<p>I'm applying as a junior transferring to several schools, some conservative and some liberal. I'm a poli sci major and I lean quite left. I have a personal statement essay on an interesting topic thats about my life and past..blah blah blah. I don't talk about my politics in it however. </p>
<p>The thing is, I run a political web-site. It show my "passion" for government and my chosen major. A huge understatement would be to say that it shows my bias. </p>
<p>Is it a good idea to list this(by name) on my apps? I would like to b/c it shows my commitment to my beliefs, reflects my hard work, and communicates something about me that isn't otherwise explained in my apps. However, IF it can hurt me at the most selective ones I'm applying to, it doesn't seem worth it. </p>
<p>It shouldn't hurt you at all. If anything, I'd bet that the admissions officers at these schools (save for Notre Dame, BC and Georgetown) are left-leaning as well. Either way, they're supposed to be impartial.</p>
<p>Unless the school itself expresses an interest in students with only certain kinds of political philosophies, then admissions counselors will not admit (or deny) on that basis.</p>
<p>Why? It's bad policy, and it's a waste of time of energy to "screen" for candidates who think like the admissions counselor. Even when the student makes it obvious, it's not the admissions counselor's job to make decisions based on politics.</p>
<p>I will say this, though--in grad school I lived with an alum from a very selective school (Ivy) and he was gung ho to be an alum interviewer. I was pretty unhappy with the way he evaluated some of the students he interviewed--I believed him to be very biased and unfair. Not just on political things but other factors. (He was open with me because of my admissions background and the mistaken belief that I'd agree his criteria were sound).</p>
<p>So with adcoms, I think their professionalism, and the sheer numbers they see, prevent them from caring overmuch about your political leanings. Alums might be another story, but I'd like to think my housemate was a minority.</p>