object that relates to a personal story then it is probably fine.
It’s fine to write about religion as long as you keep it personal and not evangelical. So an essay about “the one true path of life consists of a personal relationship with our lord and savior…” is a no-no. An essay about how scripture has influenced your life is fine. If your idea is about a religious picture but the essay isn’t about why that picture is *right<a href=“or” title=“true” or “holy”>/i, then you’re fine.
I’d recommend that if you go this route having a person who isn’t affiliated with your religion or knows much about your anecdote read the essay and give you feedback. Having people with an outside perspective will help you anticipate how the admissions committee will view your essay. What may appear acceptable to you might be offensive or distasteful to the admissions committee.
This may be helpful at a religion based school. At a more secular one, you may want to make a different choice. But, if religion is important to you, discussing it in some fashion in your essay will show the commitment that most colleges look for in the admission process.
Thank you! I think I’ll try to avoid the topic, then. Just to be safe! 
D wrote (in part) about what being an acolyte meant to her growth into a young adult. Didn’t make either Harvard or Dartmouth reject her. Your topic actually sounds fine to me, but if you have others ideas that you’re as happy with, you minimize any risk there might be.
What is the chief significance of this picture in the anecdote? The religious nature of it? Or that it has been in your family since the Gulf War?