<p>honestly, my experience finding God (at a Christian camp) was by far the most life-changing event in my life. i tried writing about other topics that are less controversial than religion, but the essays weren't heartfelt at all. so...how bad of a position will i put myself in if i write about finding God?</p>
<p>It won’t put you in a bad position. If that’s the most life-changing experience you’ve had, then it’s likely the best essay topic for you. You’re not going to have an angry atheist rejecting you for daring to be religious. That’s just silly.</p>
<p>Bumpppppppppppppppp!!!</p>
<p>BillMc said it well.</p>
<p>Just make sure you’re not critical of less religious people in your essay. Then, yes, a reader might get angry.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s a good idea. You never know what type of person your admissions officer will be. What you consider politically correct might turn out to be offending to him/her</p>
<p>To which schools are you thinking of sending this essay? </p>
<p>I would be careful about the language I used. Some of the phrases people use when speaking about conversion experiences sound like they came from canned sermons. You want to sound like yourself, not every third preacher the reader has ever heard. </p>
<p>Try showing it to someone you trust at school, like your best English teacher or your guidance officer, before sending it. If they think it will ring hollow, don’t use it.</p>
<p>it’s my common app essay. it’s going to duke, northwestern, umich, notre dame, boston college, tufts, emory, wash u, etc.</p>
<p>thanks for the advice so far! i’d appreciate any other input anyone has</p>
<p>Better than finding God at a camp: show how that has changed your efforts to make the world a better place, inpired you to assist others (other than evangelism,) what personal sacrifices you now make because you have evolved, the good you have already done (again, other than evangelism,) and how meaningful it is, etc. See, the point of the essay is partly to reveal yourself, but equally to show how you will fit in that school community and how you will benefit them through your actions (eg, how your community efforts will reflect back positively on the school.)</p>
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<p>Probably some of the best advice. A lot of people call this language “Christianese.” Be clear and concise. Even a phrase like “I was saved when…” can be dangerous.</p>