I need help deciding between essay topics

College Essays
1

Hi! I currently have 2 common app essays written. One of them is about how being raped affected my interest in true crime and caused me to become interested in anthropology. The other is about how I became interested in humanity’s relationship with the environment. I like the first topic better, but I think the second is more consistent with the rest of my resume. What should I choose?

2

Absolutely avoid the first. Writing about a rape in your college applications seems to be a terrible idea.

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I disagree. There is no reason to hide that experience. @Virginia Belle would you say the same thing about being mugged? Hiding implies shame and rape victims are already dealing with that, unfortunately, and that is reinforced by cultures.

It is impossible to comment without seeing the essays. Feel free to send them to me. I will PM you so you can copy and paste into a private thread.

4

I am sorry to hear about the violence you experienced, but do not write your common statement about being raped.

Besides being a dark topic, your HS GC and/or some college AOs are mandated reporters. Without going in to details, what that means is they have to report this crime to the authorities (whether you ever did or not).

If you want to write about your interest in true crime and anthropology, you can say the impetus was because you experienced (violent) crime (but that still could be an issue to mandated reporters). You do not have to specify what that crime was. I will also say the interest in true crime is currently a popular essay topic.

If the second topic would result in a more cohesive story and application, that is another reason to pick that one.

Also, if your user name is your real name please change it. @CC_Sorin can you help?

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Sure thing, @Mwfan1921! @smilodon_kate, just let me know a new desired username and I’ll make the change for you.

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Hello, could you change it to smilodon_kate? Thank you

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This is now done, @smilodon_kate!

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Nothing to add here. I just hope you are ok and I am so sorry this happened to you.

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