<p>I’m considering having my common app essay be about how I’ve been exploring Quakerism. Would that seem like I’m trying to kiss up to Haverford because of its Quaker history?</p>
<p>I cannot possibly speak for an AdCom, but clearly – if only because you thought of the problem – it is a risk that you run. I think, however, that you can dramatically alter the risk you incur based on how you approach your essay.</p>
<p>If the essay gravitates more to the facts of your exploration (e.g., I am looking at Quaker values. I started doing this 3 years ago. I read about it as much as I can. Here are some things I learned about Quaker life., etc.) then your essay will be weak AND appear like you’re sucking up (presumably to overcome a poor essay).</p>
<p>On the other hand, I suspect that if your essay explores your exploration of Quaker thought (The things that first attracted me to Quakerism were… This intrigued me because I’m the kind of person who values… As I looked further into it I realized… and this was, at first, difficult for me to grasp because…, etc.) in which you reveal what’s going on inside your head and how your mind operates, then it is a very personal essay and it wouldn’t matter that you chose Quakerism as a topic because that part’s practically irrelevant to the things that will make your essay valuable to the AdCom. </p>
<p>In short, the more your essay focuses on Quakers (the external thing), the more it will appear that you’re using it as a crutch (since that’s the focus) while the more your essay focuses on who you are and what makes you tick, the less it will appear that you’re using it as a crutch (since it’s just a vehicle to take the AdCom to other, more personal places).</p>
<p>That’s just the view of one person. Bear in mind that my last experience with college admissions occurred decades ago when I was a student interviewer during school breaks and vacations – a totally attenuated experience that gives me no bona fides to opine on how AdComs read essays.</p>
<p>It’ll be hard to make this essay flow smoothly… you might be better off about writing about a topic that you know helps define your character… Do you want to write about Quakerism because you’re interested in it and you can identify with its testimonies? Or because Haverford has a Quaker tradition (no longer religiously-affiliated, mind you)? If you can sincerely write in the mindset of the first then your essay won’t be seen as sucking up. If you’re writing from the perspective of the second question… then that would be very unquakerly of you :)</p>
<p>I think you might actually want to meet with someone who is a member of the Religious Society of Friends because it’s not like you’re reading up on a club or group – you’re reading up on a religious culture and practice… an entire way of life and thinking. Plus, Quakerism is cool and I don’t think internet articles really do it justice. See if there’s a meeting house in your area or if there are any Quakers you know whom you can talk to.</p>
<p>I agree with D’yer’s suggestion as to how you should approach this topic. Something external that you have explored which in turn reveals the internal to the adcom. This essay is about you – not how you learned about Quakerism because of Haverford’s history and thus they should accept you (i’m not saying that’s what you’re doing, i’m just saying that’s how it could come off if executed incorrectly).</p>
<p>Thank you for all of the advice, especially for the example of how <i>not</i> to write it. I’m sorry to everyone who offered advice, but I’ve come up with a few other ideas for topics. Thank you anyways.</p>