College essays

<p>As a high school senior in Texas, I have always been a Republican. Recently however, due to my disgust with the party, their nominees, and their interests I have become quite liberal. I would classify myself as a left-leaning moderate. For my college essays about current issues, I was planning on writing about the poor state of politics in the United States specifically in regard to the Tea Party and the Republicans. Is a political ideology based paper a good idea or should I talk about something a little less provocative? I have a real passion for the specific issues, including the health care debate and tax cuts on the rich, I was looking to address. I am no political expert, but I am certainly a knowledgeable citizen. I feel as if I can talk of the issues in a general sense in regard to logic, yet some of the intricacies are, as a high school senior, over my head. Would you suggest I try to write this essay? Or should I instead find something else, as a political topic might rub my reader the wrong way?</p>

<p>Eh I’d say it’s a risky topic, especially if you’re applying to conservative schools.</p>

<p>Be careful to ensure that your essay is about you. This essay shouldn’t be about your political ideology unless it also includes a large section about what has helped to define your world view, why politics matters to you, what you plan to do academically or professionally because of your interest, and how it ties into the things you’ve already done. The school wants a `picture’ of the person they are admitting and how that person will contribute to the school, not of a political position.</p>

<p>M’s Mom is right. Your essay needs to show and tell the Adcom who you are and what type of a person wrote the essay and filled out the application. Remember, the Adcom is looking at a reason to admit, not a reason to deny. The strongest and most diverse applications are usually the ones that get into the admit pile or committee review pile depending on the process used at any given school. If you were actually involved in the political process as a candidate, committee volunteer, staff assistant, etc., and can write about you and what and why, the subject may work. If you are simply going to write about your position and personal feelings, find a different topic.</p>

<p>I’m also a relatively moderate senior who was raised Republican. I’ve tried to incorporate it into essays. I don’t think it’s impossible, but it’s easy to depart from the subject of you. It’s also easy to speak in generalities and start “telling” rather than “showing.” It’s also risky to be too outspoken. In short, strongly political essays can sound impersonal and unappealing if not done right. AND, even at a left-leaning school, you don’t know exactly who’s reading your app or how disinclined that person is to an essay about sensitive topics (even if they do agree with you).</p>

<p>Well what if I put more of the focus on how my views have been shaped by the fact that my single mother with an education struggles no matter how hard she works, and that according to Republican ideology, if she got sick tomorrow, they would rather let her die because of her misfortune than help her. I think that health care is a basic human right and it concerns me that in our society anything regarded socialist is seen as bad simply because of propaganda. The Republicans don’t realize that hard working people like my mother who dedicate all their time and efforts to ensuring the wellbeing of their children can fail in the current system… Does something with this focus seem personal enough? BTW I’m applying to Rice, UT, Texas A&M, and trying to decide on some other financially viable options, probably UNC, Tufts, UChicago</p>

<p>It’d be a far better idea to talk about your political ideology, rather than the state of politics in the US. Focus on what you believe in and why; don’t sit there and bash the opinions of specific parties. </p>

<p>It’s particularly offensive when your opinions are misguided, as they are right now. Whether or not admission officers are offended, they’ll look down on you for being misinformed and hostile.</p>

<p>While I disagree that your opinions are “misguided” ( I think they’re right on target) I agree that its important that your essay emphasize your point of view. Leave the bashing of any political party (justified though it may be) out of it. Just state the problems with the current system, and what type of system you think would be an improvement and why. Tie in your personal experience, but don’t place blame. </p>

<p>Sent from my ADR6350 using CC App</p>

<p>Would it be bashing if I were to say something along the lines of It’s troubling that so many seem in this country seem to support denying many proper medical treatment which other countries have identified as a basic human right. I have to see my mother work 70 hours a week to support my sister and me. She asks for no handouts; she takes all responsibility upon herself. Is it so wrong for a few tax dollars to be allocated so that she can actually go to the doctor if she gets sick?.. I’m not really pointing any fingers in this kind of analysis, and it seems personal… Is something like this acceptable?</p>

<p>In a world of college essays about overcoming-my-biggest-challenge, or I’ve-wanted-to-be-a-doctor-since-my-grandma-got-sick or what-I-learned-from-my-volunteer-experience, an essay that takes a political stand will at least stand out and be different. If you are passionate while still being logical and reasonable, don’t point fingers, and show how you personally have been been affected - and if its what you really want to say - then do it.</p>

<p>Okay, I think I’m going to go for it… But do my thoughts really seem misinformed? I mean I watch a lot of news and I try to stay current. Will adcoms think my views are “misguided”?</p>

<p>My suggestion is that you write your essay and then ask some adult you trust to read it and give you honest feedback on their impression of the person who wrote this essay. If the person they describe isn’t the one you are hoping comes across, then it means you have more work to do.</p>