<p>I was just wondering if being an atheist could give an applicant an edge on college admission? I've grown up in an extremely religious community and family, so I think that writing about my hardships and people neglecting me would make a perfect essay. Does anyone know if this would actually get the attention of some college readers?</p>
<p>It depends entirely on your writing skills.</p>
<p>I dont think it would help probably hurt.</p>
<p>It would probably depend on where you were applying. But its a difficult essay to do effectively. Its quite easy to be percieved in the wrong way - Avoid preaching your opinions, if you can, and definitely avoid criticising religious people or their points of view.</p>
<p>No, the essay wouldn’t be about how my view is correct. It would just tell about how i grew up as an atheist and every thought of me in the wrong way, thus neglecting me. And through the neglect i realized that following the crowd isn’t always the best option because this event made me stronger.</p>
<p>I honestly don’t think that would be a good idea.</p>
<p>I think it could be done creatively. I dunno, I have a vision of a creative piece in my mind that’s hard to explain. Ironic yet informative.</p>
<p>It could work out excellently. Or it could not. Definitely don’t go into the territory of arguing beliefs, but it’s still a risky topic. The fact of the matter is it may end up in the hands of a very religious admissions officer. And obviously don’t use it for schools with an active religious affiliation, but if handled well it could be a great essay for secular schools.</p>
<p>yea, if you dont say anything bad about religion and just state that you just have a hard time believing in religion or something, and that you believe everyone should be able to make their own choice… i think it could be a good essay, if you write it well ofc :)</p>
<p>just dont send it to like notre dame or something… haha :D</p>
<p>Risky topic. Daughter’s friend did a religious topic last year against the advice of the college counselor and it was a disaster. You never know who reads the files.</p>
<p>I think writing about atheism is just fine – after all, plenty of students write about religious inspiration, their faith/church, etc. </p>
<p>The only part you may go wrong is 1) If you sound in any way bitter or caustic about a religion. (believe me, ANY bias is frowned upon, whether it is a religious person calling another a heathen or an atheist condemning all christians as stupid, misguided hotheads)
2) don’t try to prove there is a God or not. :D</p>
<p>I would be concerned that essays pertaining to spirituality probably won’t set anyone apart from the crowd enough to begin with, regardless of how tactful, careful, risky, well-written, or anything else that essay is.</p>
<p>There is a fine line between you and your beliefs/opinions on a religion, even one that still has a huge impact on you. If you choose to go ahead with that topic, keep that in the back of your mind.</p>
<p>This is a topic that is guaranteed to be viewed negatively by some unknown percentage of essay readers. Choose something else.</p>
<p>I actually wrote an essay almost exactly like what you’ve described in my UC application, though I wouldn’t recommend it. The topic is a really risky subject- it’s incredibly easy to offend people. It was definitely weaker than my other essay because of how conservative I had to be while writing it. I got into my top choice (ucsb), but I would really recommend just choosing a different subject.</p>
<p>If you’re going to do this, then you better have multiple people willing to read many drafts, because you’re walking such a fine line.</p>
<p>be careful on that, its a touchy subject. I think it is more likely to hurt then be positive</p>
<p>Being an atheist won’t give you an edge. Writing about it well will.</p>
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<p>I would suggest that those writing about religious inspiration is not a great idea either. First, doing what ‘plenty of students write about’ will not set your essay apart. Second, the reader wants to get to know you so why would you spend time on the topic of why you are interesting not why religious inspiration is interesting. Big difference. </p>
<p>For the O.P., I would suggest that any topic of ‘this adversity has made me stronger’ has danger to it along with something they see way too much. You really need to ask yourself … what makes this story so interesting?</p>