<p>Sure, put down the awards. However, he's got to be aware that the person who actually reads the application may have a very negative reaction when he/she reads the app....if he happens to draw someone who is very antigun, it could be a problem. Just like around here, the schools actually have rodeo clubs. You can put down that you're a champion bull rider, but if draw the person who thinks that rodeo is exceptionally cruel to the bulls, it may hurt you.</p>
<p>You guys all have good points as to why he should put it down, but unfortunately humans are not entirely rational creatures.</p>
<p>I really would like to perform a study testing the subjectivity of college apps (eg: having 3 different counselors read the gun app - one with a relative who died from a shooting, one neutral, and one who is also a gun enthusiast)</p>
<p>Though they may consciously try to avoid bias, little tip factors can make a huge difference when someone is on the borderline.</p>
<p>Then again, maybe they'll overcompensate for their negative preconceptions by admitting a lackluster candidate :)</p>
<p>Cruel to the bulls....lol</p>
<p>Anyway, like other people said, it's an Olympic sport. I'd emphasize the competitive aspect of it rather than, "Yeah, my AK-47 is my favorite. I take it everywhere I go..."</p>
<p>ee33ee, I susect that you're totally right about the "tip" factor. It could happen with almost any EC (e.g., the girls on the volleyball team bullied the admissions officer when she was in high school, so subconsciously she has a less positive feeling about the applicant who was a varsity volleyball player). But a few things-like guns-are more emotionally and politically charged than other more typical ECs.</p>
<p>just make sure michael moore doesn't know about it, and you're all set</p>
<p>^ Lol</p>
<p>People who have experience with guns in professional competitions are not like cho seung hui - he just played counter strike and developed some awkward obsession towards guns and shooting at things :/</p>
<p>Put it down. Period. It's an Olympic Sport for crying out loud!</p>
<p>Definitely put it down, but make sure you have this come across the right way.</p>
<p>The best way is to have his skills award-centred (unless his skills are underrepresented by his awards), because then the gun skills will speak for themselves.</p>
<p>If possible, one could add a supplementary essay centred around the mental discipline required to be an excellent marksman.</p>
<p>just don't make yourself out to be a gun-toting redneck if you're wary of offending political sensitivities</p>
<p>"Heron: You're assuming that an adcom would be ignorant that people hunt and do competitive shooting."</p>
<p>It's not that the adcom wouldn't know that people do these things; it's that the adcom might think these are BAD things, especially hunting. I don't think this would be a problem at a religious school, which would probably be fairly conservative. The problem, if there was one, would be at a very liberal college.</p>
<p><em>rolleyes</em> </p>
<p>AdComs tend to be quite smarter than the general public; in any case, it should be a safe decision if you can expound on it in an essay. If it's not like a super-big thing it should not be in a main essay -- maybe they will accept a supplementary one.</p>
<p>Sure, if you've won awards, why not?</p>
<p>I have a student who is a black belt. He plans to put that on his application, and he has won numerous awards, too.</p>