<p>I'm a senior applying to attend college for Fall 2011. I decided to write about a topic I am very passionate about-abortion. However, my parents are worried that schools won't accept me if they don't agree with my opinion. Is this true?? My view on this topic is conservetive, however, I am going to school for Theatre and am applying to many liberal schools. PLEASE HELP.</p>
<p>p.s. If anyone is willing to read and give me advice on the essay in general, I would be very appreciative. PM me!</p>
<p>I think most colleges would prefer essays that are about you, not your opinion on a hot topic. An experience you had that changed you, a person that influenced you and how that happened, etc. They want to know who you are, in addition to how well you can write. And as a theatre person you will have to demonstrate an ability to get along with a wide assortment of people -save the hot topic for an English class assignment later…
Certainly if you are a theatre person, you have artistic passions you can share! If these are essays for the university side of the application, you can still write about artistic subjects. An admissions person (not from the theatre dep’t) told me they want to hear about the applicant’s artistic side, which surprised me a little. </p>
<p>A friend who taught college English before she had her own children whom she now home-schools, agreed to review my daughter’s essays for us early on when we were all a little nervous and just needed to know she was on track. She ended up not having much to say because the D can write. But that bit of reassurance was a blessing. See if you can find someone local to review your essays.</p>
<p>That’s a very poor choice for your essay for the reasons others have already mentioned. College admissions committees would much rather read something that reveals aspects of who you are, not a rigid opinion about a political topic. They also want students to be open-minded and willing to look at things from different perspectives… that’s what learning is all about. If the aspect of the abortion debate that reveals something about you and your values is a “sanctity of life” issue, then write an essay about what sanctity of life means to you – Do you volunteer to help others in need? That can be an excellent essay topic. Are you concerned about accessbility to health care for those that are poor and ill? If you’ve been touched by people in such dire straights and that has given you a direction in life, then talk about that. Adoption of disabled children? End of life care for the elderly? There are so many ways to present your values, how you either help others or hope to help others, without ponitificating on a highly charged political topic.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you feel very strongly about writing that essay, you may prefer to do it and accept any consquences that could potentially follow. Maybe it would just eliminate colleges at which you’d be uncomfortable anyway, or colleges where you’d just make others uncomfortable.</p>
<p>Of course you know if you’re going anywhere that theater is taken seriously, you’ll have to learn to be accepting of people with very liberal opinions on a wide variety of subjects. As a general rule, people in the arts tend not to be conservative… but you probably already know that.</p>
How about a historical subject people might feel strongly about? I really love history, esp. military history. I want to go into aerospace. My essay is about a mock trial we had in AP History about the atomic bombs in WWII, how initially I thought they were necessary but then changed my mind after being basically forced to be the lead prosecuting attorney by my teacher and then winning the trial hands down. Is that too controversial? I think it shows an open mind but maybe I’m wrong.
If these are essays for the university side of the application, you can still write about artistic subjects. An admissions person (not from the theatre dep’t) told me they want to hear about the applicant’s artistic side, which surprised me a little. </p>