<p>*shouldn't</p>
<p>I'll be a Senior next year, so I'm really just trying to get together all of the things I've done these past 3 years on a piece of paper so I don't forget anything (volunteering, performances, awards, etc.). But right now I'm wondering if some of the things I shouldn't put on my applications because they may be detrimental to my chances of being accepted. Example: I'm heavily involved in an international communist organization; I spend at least 10 hours a week doing work for it. But what I'm scared about is that if they look at that and see it as offensive or something they're strongly against ...they may choose to reject me. So I'm wondering, should I even put that on there?</p>
<p>Depends on the college. Will definitely hurt your chances at US service academies and maybe conservative Christian colleges, but it might help at Berkeley!</p>
<p>Thanks! What about Howard University?</p>
<p>Many schools that pride themselves on having a diverse campus would love to have an activist Bolshevik on campus to outweigh the other extreme (ie college Republicans). </p>
<p>Flame away. </p>
<p>Just kidding about the Republicans but I believe it is true that your politics would be very interesting to a lot of schools.</p>
<p>Let's put it this way: if a school would reject you for being part of this organization, it probably isn't the right school for you anyhow.</p>
<p>You can (and should) include all of your ECs, unless they're very unacceptable. Drug dealing probably has no place on your application to Harvard. But I think there are laws against discrimination based on political stance to protect you. You really shouldn't go so far as to file charges against a university if you were to be denied admission, but most universities will realize they are under some pressure to not dismiss your application based on that sole issue.</p>
<p>I say carolyn's comment should be the last word on the matter, cuz it's true.</p>
<p>Well the cold war is supposedly over so being a communist openly is allowed, but with the current situation between Russia and Georgia and the stance America has taken another cold war might be close at hand depending on how things play out and then who knows- maybe keeping your communistic activities to yourself would be best. </p>
<p>For now i would say most colleges would just find it interesting rather than detrimental to your application. </p>
<p>Political views should be just as acceptable on college campuses as different religions- so clearly not all colleges will approve but the ones you should want to attend will.</p>
<p>... Russia is no longer communist. ;-)</p>
<p>If you spend 10 hours a week on it you're obviously passionate about it and colleges will see that you're passionate and can't deny you for showing your true self.</p>
<p>You're not doing anything illegal, and discrimination is supposed to be forbidden for political reasons - I would put it down. It'll at least make you stand out :)</p>
<p>I agree-put it down.</p>
<p>ECs not to list might include:</p>
<p>Torturing woodland animals, 5hrs/wk, 52 wks/yr.
Stalking, 15 hrs/wk, over 50 subjects!</p>
<p>yeah that's right. unless the organization u attended to has evil purposes like illegal manufacturing guns or something, put everything to app
what's more, I think it's ridiculous that u get rejected cuz u volunteer at a communist organization</p>
<p>cold war had nothing to do with communism....</p>
<p>I think it's pretty cool, personally. You should definitely put it down.</p>
<p>(In regards to politics though, contrary to my user-name, I am not an anarchist, so I won't be putting that down on my applications!)</p>
<p>With the exception of recruited athletes, Howard basically selects students based on their gpa, scores, and class rank. This actually is the case with the majority of colleges in the country, which may use ECs at most for merit aid consideration or for denial of admission -- if the ECs are really something highly offensive such as being a member of the White Citizens Council.</p>
<p>cold war had nothing to do with communism....</p>
<p>Are you serious? Communism had a rather large role in the Cold War. The Korean War, Vietnam War, etc were all proxy wars between the Soviet Union and the United States over communism (North Korea/Vietnam were communist, South Korea/Vietnam weren't). During this time the US had a policy of Containment ie-trying to contain communism and were trying hard to stop the Domino Effect (a communist country would "corrupt" the countries surrounding it).
And even going beyond that, there was the Red Scare going on in America with people like Senator McCarthy feeding the anti-communist fire. </p>
<p>So yes, communism was an important factor in the Cold War. It wasn't the only one, but it was a biggie.</p>