<p>My son's essay discusses matters of race in his community and his high school. I think that it is a courageous, heartfelt essay, but I am not sure that it should be his college essay. It does not paint his community nor his high school in a favorable light where issues of race are concerned. I'm afraid that the admininstration at his school will get read it and feel that he is being disloyal and it will affect his recommendations. I also wonder if colleges will view him as a disgruntle student. On the one hand, I want him to play it safe, on the other hand I want him to go with his heart. Any advice?</p>
<p>If your son appears mature, reasonable, and thoughtful in his portrayal and (NOT sour-grapes, sneering, cranky) it is probably okay. You fear of him appearing 'disgruntled' is a reasonable one. As far as I know the HS does not read a kid's essay.</p>
<p>Sometimes, kids give their teachers and GCs a draft of their essay so that they can build on that for the rec. Sometimes, GCs insist on sending out the whole packet themselves, and that would include the app with the essays (though busy GCs would probably not bother reading the essays).</p>
<p>If the essay is written in a thoughtful, constructive manner, no teaching staff should object. I'd bet they have thought about these issues themselves without being able to come to a solution. The risk is in unconsciously falling into stereotypes that others might object to.</p>
<p>Another risk in choosing an emotional and/or controversial topic (race relations is certainly that) is the tendency of readers to interpret the essay from a personal point of view. Gaining admission is difficult enough. Why risk it?</p>
<p>My oldest kid's college essay was, to put it mildly, critical of her high school...one which most people would consider among the best in these United States. I wasn't allowed to read it until the thick envelope came. I would have FREAKED if I had read it before. Kid got into "reach" school; faculty darling did not. Faculty got very angry..proving kid's point...though they never knew it. </p>
<p>Unless your high school INSISTS that the essay be included in the application pack sent out by the high school, I say... GO FOR IT!!! If your kid's supposed to submit a draft to the high school, but high school doesn't actually send it out...Have him write a nice safe boring essay for review. He can always say he changed his mind at the last minute.</p>
<p>Caveat--I may get flamed for this, but...this sort of critical essay tends to work best at top tier colleges.</p>
<p>I echo SBMom's advice. As a topic, go for it. The risk only means that he needs to be very careful of tone: angry is okay, I think, petulant is not, loose-cannon is not, etc. </p>
<p>As Marie Antoinette observed, execution is everything.</p>
<p>I think that all the applications including the essays go out through the high school. Basically, he discusses the racial attitudes of the students at his high school; he does not specifically address the faculty. However, he goes to a selective, conservative private school which is very reputation conscious. My son does not fit their idea of a model student to begin with. He is definitely on their radar,because of things like talking in class, clowning around etc. (nothing serious). As it is, his recs might not be great, even though he is a good student. Still, what message do I send him if I talk him out of making a statement, and tell him to play it safe? Thanks, everyone who has responded.</p>
<p>TheDAD: very funny!</p>
<p>Send the essay in without filtering it through the high school. I've never read a college application that said that the essay would only be accepted if it arrived in a thick envelope from the guidance counselor. So..if you think the high school might not "appreciate" your son's essay, send it to the colleges directly.</p>
<p>I don't know what colleges your student is applying to, but I have heard Harvard adcoms say that they wished that students would write about more risky subjects (like your student's) instead of things like "my big game" or "my summer vacation that taught me that people are people."</p>
<p>Your student's essay subject sounds like one that if handled maturely could open doors for your student. And if a college doesn't want your student because of their opinions, your student would probably be happier elsewhere anyway.</p>
<p>ChamMom...a lightbulb just went off...Chaminade in the SFV?</p>
<p>TheDad: No, actually I don't know what "SFV" means. </p>
<p>Jonni: We have a parents night on Tues so I will find out if the entire application goes through guidance. Maybe he can apply online.</p>
<p>Northstarmom, good point. I don't think my son would be happy somewhere that would penalize him for expressing his opinions.</p>
<p>San Fernando Valley?</p>
<p>As for the essay, the only caveat I will offer is that it's important to remember that ultimately, the essay has to be about you, the applicant. Talking about race in your community is one thing, but 2/3 of the essay had better be somehow connected and about YOU.</p>
<p>ELLERNENOPE: He is multi cultural, so he discusses how racial attitudes in our community and his school have affected him. It is in response to the #5 essay on the common app asking for an experience that made a student realize the importance of divesity. I think you have a good point, but I think he does relate the essay to himself.</p>
<p>I've aked a few friends what they think. Funny, it seems to break down along party lines. My conserative friends say don't risk it, my liberal friends say go for it. The problem is I'm a moderate!</p>
<p>Send me a PM and I will look at it. Another set of eyes, unconnected with any of the parties involved.</p>
<p>It honestly sounds like a great essay topic. In fact, I have seen lots of evidence that colleges of all kinds are interested in accepting young people of any race who are willing to thoughtfully address issues of diversity.</p>
<p>I have also seen this in other venues. For instance, I was on the selection committee for a youth leadership program, and was the only person of color on the committee. When we interviewed about a dozen students, only one spontaneously brought up race as a problem that young people face. The student talked of what he had experienced, and gave some suggestions for how the program and school could address racial issues.</p>
<p>He was the committee's unanimous first pick. Everyone was in accord that that kind of student was the kind of student that we wished to include because he was willing to thoughtfully speak up about difficult issues, and he was also willing to offer solutions.</p>
<p>Your S always has the option of sending a bland essay through the h.s., and then sending the real essay later. He could ask the adcoms to disregard the first essay he sent. He also could explain that he did not want his school to see his real essay. I imagine that colleges would respect your S's wishes in this the same way that they respect the wishes of students who apply and then send letters saying, "Please reject me. I don't want to go to your college. My parents made me apply."</p>
<p>Incidentally, my S probably will be writing an essay on racial issues involving his former h.s. He already has shared his concerns in writing with district school administrators and has received no repercussions. In fact, it seems that they are actually interested in addressing those issues with his help.</p>
<p>I think this is what Jonri is suggesting above (and NSM as well) - I would be tempted to send the essay directly to the college under separate cover as a "supplemental" essay, perhaps including a short explanatory note.</p>
<p>We mailed hard copies of essays to schools that received online common apps. My son's essay had some special formatting that we couldn't reproduce with the common app.</p>
<p>NSM's idea to send the essay after is great.</p>
<p>My D had a very unusual essay-- not controversial, but odd. Her counselor was 50/50 about the topic; thought it was 'risky.' I encouraged her to go with the odd one. </p>
<p>I really put myself in the place of an admission officer reading thousands of essays with huge numbers of "sports = life," "world travel = life," "EC = life," "understanding my grandmother from another culture"... All you have to do is read a book of sample essays to see that the same 5 topics come up again and again. </p>
<p>Questions to ask:</p>
<ul>
<li>do my child's personality, character, & "voice" come through in this piece? Does the essay help the reader get to know him & what makes him tick?</li>
</ul>
<p>-does my child come across as the sort of community member who would add value to the school, whom it would be fun to know, who'd be a doer, who'd be an interesting roommate, who'd participate in a classroom setting, etc?</p>
<p>-does my child show dimension, humor, maturity, thoughtfulness, character?</p>
<p>If all of the above is coming through I really think there is no topic that must be avoided.</p>
<p>My D was probably the only kid who ever wrote an essay on her topic and I think it must have been a breath of fresh air for any essay reader to get something original. Furthermore, it was a very clear portrait of her.</p>
<p>Thanks all. We are going for it. Thanks Marite for your offer. On Tues I will learn more about how the essay needs to be submitted. Maybe we can go around the school by filing online or sending it seperately. However, even if that is not possible, he will still submit it., and let the chips fall where they may. Thanks for your posts, they really helped us make the decision.</p>
<p>out of curiousity chammom, which chaminade does your son go to? chaminade prep or chaminade julienne?</p>