Hey guys, I would really appreciate it if you could please give me some insight: one of the colleges I’m applying to is U Penn (specifically the Wharton School of Business). I want to write about Trump in my essay as how I became interested in the school, because he was a successful real estate developer in NY, and I plan to pursue a career in real estate development and want to study real estate during college as well. I would also mention that I do not agree with him politically. The question I have is whether or not I should include him in my essay. Once again, I would like to thank anyone in advance for helping. (I finished my essay, I’m just wondering if I should add this piece of information or not)
I can’t imagine an essay that would be insightful or worthwhile to Penn that focused on Trump’s real estate. There are some financial scholars who weight in on real estate-trump isn’t one of them.
Wharton has been extremely cool towards Trump, as I recall (see this article https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/11/donald-trump-2016-wharton-pennsylvania-214425). Better to keep away from the topic. Penn has its own real estate development arm and Wharton specifically has real estate coursework and they would likely welcome interest in their activities in that regard but probably not so much Trump.
He is so polarizing that I would leave him out.
I think you can talk about being interested in real estate without mentioning him or his company. I’d leave it out. It is very unlikely to help your app no matter how you frame it.
The essay should be about YOU, not Donald Trump. If the essay is about how you heard of Wharton, I would think you could go beyond any one person and talk about the wonderful reputation Wharton has. (I’m a mom and math teacher from the 'burbs, and I know of Wharton’s rep.)
Don’t waste valuable words speaking about anyone else. Every word in your essay should give them a reason to say yes to your application.
Moot point as U Penn deadline was yesterday. Did you include Trump?
I agree that the essay should be about you, but maybe you could use opposing views of Trump to establish the idea that you take an interest and passion in politics. However don’t dwell too much on Trump as politics are genuinely something you shy away from college essays.
No, I ended up not including him. @Nocreativity1
Good decision, OP. The point of the essay is what you show of yourself that they want.