<p>Don’t worry about getting involved in politics and controversial issues. You need to be yourself, and if promoting a controversial issue gets you excited, then it could make you stand out.</p>
<p>Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School essentially trains people to become bureaucrats and to work on public policy. They encourage debate there, and debate is encouraged throughout the University.</p>
<p>Princeton’s alumni include numerous politicians who some love and some would demonize, including Paul Volcker, former Senator Frist (who has a big building named after him on campus), and three members of the Supreme Court, two on the liberal side and one on the conservative side. Not to mention Michelle Obama.</p>
<p>As long as you don’t start touting causes like the white supremacy or terrorism, don’t think that getting involved in controversial political agendas is going to hurt you with admissions.</p>
<p>I know one kid who got into Cornell in part because he was the youngest Ross Perot for President County Commissioner in the Country. Ross Perot’s entrance into the race in 1992 was controversial, as many Republicans felt he cost George H W Bush the election, he made embarrassing public gaffes, and many people staunchly disagreed with his political stances. It still was a big factor in this kid getting into Cornell, because he worked hard for something he believed in, and believed would help the country.</p>