<p>Hi everyone, so I’ve been putting some thought into the Brown Supplement and for one of the questions I have been really tempted to use profanity. I’m not planning on using it like “Oh #@$&!” or “#@$& this!” I’m merely basing my essay on what one of the tour guides at Brown said (yes, they did curse). So… thoughts? </p>
<p>I’m wary of posting my essay idea on CC, sorry, I just have some trust issues. :P</p>
<p>In my opinion, just don’t do it. You never know when you’ll offend someone reading your essay and turn them off you entirely. I’m sure essays with profanity do occasionally make it through, but this is a place to play it safe.</p>
<p>There was an article I read a long time ago about college admissions and I believe it was actually about Brown (no joke!). An admissions officer was reflecting upon some weird applications he/she had received and in one of them, the student had outstanding tests scores, EC’s, etc - the whole deal. Only he kept cursing in his essay (must have thought it would make him stand out - it made him stand out all right) and the admissions officer had to eventually deny the student admission because of it. Admitting such a student would be a detriment to the school’s reputation.</p>
<p>Ask yourself if using profanity would contribute significantly to your essay and to what you’re trying to convey. Obviously, blanket swearing isn’t tasteful in any respect, but it can be used properly and without offense in the right context. Can you communicate the same tone and idea using other words or phrases? What kind of impression will you give to a stranger reading this essay (about your personality and writing skills)? </p>
<p>Remember the point of these admissions essays: they’re trying to get a sense of who you are. If you use profanity and come across as someone who no would want to hang around or as someone who has to resort to crude language to convey a simple message, it’s obviously going to look bad. But if you can use it creatively and meaningfully, I think it can come off great.</p>
<p>Does the swearing contribute to anything in the sentence itself or was it something like “BROWN IS SO ***CING AWESOME!!!11!!1” because that really makes a difference. College essays are very important and I, personally, wouldn’t take that risk. I tried to stand out in many different ways, but profanity was not one of them.</p>
<p>I agree with SereneSilver. I think that sometimes an occasional, well-placed curse word can really effectively convey an emotion. (Obviously, other uses of profanity can seem unnecessary and turn the reader off.) I don’t necessarily agree with those here who just say “don’t do it,” because I don’t know how your particular essay would read. As long as you’re careful and keep in mind that you don’t know the person who will be reading your essay, I think it’s something that could be done well.</p>
<p>Maybe if you use it in one place. I might write an essay for the Brown supplement about this book I read called “hope in hell.” it’s a non-fictionish book, but hell is a bad word…I can’t really change the name of the book. But i think if the quote just has one bad word, and the entire statement is in support of Brown/education/etc. I would say go for it! But I am by no means an expert.</p>
<p>P.S. good idea not to put your essay on the internet. people often steal ideas/words but it could also count as plaigairism</p>
<p>You should never post your essay on any public board. But if you do want a reality check you can PM it to me. I have no one to show it to, my kid is a 4th year grad student. I’ve read enough essays to have an idea if it comes off badly or gratuitiously.</p>
<p>I’m writing a diversity essay, and I was thinking about using profanity in my paper. Basically someone is calling me the n-word. Is this too risky to have in my essay?</p>