I want to write my application essay about coming out to my parents and the process we went through as a family. Will this work against me (maybe possible discrimination, etc.)? Is it too risky of a topic?
<p>It is perhaps too risky.</p>
<p>It probably depends on which schools you are applying to. It would probably be good for liberal schools (Brown for example), but it could be bad for others (BYU, Bob Jones, etc. lol)</p>
<p>Personally, if I was a college I'd accept someone who wrote that kind of essay. It shows a lot of courage/ confidence/ pride to do so I think. but what do I know....</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>im gonna go out on the limb here and say..yes. that would be too risky of a topic, and u would be discriminated against by most schools. sorry.</p>
<p>I'm particularly interested in Brown, Cornell, UPenn, UChicago and Northwestern. Are those liberal schools? I'd really just appreciate blunt, honest opinions. Thanks!</p>
<p>well...i would say go for it. i went to a brown info session and the guy said that he had seen essays written from everything from blah to blah and coming out stories</p>
<p>and also look at the school's anti-discriminatino clause or whatever it is...because most of the schools should inclue "sexual orientation" in it (cornell and brown are some...i don't know specifically about the others, but i assume so. and they are on the more liberal-moderate side)</p>
<p>lawrence mak:</p>
<p>writing a coming out story i think is courageous and a great essay. just be sure to look at where you are applying. i chocoman was correct in saying that essay in an app at Trinity , BYU, or Bob Jones would most certainly mean rejection. however, you are applying to Ivys and some of the more liberal of the Ivys (Brown and UPenn). Moreover, the adcoms at those universities like to have diversity so I think it should be fine. the schools you are applying to tend to have the "liberal" sticker attached to them. nothing wrong with that. :-)</p>
<p>It's okay, maybe even good for Brown.</p>
<p>Might be okay for UChicago</p>
<p>Go a safer route with the others.</p>
<p>all these folks who are saying that its not safe to write a gay college essay are really messed up. a college essay is suppose to be about who you are as a person (an expression of your personality and your character traits). i think a gay essay will be a great one and will most definitely help you.</p>
<p>most adcoms (with the notable exception being ultra conservative or religious universities) will enjoy reading the essay and are more than sympathetic to your concerns. adcoms arent some discriminatory group that will single out gays for exclusion. they want diversity and that means sexual too. ever realize that gays are all across college campuses and universities?</p>
<p>all of you ppl who say "oh it would be too risky" are just trying to present a middle of the line, non judgmental person who is acceptable to all. problem is that your "faking it". get real and be real.</p>
<p>props to mak for having the guts to say what he will.</p>
<p>You should apply to whichever schools you want to go to. If a college doesn't accept you b/c you are gay then you were not meant to go to that college, nor should you want to go to a college. By doing that essay you will be sure you will go to a college which will accept who you are.</p>
<p>I'd say go for it for Northwestern; the adcom is very open, and likes to see essays that display courage. I'm pretty sure that writing such an essay won't hinder your chances of being accepted to the school.</p>
<p>If you write a really good essay about coming out, and were rejected from the school because of the subject matter (not the quality of the essay, but the subject matter), do you really want to go there? I only see advantages. (including the rare possibility of "advantageous rejection".)</p>
<p>Mini, although the "if they don't like who you are, why would you want to go there?" argument sounds good, the truth is that the opinion of two or three admissions officers, particularly your key reader, is generally not exactly representative of how the other students, professors, faculty members, etc. will see you (unless the school has a clear slant). Just because the admissions officer don't like who you are doesn't mean that others will discriminate.</p>
<p>Sorry, the admissions office is specifically charged by the President of the University, representing the Board of Trustees, with admitting a class that will help fulfill the institutional mission of the University. If they really don't want gay students (or poor students, or African-American students), this is a perfect opportunity for the University to let you know it. To my way of thinking, the best policy is to let the admissions office know, as fully as you can, who you are, and let the chips fall as they may.</p>