Is it even advisable for kids to mention their volunteer work at a controversial place on their application? Would conservative adcoms see it as a negative?
Would the student even want to go to a school where such volunteer work would be viewed negatively?
Lol, Planet Parenthood. Is that a planet inhabited exclusively by STIs, cancerous cervical cells, and aborted fetuses?
Did they merge with Planet Hollywood?
Lol, autocorrect.
Here I thought there was a club where I would be comfortable…
No. Virtually nobody who’s attentive and thoughtful has beef with Planned Parenthood. It’s a great and important organization.
As a republican male college student…
PP offers an abundance of amazing services for all women and your daughter is probably improving people lives which exemplifies what volunteering is about. Yeah it’s a political talking point, but I can’t see a single admissions counselor using that against her in any way. Even if they do, as someone above said, you probably don’t want to go to that school
No secular college (or college with religious roots that isn’t still super religious) is going to have a problem with it. I was an intern at Planned Parenthood & am involved in the pro-choice movement and have been successful in the college admissions process so far- I included my experience fully in apps.
One note- I know people tend to advise not talking about reproductive rights/controversial issues in college essays. I was accepted into the Cornell ILR & talked about PP in my supplement, but I framed it as looking at the relationship between public & private sectors in terms of health & women’s issues. It’s all about how you use it!
I would include the volunteer work. As noted above, if any college deems it as a negative (and I doubt that will happen with the possible exception of some super conservative/Christian schools) then it probably isn’t the right school for that student.
Volunteer work is generally a good thing. @happy1 is spot on.
Furthermore, you or your child should be very proud of any volunteer work. Giving of your time is a selfless act and there should,never be a reason to hide it. And please accept my thanks for volunteering at PP. More should follow your example. I think it says great things about your character that you chose to volunteer despite controversy.
Hear, hear!