I am planning to write my essay about living in a suburban, liberal, echo chamber environment and how that has shaped my world view and also how I realized I was in a bubble and changed my way of thinking. Is this a good topic or is it too cliche?
I don’t think it’s overly cliche but I always cringe at a political essay for college applications. The last thing you want is for something political you said to subconsciously affect an adcom’s decision.
Wording will be very important and a deft hand at writing it appropriately to pull it off well. UI wouldn’t recommend using terminology like “echo chamber”, for example.
Honestly, I think this country has been so enmeshed in political overload the past year plus that I’d steer away from writing any essays that delve into political divides. I think people are just exhausted by it and given the year we’ve had, it doesn’t seem to original. I’m sure there are other essays you can write that will tell the adcoms about you without stepping into that quagmire. JMHO.
It might be a good essay topic if you are applying to a school like Baylor, but not if you are shooting for Oberlin.
Everything has become muddled in politics, and I dont think it’s a good idea.
I agree. I’m sure it will be a great essay.
But you risk alienating one of the readers… the people who have the choice as to whether or not to admit you to the college of your choice.
I think the essay you propose might be a better submission to your school newspaper than a college admissions essay.
Writing about living in a bubble could be interesting, but a liberal bubble? No. You need to be a skillful writer to pull this off.
I get where you’re coming from, but I would avoid using terms that might rub some adcomms the wrong way.
If you want to use this topic, maybe focus more on the importance of compromise, listening to diverse views, spirited debate, etc without using terms like “echo chamber” and “liberal bubble”
^^^ what does that tell the reader about YOU and why you would be a good addition to his campus?
Most college campuses ARE liberal bubbles. Not that it’s a bad thing.
Pick a different topic.
Remember, a college essay is not the place for a political rant. Maybe you could write about something else? If you had to answer, what would you say has been the most meaningful moment on your life? For me, the answer is driving in a huge diesel truck across the Snake River Plain. Can you think of a time when you created or accomplished something important to you? For me, I run the school ski club. There has to be something that summarizes the quintessential you without being political. Your cat, your sport, your little sister. There has to be something.
I think it is too broad a topic. Your political leanings are a bit of a yawner for admissions. And… most people grow up in some kind of bubble, and figure out that there is more to the world as they reach their late teen years. Write an essay no one else could write.
It’s not by any means a bad idea. I don’t think that you should worry about offending admissions readers, they know that other people are going to have different views from them and they shouldn’t be turned away be differing political views- and if they are and that influences their decision then you probably don’t want to go to that school anyways.
I disagree strongly with @emilymontgomery on not worrying about offending adcoms.
Everybody has their own subconscious biases. Even Martin Luther King Jr., the Dalai Llama etc had/has their own. Why risk admissions into a college you care about because somebody got a bad taste in their mouth from your essay? Why take the chance?
You’ll deal with admissions only once ever - when applying to the school. If their decision is influenced by subconscious biases, it shouldn’t influence whether you decide to go to the school or not because your paths will never cross again.
I vote no. I wouldn’t call it cliche, but it’s definitely not a good idea. Your political view is not a reason for any of the readers to say yes, and it is prolly difficult to look past with all of the bitter feelings that have gone around this election season. The readers are people, too, and, like it or not, the goal is to please them.