<p>ok. since I freaked up on the S. app I am starting the Common app now... :/</p>
<p>I was planning to briefly mention the fact that I am female/muslim/with hijab. I don't want to gain an "advantage" [like, omg, I am like, a minority, omg], it's just the fact that I think it's quite relevant to the challenges that I have had to overcome... (math/computer/ranking hurdles that deal more with being female-- "omg *** who taught you C? I didn't think you could turn on the computer...") growing up in the west (esp. in an area where no one else is like me).</p>
<p>My mom thinks it's a terrible idea, it'll either make no difference or will jeopordize the rest of my application [meh...] and that it has no relevance to who I AM. </p>
<p>I think it's a good direction, I wrote about something like that too, but I should warn you that I've asked around and it seems to be a recurring topic to write about among the middle eastern and south asian community. I think it's a good idea, but then again I'm in the process of applying to, I'm just saying what I like, I don't really have solid proof that writing about that is the way to go.</p>
<p>play your cards, this is the most obvious reason why you are unique. it would be an enormous waste if you don't mention that for the sake of playing it fair and not "gaining an advantage over others". isn't that the point of the admission process? getting into college is so competitive anything is fair game.</p>