<p>One of the prompts for the Common App personal essays is: Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.</p>
<p>Is it a bad idea to take a stance on some of the current hot-button issues like gay marriage, the iraq war, abortion, or illegal immigrants?</p>
<p>I would say it is alright if it shows your passion for a subject, as long as you don't insult another's opinions. Just be respectful in your arguments and try to appear open-minded (actually being open-minded helps too). Try reading your essay as and admissions officer who absolutely 100% disagrees with you and see if you would still be happy to let this person into your college.</p>
<p>Taking a stance in favor of getting out of Iraq isn't much of a hot-button, unless you are applying to, say, West Point. Gallup poll results say:</p>
<p>Most Americans support the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, but there is only limited support for an immediate withdrawal (there is also only limited support for increased troop levels). </p>
<p>A majority of Americans support the idea of a timetable for withdrawal of troops from Iraq. When asked, Americans seem to prefer keeping troops for only about another year, but they expect troops to be there longer than that. </p>
<p>Since the summer of 2005, opponents of the war have tended to outnumber supporters. A majority of Americans believe the war was a mistake.</p>
<p>See <a href="http://www.GallupPoll.com%5B/url%5D">www.GallupPoll.com</a></p>
<p>Honestly, I don't think you should write about something controversial. You never know who will be reading your application.</p>
<p>What you ideally want to do in these essays is convey some sense of who you are. If you find yourself only writing about your stance on these issues, then you won't let admissions committees get to know you. As long as you can use your stances to convey your personality, go for it, although it may be tough.</p>