@TooOld4School - I think I understand where you’re coming from and I’ll begrudgingly grant you rogue and even apostate but I can’t countenance reprobate or recreant.
I respect your point of view and, if nothing else, we’ve given some kids some good SAT words to look up (or is that “up which to look”???)
@lookingforward Yes I do think “that” is part of someone’s personality that they may well want AO’s to know. Super stuffy heavily adult edited essays are not the way to go in our experience. UChicago posted a number of essay samples this year that I think are really helpful to read to see what works. https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/sample-essays All of these essays are not written with perfect grammar, sentence structure, or word choices. They don’t have curse words but they each have their own sense of intimacy with the author and many have an edge that only comes from a teen writer. In my opinion err on the side of edginess over stuffiness.
Kids have a hard enough time writing a relevant essay. Your college app/supp isn’t the time to throw caution to the wind, indulge yourself because, hey, it’s “me.” Putting your better foot forward doesn’t mean adult-edited and stuffy. It means wise. Show them the right stuff.
We don’t know the first thing about how OP writes. And good sense is the better part of personality, in this particular case.
If OP had said UChi, I wouldn’t have even commented. They have their own wants and measures.
One of these words sounds like the voice of a highschooler; 4 of these words sound like the voice of a parent, counselor, or thesaurus.
The essay must be the voice of a highschooler.
Go ahead and use ‘badass’ but make sure the context is admiration and respect. So long as the rest of your essay is thoughtful and eloquently defends your view of RBG’s badassness, then I think it can be powerful and memorable.
My kid got into UChicago, and she would not have dreamed of using this phrase. Even though she does believe RGB is a badass. She does have a vast vocabulary even without a thesaurus. And that happens to appeal to UChicago.
Rogue sounds like the voice of a parent, counselor, or thesaurus?
The top grossing movie currently has the word Rogue in its title.
Rogue is one of the principal characters in the X-men movie series.
Nissan has a car named the Rogue.
I find it hard to believe that a high schooler using the word rogue in an essay is odd.
^^ OK, maybe not “rogue”. But the other 3 definitely sound contrived to me.
“Rogue” hardly conveys the same meaning as “badass.” That’s the problem with using a thesaurus to find another word. “House” doesn’t always equal “home.”
@TooOld4School wasn’t looking for synonyms for badass and clearly doesn’t view RBG as favorably as does the OP.
I’m curious how she figures in a college app.
^^ I seem to remember a “describe someone you admire” essay.
I would do it. RBG is a total badass, in my opinion. I consider it a compliment, not a swear word.
I wouldn’t consider that to be cussing, but possibly a bit immature. I think you’re better off substituting it for a list of highly advanced, sophisticated adjectives
I honestly see where you are coming from- why this could be taken badly. But, I think taking the risk and using “badass” might work well ONLY if you manage to go into depth and be detailed. Use other words later. I can see this actually even giving some strength to a personal essay. That’s my personal take.
Be safe and don’t do it
OP - what did you decide?
@Otterma i ended up doing it for my yale essay and i got in! worth it!
Woo hoo! Congratulations.
That settles it everyone. You MUST swear in your essays if you want to get into a top school like Yale!
/s
P.S. Kudos to you OP for digging this up to respond.