Is this too controversial? (Writing an essay about religion)

“Describe a setting in which you have collaborated or interacted with people whose experiences and/or beliefs differ from yours. Address your initial feelings, and how those feelings were or were not changed by this experience.”

I met a gay democrat atheist two years ago and I was a christian at the time, with somewhat conservative views because of my religion. Over time, his views changed mine and I became an atheist. Well, maybe agnostic.

I’m applying to Texas A&M, which has a student body that’s known for being christian and conservative.

Should I not write about religion?
Do you think my story is a good fit for the topic?

Thanks.

Can you write it in a way that won’t seem insulting to a Christian assigned to read it? I’d choose another topic, if I were you.

Or maybe focus on how your views changed. You don’t have to get into your personal religious views.

Too risky. Sorry

Thanks everyone. I’m going to change my topic.

Too risky for A&M. Probably okay for some schools, though.

Um, do you think you would enjoy attending A&M? Have you visited? I attended A&M 30 years ago as a Democrat, Californian, and atheist. I’m sure things have changed, but maybe not as much as the rest of the world.

I’ve never visited A&M and I’m not sure if I would like it there. I would like to get in because it’s one of the best public universities in Texas. How was it for you? Did you like it there?

@outofstate98 I ended up liking it at A&M, but I had to find “my people”. It’s a really big university, so even if “your people” are <2% of the Aggies, there will be a good number if you manage to find each other. (That’s what they call the folks who don’t follow the football, Bonfire, don’t step on the grass traditions – 2%ers.)

I had a lot of great professors, so the academics were good. I found my people in the science fiction club (Cepheid Variable and AggieCon) and some related nerdy and left-leaning clubs at the old student center. I also worked at the student newspaper. Another group I was in protested at speeches given by James Watt (Reagan’s Secretary of the Interior) and Jerry Falwell. We held a faux book burning to see if we could get real Aggies to attend. We almost got arrested (or shot) for saying we were going to step on the memorial grass. College there was weird but fun. I’m sure there’s still plenty to protest against in Texas and at Texas A&M specifically.

Oh god. I’ll be one of those 2%ers. Glad to hear that you thought the academics were good. LOL you had some crazy and exciting experiences.