Should I avoid talking about gay marriage in the civil rights prompt?
Yes
From my own opinion, Notre Dame is very, very conservative. There are many online rankings to back up that opinion as well (a quick google search will show you).
To answer your second question, if you are unsure about a topic I would say skip it. However, if you feel truly passionate about the subject, by all means go for it. I do not think that it will hurt you in any way because of the Catholic church’s current beliefs. Notre Dame admissions officers chose this question and I truly believe that they will fairly consider all responses.
While definitely a “capital C” Catholic university, and decently conservative, ND is no different than any other top-tier institution – many open-minded people, not at all regressive in their views. Not as conservative as many think it is… If gay marriage is what you think will give you the best essay, go for it. As with any college essay, though, it’s good to keep in mind that you don’t want to offend whoever will be reading your essay. Obviously, it would be sad if an admissions officer was truly offended by that, but if you want to play it safe, I would steer clear of the topic. As you can see, it really does go either way. Wish you the best in your essay-writing endeavors!
I’m a current ND freshman from the San Francisco area in California. I grew up in an incredibly liberal (and non religious) family, and was definitely hesitant about ND for those reasons. However, it’s been way less conservative than I thought. I told my admissions officer that my dad was gay and she didn’t have a problem with it. Most of my friends here are actually very liberal. I haven’t had any issues with stating my beliefs, although I’ve definitely met people who share very different views.
I would say go for it–if it’s something you’re passionate about, it’ll show through. And if a school were going to reject you based on your differing views, do you think you’d really want to go there?
I’d be happy to answer any questions you have about ND and conservativeness. Best of luck on your essays!
For a purportedly mainstream university it’s extremely conservative. They won’t run you off campus for being supportive of gay marriage, and many students will share those views, but there are plenty of faculty who actively and publicly argue against any kind of legal recognition or protection specific to LGBT status on religious grounds. That said I suspect that the admissions group tends to be more progressive, probably for the sake of attracting more mainstream top students, but that’s just speculation on my part.
as a sophomore from a pretty liberal background, Notre Dame is definitely conservative… my advice would be to write about that topic if you feel truly passionate about it, because that will show in your writing. But if you are using the topic to seem edgy or unique, it could definitely backfire. I know in a few of my reach-reach schools I tried to set myself apart, but looking back on some of those more “out there” essays I definitely hurt my chances.
TL;DR if it’s the best response you can come up with for the topic, go for it! however, one average essay won’t do much to affect your application, and a poorly written or offensive one can definitely work against you.
Compared to what? Bernie Sanders or Ted Cruz? Ruth Bader Ginsberg vs Antonin Scalia? The Jesuits vs Opus Dei? Compared to most state university campuses, it is conservative. Compared to national culture surveys, it is liberal. Within the ND community there are some arguing it is too liberal and has lost it way. Others are it is too conservative and needs to adjust. Know that it is Catholic and Catholic encompasses a wide variety of views. It welcomes non-Catholics (I know many on campus). Whatever your view, it should be well-founded and well-defended. Raising your voice does not make it so.
D had concerns about Notre Dame being overly conservative. She is a liberal agnostic. As freshman though what she had found is that the fact students are so athletic and outgoing is the issue not folks being overly conservative. When people say ND is conservative this is true relative to most colleges but most colleges are very liberal so ND may be no more conservative than say your high school is
What’s interesting to me is how many students are concerned about the political climate at Notre Dame. I’m from Massachusetts and have extremely liberal views, but I had no idea that ND had this reputation as a conservation institution when I applied. It hit me like a strong wind during my first year: The majority of students, it’s safe to say, are very conservative. The same is true for much of the faculty. If you’re committed to being a Domer and feel passionately about LGBTQ issues, the best you can do is be honest and thoughtful about it. I’m sure it won’t work against you as an applicant. It MAY work against you as a student here, when the majority of your peers have a much different ideology than yours. But that’s the only major roadblock I can foresee for you.
Best,
Nicholas
Compared to other universities of similar caliber ND would be considered by most to be conservative, but as Wje9164be points out, everything is relative, and most of those other universities are liberal in the extreme. Ultimately though I don’t think it’s fair to characterize it with broad brush… ND is a Catholic university, and as such it should come as no surprise that many faculty and students will hold viewpoints consistent with Catholic teaching and philosophy. While some Catholic teachings and positions (such as on gay marriage and abortion) would be characterized as politically conservative, may others (such as those on the death penalty, income inequality, immigration, etc.) are clearly consistent with a politically liberal ideology. Either way, thoughtful, respectful and reasoned dissenting viewpoints are welcome at ND, and if your essay with respect to gay marriage falls in that category, I don’t think it will hurt you in the least.
Couldn’t agree more with Horatio: also student from Massachusetts, and that’s how I feel. Also I think 4X529s raises a great point, Notre Dame is very catholic, which just happens to be conservative in some aspects and liberal in others.
I’m a recent Notre Dame graduate.
ND is conservative compared to other major universities, but the liberal/moderate/conservative mix is pretty representative of the country at large. There were mock presidential elections in 2008 and Obama narrowly won. For a while, the administration wouldn’t let there be a Gay-Straight Alliance and there was a big push to get one, with overwhelming student support, and now there is one. Then one of the guys involved in the public push was elected student body president, based pretty much only on that. In my recent four years there, I’d say my experience was that most ND students were in favor of gay rights/marriage, including many of my otherwise Republican friends, though certainly not all of them. Abortion is a little more of a touchy issue, with the majority of the student body probably being (quietly) pro-life, but it’s still something my (mostly conservative, but mixed) friend group would argue and joke about. I’m on the left and while I felt a little out of place, it was no more out of place than I feel politically in the country in general. ND also has a strong influence from the social justice side of Catholicism. The university lets in undocumented immigrants as students, for instance. The Arts & Letters faculty is well to the left of the student body, as well.
As for the essay, I doubt it would hurt you. I knew several people who were involved in Gay Straight Alliances and LGBT activism in high school who got into ND, and as I said, the climate is one where a clear majority are accepting of gay rights. I don’t know the people in the admissions office, but I didn’t hide that I was a lefty and they let me in, plus they let in people who made their struggles for LGBT acceptance clear in their applications. My general rule for something like this is that you’re looking for a home for the next four years. Show them who you really are, because if they don’t want that person, then it wouldn’t be the right home for you.
@DuckIsland15 I like your posts! Pretty straight forward! I think it depends on how he talks about it. I would suggest him to look up the church teaching on gay marriage and homosexual. Although I’m really religious, I do have two or three friends who are gay/lesbian, because I think they are as human as I am. I don’t support it or fight for their rights, but I respect it. I’m extremely pro-life tho.
I had some concerns initially about my son, who is a moderate liberal, fitting into Notre Dame; but that has not been a problem at all. While he has found Notre Dame to be conservative, yet in some ways its actually somewhat progressive. The fastest way a student could find themselves in trouble on campus, by students and by the dorm rector, is to be disrespectful to the viewpoints of another student.