<p>Hey there,</p>
<p>Just filling out my resume's and common application activities and came upon a certain quandary. Should I include in my activities that I avidly bow hunt and fish? I mean, it could definitely make my application unique. But, what if an admissions counselor is a PETA activist? Just wondering guys. I love environmental science and wildlife management and have quite a bit of that already.</p>
<p>Regards and cheers,</p>
<p>Jay</p>
<p>What happens if you’re an active member of PETA and a member of the admissions committee is an avid hunter and fisherman?</p>
<p>You can’t go through life thinking “what if?”. If it’s an activity and you’re proud of it, put it down. You wouldn’t want to go to a school that denied you acceptance because of who you really are anyway. At some point, you’ve got to trust that they will do the right thing for the right reason.</p>
<p>You BOW HUNT? Who the heck does that???</p>
<p>Probably not their average applicant! You should definitely include this. It’s just the kind of unique feature that will make the admissions officers remember you - and that’s a good thing!</p>
<p>Don’t know where you’re applying, but wish my kid could have you as a roommate . . . :)</p>
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<p>LOTS of people… maybe not where you’re from, but it’s hardly an unusual activity. But I agree with MrMom- if it’s a significant activity for OP, it should be mentioned on the app.</p>
<p>It isn’t an unusual activity where I come from or where I live now. You could list it, either way.</p>
<p>Not only would I include it on the app, I would consider writing an essay about it. A strong argument can be made that hunters and fishermen have done more to promote wilderness conservation than any other group.</p>
<p>Don’t apologize for what you enjoy - unless it is illegal. Be proud of it since it helps define who you are. Adcoms are looking for interesting people - not people who fit their agenda.</p>
<p>The flip side, however, is that it could raise an eyebrow from an Admissions Director. Think of it this way, colleges are looking at your EC list to see what outstanding accomplishments and activities might you be involved with on their campus. What will you bring to their institution? So, unless the college has trips for students to go hunting and fishing, or the college actively promotes wilderness conservation, I would argue to leave it off your activity list, as you never know who will be reading your file.</p>
<p>But that presupposes you know what the college is looking for. We don’t know what any particular college is looking for and they certainly can’t evaluate you on what you don’t put down.</p>
<p>If it’s an important part of who you are, and it isn’t illegal, put it down. I may not hunt, and have no desire to shoot Bambi, but I fully support those who do so responsibly. I suspect many on admissions committees will do so as well - they’re all pretty normal people and a huge number of great colleges are located in or near rural areas where I’m sure hunting and fishing are part of the local life.</p>
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<p>Without getting into a whole discussion about guns, that’s not everyone’s attitude. FWIW: I would make the same argument about writing an essay on any “hot button” issue, or in this case listing a “hot button” EC on your App.</p>
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<p>If an applicant is a world class mountaineer who has climbed the highest peaks on six continents, that’s an amazing feat. Someone with experiences like that could certainly add a lot to a class, even though there are no mountains anywhere near campus and the college isn’t planning a class trip to Nepal.</p>
<p>^^ I completely agree with you, but mountain climbing is not a “hot button” issue, whereas guns (and teaching kids to hunt from an early age) is a “hot button” issue for many, especially in light of Columbine, Sandy Hook et all. Therefore, I would avoid certain topics when committees of people are judging you.</p>
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<p>OP never said anything about guns. He (or she) bow hunts.</p>
<p>Since when is responsible hunting a “hot button” issue? That’s true only among a very narrow segment of the population. For that matter, I can take almost anything anyone could write on a college app and turn it into a “hot button” issue. Just try me, I once found a way to object to almost every MLB and NFL team nickname. It was intended to be humorous, but it’s possible.</p>
<p>It’s not like OP is writing that he fully intends to bring his AK-47 to campus. In light of Columbine, Sandy Hook, Aurora, Virginia Tech, and the Giffords shooting, I would think the admissions staff would be more wary of bringing students with signs of mental illness to campus rather than hunters.</p>
<p>@ MiddKid86: You’re right, OP mentioned Bow Hunting and not guns. My bad
@MrMom62: Yes, I’m sure you can make anything into a “hot button” issue.</p>
<p>Well, I can see I’m in the minority here, so I’ll just fade away. But, I’m offering an alternative opinion, FWIW.</p>
<p>Midd - It’s a worthwhile opinion, and OP was clearly thinking about it, but when you really get down to it, I think it’s an unwarranted concern. Sometimes we all over-think things, which seems to be the nature of the college app process. We go from trying to do everything exactly right to doing no one little thing wrong and back again.</p>
<p>Let’s put it this was - Writing about bow hunting as an EC is certainly a better idea than writing “Sliced cheese.” as your entire answer to an essay prompt on the Common App. Even with or without the emoticon.</p>
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<p>I think you meant to address this to gibby?</p>
<p>^^ I took it as addressed to me. And while I understand and appreciate the sentiment, having successfully helped both my kids navigate through the college applications process, I err on the side of caution – especially with ultra selective colleges with single digit acceptance rates, as the competition is brutal and there is always someone else who could fill your slot without any potential red flags going off.</p>
<p>Don’t pigeonhole adcoms. For heaven’s sake, they can appreciate X and still personally prefer Y. </p>
<p>The ECs are not all about accomplishments and awards. It’s about a detectable pattern- that you can do what you like, what the hs offers, but also more. Your energy and sense of where you can have some impact. That’s what gets kids engaged on campus. </p>
<p>We get fine essays about hunting. It’s not the topic but the delivery that matters. And, before that, the judgment in what to write about, how your topic will inform adcoms.</p>
<p>I will say that proselytizing about vegetarianism is one of the jokey 5 topics to avoid. NOT because adcoms are meat-lovers, but because so many kids think taking some ardent stand reveals some high level of college thinking-- and it usually just doesn’t.</p>
<p>Bow hunting is fine to include. But not as a top EC, if it’s just a hobby. Red flags would definitely go up if you describe gutting in intense detail. Or make yourself sound creepy in other ways.</p>
<p>How about proselytizing AGAINST vegetarianism? If I recall correctly, we had a guy at D’s high school a number of years ago who started the Carnivore Club that was dedicated to holding barbecues. Every day they had a barbecue, they would wear their PETA shirts - People Eating Tasty Animals. Quickly became one of the most popular clubs at school and I think the guy got into an Ivy.</p>
<p>My answer ^ would be too serious.</p>
<p>Actually, D2 wrote about being vegetarian, but in a different “challenge context” than you could guess.</p>