My daughter is very passionate about her ideas, and I personally enjoy some of her arguments. There’s nothing wrong with having strong opinions, but in all honesty she writes some pretty controversial stuff, and her admissions officers may not enjoy it as much as I do. She’s written articles about how the US and Europe should adopt Marxist systems (only with more “separation of power”) and how the Chinese are treading down the “slippery slope of capitalism.” She thinks the IRS should seize all the assets of the Walton family and she’s always asking me to sign these new petitions of hers.
I worry that she might rub someone in admissions the wrong way. If my family immigrated from Communist Vietnam or Soviet Russia I might be even expected to be pretty offended. My daughter, however, tells me that admissions people like the more opinionated, controversial students, especially those who express their opinions as much as herself.
So who’s right? She wants to talk a little bit about it on her Essay and I’m almost convinced that she is, but I don’t want to let her harm herself. Do controversial students do better in admissions?
A demagogue for marxist or extremely leftist views isn’t much different than her counterpart on the other side. The question is: is she truly a learner or only hoping to get confirmation bias?
I once interviewed a young lady in 2009 and during one question, she said she opposed the USG’s bailing out of the auto industry. When I probed her a little more about her reasoning, she could only ape common sound bytes. I asked her why some rational people were supporting the plan and she simply restated her sound bytes. I would have overlooked this but she presented herself to me as someone very interested in politics and business but didn’t have any in depth ability to speak deeply on a subject.
My fear would be how your DD would explain some of her ideas (such as IRS’ taking of a Walton family member’s wealth) without sounding rather out there…
I agree with @intparent. Although interviews don’t matter much, a negative (not neutral, but actually negative) write-up would most likely harm an application.
I don’t think you want to come across as “controversial.” No one likes controversy, and that includes admissions officers. Rather, I’d focus on representing yourself authentically. If your daughter does hold what some may consider extreme views (and therefore she’s being authentic by mentioning the extreme views), she needs to make sure that people who hold the opposite side of her would not be turned off. Word choice in the essays is absolutely critical.
Her choice of subject matter and positions is in what academic context exactly? If she is looking to study with a left-leaning economics department she is merely showing her fit and intellectual passion. Ultra progressive poli sci department maybe? Ditto. (And she may want to consider British universities then.) On the other hand if she intends to major in chemistry or elementary education, she will be dismissed as a teen who likes to provoke and incite.
Articles where? During Hoover’s time, you probably would have unmarked cars parked outside your home but no one seems to be worried about the marxist idealogues anymore.
I am of the opinion that the admissions officers would prefer someone who is a real debater in the true Lincoln-Douglas style more than a slanted/onesided person. When they go for these debates, they are required to be able to put forth either side of the argument by a coin toss which means they need to be aware of both sides of an argument. My suggestion for you as a parent is to ensure some safeties not requiring controversial topic essays or interviews on the application list.
I am going to take a slightly different approach here. I think she could possibly write a good essay about how she likes stirring the pot, playing devils advocate, taking the unpopular view, but perhaps do that without actually espousing those views. Rather, present it as a way she gets intellectual enjoyment and meaningful dialogue going. But she probably needs to be a skillful writer to do this.
Not sure where she is thinking of applying, but it seems to me that Clark, Reed and Oberlin could be good fits for her.
Thing is, adcoms aren’t your high school English or history teacher who wants to see how you take a stand and develop it. Then you get a grade and go home.
I don’t see how high school kid level radical political views are relevant to adcoms. They may be the biggest fire in a 17 year old’s belly, but it’s rarely based on any depth or much life experience. (Sorry.) See how @Lindagaf changes this from “I think this” and “I think that” to more about an attribute, an interest in ideas and dicussion?
So, is this kid involved in anything to do with positive change- in the community or her school?
My S wrote a strong political essay that was quite harsh on the global impact of American policies. He used words like “all” and “everyone”. Over the years I have learned things are usually shades of gray, not black and white. Yet he’s 17, and his opinions will no doubt continue to evolve. His essay, in context with his application as a whole, may have highlighted to AdComs his passion, conviction and ultimately his potential. I shared my concerns, he elected not to change it, and was accepted SCEA to an HYP and has received two likely letters. What I thought was too controversial clearly was not.
Just wanted to share my experience in a similar situation. I expressed my concerns about his essay, he submitted it anyway, and it worked out for him. After all, it was his essay, not mine.
Omg, a “radical” socialist who calls for revolution won 3 more states last night yet the collective wisdom on CC thinks an applicant is doomed for putting similar ideas in an essay??? Times are a-changing. Is it better to write about a less “controversial” topic like being a serial farter and get into Yale (you need to read the article on that if you don’t know the reference.) Again, it is all about context, academic fit, and intellectual passion. Will your teen necessarily understand that and compose the essay with all that in mind? Maybe look at Oberlin, definitely Hampshire, The Evergreen State College, and other publics like Michigan-Flint.
Yes, times are a changin’. And with the fierce admissions competition, if an essay sounds angry rather than empassioned or intellectually stimulating, it could cause a ding on that application.
@Lindagaf, pulling that essay off would require a degree of self awareness and maturity that the student probably does not have. OP, she is going to do better in admissions to colleges used to at least some students with far leftist views – Evergreen, Pitzer, Scripps, Warren Wilson, Smith, Reed, Oberlin are a few that come to mind. She would find at least some students like herself there, I think.
The point of these essays are to let the adcoms get to know the student more personally. These topics might let them know a little of what she is passionate about but I think there is too much potential of being about an outside subject (or simply a rant) and not about the student. I like LIndagaf’s suggestion, but as pointed out it may be difficult to pull off.