My Common App essay answers the prompt about facing a problem. I have decided to write about how I have struggled with my political views and how they have shifted as I’ve gotten older and learned to think for myself. I am also talking about how I still struggle with how to balance ethics (mainly my religion - I am Catholic) with the other aspects that influence one’s views.
My question is: does this effectively answer the prompt, even if I admit that I haven’t quite solved my “problem”? Also, do you think it is a bad idea to essentially say that in some ways I still don’t know what I believe in (what would colleges think of this)?
FYI - I am looking at pretty selective schools and plan on majoring in international relations or political science (depends on the school). I am applying to Georgetown’s Walsh School of Foreign Service and this would be my general essay (I am writing about women’s rights for my supplementary essay - is that too cliche?).
Sounds like your essay will stray from the prompt, you need to say how you identified the problem then how you lookto change the problem and lastly why solving the problem is of personal significance to you
Not to shoot down your idea - but - any admissions counselor will tell you that writing about a controversial topic is a bad idea, and you wrote about two. It’s risky because you (probably) don’t know who will be receiving your essay and what their values are. Writing a strongly worded essay about your beliefs will likely rub someone with opposing beliefs the wrong way. There is a time and a place for essays like this, and when you’re trying to sell yourself to someone you don’t know it’s probably not the best time.
Remember the point behind this essay: to give them a reason to say yes to your application. It’s not therapy or Confession or an OpEd piece for the NY Times.
I’ve read lots of essays on CC that would be great in some other forum, but which do not serve that purpose.
You could absolutely write successfully about your struggle to define your political beliefs, about your struggle to balance ethics with the realities of everyday life.
BUT-- the point is to give them a reason to say yes. They’ll want to see that your beliefs are evolving based on more than emotions. They’ll want to see that you have a healthy respect for the beliefs of others, that you can get along with people whose beliefs and ethics differ from yours. They’ll want to see that your thought processes have evolved, that you can challenge your own beliefs and the beliefs of others, and do so respectfully and in the right time and place. It should be about YOU and your growth and not your religion or your beliefs.
I think that may be a lot to ask of 650 words. But if you can do it, and do it successfully, it might make for a powerful essay.