<p>If a student was involved in political activism, etc., for a particularly party (as part of their extra-curricular activities), could that affect the student's admission to a school? Like if the adcoms had conflicting views on what the student was involved with?</p>
<p>I think adcoms try to remain pretty neutral. But your views, if extreme and opposite from the prevailing view at the school, could have some effect, at least subconcious. But in general I wouldn't apply to a school that had a vastly different ideology.</p>
<p>I can not imagine that any political views short of anarchy or the armed overthrow of the nation would be held against you during admissions. However, if you write about it in an essay, try to sound flexible and respectful about the views of others. They might hold being a zealot against a person.</p>
<p>Intelligent Design/Right to Life/Prayer in School......all put you in at Bob Jones.</p>
<p>I would generally agree that anything considered extreme should be avoided. However, the state of today's top universities is such that a socialist is considered in the mainstream, while pretty much anyone who is a Republican is heavily frowned upon. I don't know if this attitude, mainly held by the administration and professors, translates to those people who are reading your essays, but why take the risk?</p>
<p>If you are worried about your political beliefs affecting your admission, you should ask yourself if you really belong at that school.</p>
<p>trust me...they don't</p>
<p>I'm sure not. Of course, if you've worked on the Ted Kennedy Campaign or with the Socialist Party and are applying to well-know bastion of Conservatism (I'm definitely thinking more along the lines of extremist Bob Jones than Wheaton, Catholic U. or Notre Dame) maybe downplay your activism. Duh.</p>
<p>Some LAC's where anyone to the left of Marx is mainstream might possibly be seeking diversity. I can just see the adcoms saying that it would be nice to have one or two Republicans on campus. :)</p>
<p>When all the professors are liberals or worse, and the administration is the same, that's not diversity, it's the exact opposite. Everyone likes to talk about Bob Jones and Wheaton, and yes those and a few others lean right, but nearly every other campus in the country leans well left of the general population. That's all I'm saying. And that the kids here are mostly concerned with top 50 or top 100 schools, and the left has pretty much a monopoly on every one of those.</p>
<p>But now that I think about that, and about who is going to be reading the essays, you are probably all right no matter what affiliation you have, short of terrorist or Nazi.</p>
<p>Is it advisable to list working for a political campaign as an ec? lets say a conservative candidate, to notre dame?</p>
<p>or lets say, a conservative candidate to nyu? u mich? usc?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>You should work/volunteer for a campaign because you geniunely want the candidate to win the election, and think that he or she is the most qualified for the office. Not to resume-build.</p>
<p>Red, list it no matter what! I don't see party affiliation being a factor at all, let alone a deciding factor.</p>
<p>Drummer, I agree with you in that...all college profs/adcoms are most likely liberal...the bleeding-heart types. So if you're a member of "young democrats" it'll probably help your chances..."teenage republicans"...you're screwed. </p>
<p>I'm not serious, but why risk it unless it's a really important activity to you.</p>
<p>I wrote my political involvement without mention of which party. It's easy.</p>
<p>"I volunteered __ hours during the 2004 presidential campaign."</p>
<p>Amen shainaloves. I did the exact same thing! It doesnt matter who you worked for as much as the fact that you were active in the democratic process. I was interviewing at Bates and my counselor honed in on my political leanings. Knowing that Bates is very liberal, and unwilling to take the risk of showing my inner conservatism, I answered the questions posed but did not hint at my political ideologies. They probably could have read between the lines (eagle scout, VFW contests, etc. but I still felt that if I'm good enough to get in that's great but my political persuasion should not factor in to my acceptance or deferral.</p>
<p>VFW is conservative? I didn't know that, or maybe I just didn't notice.</p>
<p>I think heavy involvement on either side of the spectrum will be appreciated at the elites. They need people to lead activist clubs on campus, so your involvement will make you stand out.</p>
<p>I would put it on there. It shows commitment, political involvement, and that you care about being involved with the community. If you're really concerned, the approach of "I volunteeered ___ hours during the 2004 presidential campaign" is a good compromise (although I would tend to go for full disclosure. If they reject you based on political views, which I highly doubt they would, then do you really want to be at that school anyway)</p>
<p>remember the saying (i think it was hernandez)</p>
<p>"colleges are looking for well-rounded campuses"</p>
<p>If you are passionate about your political standpoint, it can only be viewed as a strength (as long as you are open minded) I know someone who started the young republicans organization at their school, and now they are at Weslyan. </p>
<p>Basically, if the school is full of liberals, there wouldn't be anyone to argue with, so they have to put conservatives into liberal schools somewhere</p>