<p>i asked this in another post...but I thought would be better to make one just for it.</p>
<p>My essay is on hunting...It is not gorey or sick at all...just a real essay about hunting and overcoming the belief that it is wrong, and the the transition from raising cows and such to hunting...and i ends saying that through hunting I learned ____ and ____. Im from a farm, so hunting is not really a big ethical deal here.</p>
<p>Do you think this is bad, because some people see hunting as wrong? I like my essay it becuase it is true, real, and I think unique. Do you think it could get me into trouble?</p>
<p>It depends on how you phrase it. I am biased, because I am quite strongly against hunting. But if you could make a strong case for it, or even a strong personal cultural meaning of hunting, go for it. Just a warning that you will be facing an uphill battle when you come in--I don't think Rapelye is a hunter herself, nor is most of the admissions staff.</p>
<p>I actually think that, properly presented, this would be an interesting and unique topic for an essay, particularly at a school like Princeton where I'm sure that very few students have firsthand experience with hunting, let alone the admissions staff. It might very well set you apart from the crowd, and at an institution of this caliber, any unique attribute that distinguishes you from the pack in the admissions process is a good thing. At the very least, you'll been viewed as original. Give it a try and best of luck.</p>
<p>I agree with above, just make sure it is good. Because in my view, if it is good, it will be VERY good and unique (esp. given your high "conventional" stats like the SAT, etc. which I just saw). If it is bad, though, it will allow the Ad. Staff to just stereotype you. So it is high risk high return.</p>
<p>Stuff that's out of the norm like that, especially if presented well, can be a real winner. My friend's essay is about riding his dad's old motorcycle. In all honesty, it's probably the greatest piece of writing from a high schooler I've ever read. It's not about how he's a strong person or anything. It's just talking about what he enjoys.</p>
<p>If you can do something similar with hunting, then I think you have the chance to make a real impression on any admissions officer.</p>
<p>Yea...I see your points. Just to clarify and summerize...my essay isn't a politcal statement about hunting at all. It is really just about my transition from a boy raising cows and sheep, and obviously loving all animals, to be given a gun for my birthday and being expected to hunt. I was against it at first, but though my first expereince, I realized that hunting was not wrong. It allows me to become part of nature and understand my role and responsibilty within the natural world.</p>
<p>I don't think it is bad, but I don't really know. (One of my teachers had a slight problem with it cause it was not on academics, but I think that is becuase she doesn't really get today's admission process). I guess I will just have to take a chance, but a risk is probably needed to get into Princeton.</p>
<p>Hi collegebound,
I'm from the west, and all the guys and some of the women in my family hunt. My son's passion, aside from classical music, math and biology, is hunting. He's only 13 but I've already anticipated that one of his college essays is likely to be on this topic. His connection with nature, his father, his dog, and the primal quest, through days in the fields, is remarkable. To non-hunters, it is beyond understanding. You face a big challenge with this one, but, like the others, I hope you'll pursue it. My advice: get some non or even anti hunters to read your essay and listen carefully to their criticism.</p>
<p>One more thing: a girl from our high school was accepted at Stanford two years ago. One of her essays was about bear hunting.</p>
<p>You've got good advice in this thread. As a former AO, I can promise you that the readers will likely be grateful for an essay topic that they don't see over and over again. The goodwill you gain by providing them with something unusual to read will at the very least counterbalance any reservations about the topic.</p>
<p>All readers have their hot-button issues, and the standard practice is that if you think your stance on an issue is clouding your ability to be objective about the applicant, you ask someone else to read the application.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your help. This past week I have gone through a lot with questioning my essays. Two teachers asked me why I would right about hunting, and told me it was not approbriate. Both are very liberal, but I am not used to hearing critques over my writing. My essay is real, not precocious, and simple in a good way. I have had to do a lot of thinking though, to decide to go with my insticts and keep my essay.</p>
<p>Well, Collegebound 0290, while I agree in general with other posters regarding the originality of writing an essay about hunting, I would advise you to carefully select your points with an anti-hunting viewpoint in mind. For example, I nearly guffawed in disbelief when I read your description of how you enjoy communing with "nature" when you hunt. How in the world is there anything "natural" about you having a GUN? Maybe I and the AOs at Princeton would be impressed if you wrestled a deer to the ground with your bare hands. But shooting an unsuspecting deer during your "bonding" session with nature is hardly impressive and, in my book, downright stomach-churning.</p>
<p>Also, not to be too harsh, but I sincerely hope you proofread your admission essays far better than you proofread your posts on this board.</p>
<p>I'm neutral towards hunting. That being said, I think you should prepare for a few responses like lextalionis' and like riverrunners'. You have to make it accessible to both camps, so keep that carefully in mind. I think you have a great essay on your hands, if you can make it work.</p>
<p>^With all due respect, lextalionis, who are you to tell the OP what viewpoint he should select as to the topic of his essay? Just because you happen to view hunting with a gun as an unnatural "stomach-churning" activity, that doesn't make it so. Nor does it render the topic any less interesting to an AO, particularly at an institution like Princeton, where diversity, creativity and originality are highly valued. Although I am not a hunter, I grew up in a rural area of Pennsylvania where many of my neighbors did hunt -- not for sport, but for food. Think about that the next time you pick up something from the meat, fish or poultry counter at your local grocery store -- you may not have slaughtered the animal that you'll be eating for dinner, but unless you're a vegetarian, you're a willing participant in the process.</p>
<p>I don't have any particular opinion on hunting, but I'd say you can probably safely disregard lextalionis. The admissions staff will be much more open-minded when reading the essays.</p>
<p>It's apparent that critical reading is not your strong point. Nowhere did I tell Collegebound what viewpoint to take. Rather, I suggested that he keep the viewpoint of an anti-hunter IN MIND. </p>
<p>Princeton also values applicants who avoid absurd statements like the one Collegebound proposed regarding communing with nature on a hunting trip. As I stated, there is nothing "natural" about shooting wild animals with guns. If Collegebound wants to write about the thrill of killing a wild animal by use of man-made guns, then I say go for it. But don't try to act like a lover of nature and then write about killing innocent animals who have no chance of winning against a gun.</p>
<p>To repeat: work on your proofreading skills, Collegebound.</p>
<p>You too missed the point, 1of42. No doubt the Princeton AOs are "open-minded." They also are "smart-minded" and will spot the glaring inconsistency in Collegebound's proposed essay point about "being one" with nature while shooting unsuspecting wildlife with his gun.</p>
<p>So, lextalionis, I suppose in order to truly commune with nature we must forgo clothing, bandages, tents, and compasses? Nothing 'natural' about any of those.</p>
<p>I think your essay sounds very interesting collegebound0290. While I don't hunt if you simply portrait hunting in the correct light (which it ounds like you already are) then I think it would be very refreshing to admission officers. Ignore lextalionis ignorant comments, admissions officers will certainy not discriminate against you for having diverse interests.</p>
<p>Thanks for everyone's comment. I can't judge lextalionis views (I used to think the same) except to say there really is a true connection with nature when one hunts...and even though some might not believe it, that connection is really the only reason why anyone hunts.</p>
<p>However, I have decided to make some additions which are slight, but I think make my essay less controversial...like stating that I hunt for dinner, not for sport...and mentioning some other things like raising quail in order to raise the local population.</p>
<p>I have posted "chance" threads before on the Princeton thread and every time I got 2 or maybe 3 replies. The fact that I got 18 this time I think shows that this may be a unique topic and could help me more than any test or grade.</p>