<p>I was thinking about using an Ayn Rand novel (The Fountainhead) as a subject in one of the college essays. Is Rand too controversial, overdone, etc.?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about it being overdone, as long as you take a unique approach. Also, Rand is refined enough that her stuff is considered more academic and thought-provoking than controversial.</p>
<p>I think it might be overdone. I read from a supposed college application reader (like a reader hired by the college) that he dies a little bit on the inside whenever he sees Ayn Rand, 1984, or Fahrenheit 451.</p>
<p>There’s far, far better authors to pick anyway :P</p>
<p>The people reading your essay will be well read and intelligent, will you be able to offer them something thought-provoking or interesting they haven’t heard a million times before?</p>
<p>Hmm, I will take all of the above thoughts into consideration. It was just a possibility; I’m having a lot of trouble coming up with ideas for Topic B (the one about an issue that is important to you) and I just finished reading the Fountainhead, which I totally fell in love with. </p>
<p>Thanks for all of the comments!</p>
<p>^ It was from DeanJ who is an adcom at UVA.
*When I see Harry Potter, 1984, Ayn Rand, or Fahrenheit 451 in the first line of an essay, my eyes glaze over. I think it’s really hard to be original and fresh when writing about something that’s been covered from every possible angle for years. *</p>
<p>Add to that, this is the 3rd question I’ve seen mentioning using Ayn Rand for an essay- in about a week. Two of 'em asking if it’s too controversial.</p>