<p>Should you try to avoid cultural references in your essays that adcoms might not understand? Or is it fine?</p>
<p>Speaking as a complete noob, of course, but I think it’s better to avoid them if you can, unless the example is a really well-known and famous one.</p>
<p>Many of the adcoms will be fresh out of college, so don’t worry too much. Jersey Shore–fine. Some moderately obscure band popular only with youth–not so much.</p>