^Thanks for clearly and articulately expanding on your thoughts on this topic. You’re obviously entitled to your opinion so I rescind my comment that an apology is in order. I do hope that you consider the possibility that these schools actually do want a better world, even if their definition of better differs in some (or many) ways from yours and mine.
The risk really seems like you could get caught up in the subject of this conflict.
The essay is really to see what kind of person the student is and how they think - so the best essays tend to reflect on a singular moment and the students thoughts around it. Tell a story. Let the readers get to know the student. The essay should be used to show admissions something about the student they wouldn’t otherwise know. Remember how many essays these admissions counselors read and try to showcase the unique person that is your student in a way that is interesting reading to someone.
Best of luck!
If you have to worry about what the college thinks of your essay topic, It is not a place you want to be and supporting them with your tuition dollars
I think writing about one’s advocacy efforts and submitting that in college applications could be a positive IF the following conditions are met: the cause isn’t divisive (unlike the current college protests), the method of advocacy is cooperative and not contentious, and positive results have been achieved. Colleges are looking for win/win/win, NOT this student is going to generate negative publicity for us.
Nothing illustrates the difficulty of writing an essay about activism better than this thread. Does that mean she shouldn’t do it? Not at all - she just has to accept that activism - and the way it’s expressed - has always had costs associated with it. If she comfortable that she would not want to attend a school that didn’t support her brand of activism, then I think she is showing clarity and maturity. Support her.
OP hasn’t been back since the 19th.
Not all “activism” is disruptive. There are many kids campaigning for clean water, various rights, advocating in their communities, working directly on causes or with the needy, implementing change. They’re putting their efforts where their mouths are, so to say. That’s good. As an educator poster recently said somewhere, these can be the kids who regularly step up.
Many college kids advocate through positive actions and you see that in their college activities or work. That can be a fine spirit to add to a class. Many colleges will look for that. Those kids aren’t threats. Their heads are screwed on very right.
But just arguing with the hs admin, while it may be well-intended, doesn’t tell us where her soul is. It neither says she’s a disruptive sort, nor that she’s got perspective outside the hs.
We’d need to know more.