<p>I'm writing my UC personal statement and I was debating whether I should take "s<strong>t" out of my essay.
In context: "I was sick of the self-loathing I was wallowing around in so I got my s</strong>t together and decided..."</p>
<p>I know it's risky but i thought it conveyed a sense of absoluteness or like putting my foot down. making the decision certain and definite.
Is it not worth the risk?</p>
<p>Don’t do it. There’s better word choice out there…</p>
<p>I would not do it. Better safe than sorry, and that word is easy to replace.</p>
<p>I would change it to another word. Some readers may not be affected by it, but others may view it negatively, so why take a chance?</p>
<p>I think it is a bad idea</p>
<p>The use of the word doesn’t add much. It’s a cliche, anyway. It won’t help you.</p>
<p>While you’re at it, the first part is wordy and clumsy. Better: “I was sick of wallowing in self-loathing…”</p>
<p>HA no why would you do this?! who knows, some uber conservative person could be reading your essay… absolutely not. on the other hand, someone who cusses often isn’t going to think the worse of you if you don’t cuss in your college application essay. don’t do it!</p>
<p>@qialah, ha, good point. Even the first part of the OP’s sentence disturbed me a bit.</p>
<p>So far, 7/7 say omit the word.</p>
<p>Omit it. Just say “I got myself together” or something.</p>
<p>Take it out</p>
<p>Be a man and use it!!! Arggggg</p>
<p>I thought about this one a lot. On the one hand, a well-placed word can have so much more affect and create an atmosphere for a powerful essay and connection with the reader. On the other it can sound like you’re trying too hard or not taking the question seriously.</p>
<p>I decided not to use the word because, in the end, there is almost always a better choice out there. If you want, PM me the phrase you’re talking about and I can think about a few alternatives for you.</p>