<p>Is profanity acceptable in a college admissions essay, if it isn't used in a crude fashion? In other words, is profanity in the essay, by itself (and inherently) a red flag?</p>
<p>i was wondering about this too. i was thinking about sending in a creative writing portfolio that ive put together as part of a college writing class im taking and there are some fiction stories that use profanity, but not gratuitously. that is, the curse words are appropriate for the character and his speech patterns, and its not like im saying f this and f that throughout the story. any thoughts on this? </p>
<p>snafu, if you are using it in your actual essay, i think it depends what word you are using (considering there is helluva difference between d a m n and f u c k.) and in what context.</p>
<p>I would suggest not using profanity in a college essay. I can't imagine that there isn't some better way of expressing the same thought. Would you use profanity is a speech directed to the admissions office? No.</p>
<p>In work submitted that is part of a portfolio, it might be ok. Context there is everything.</p>
<p>I used profanity in mine. People who've gotten in have used profane language. It's acceptable. In fact, I think it adds a bit of passion to the paper.</p>
<p>Well, I don't think you can display a whole "F this F that" schtick. I am sure using damn or something to that effect would be perfectly fine.</p>
<p>I used s-bomb, f-bomb, d-bomb, gd-bomb, h-bomb, the n-word... actually, the last one (n-word) isn't true... just felt like making you squirm in your chairs. But, the bombs I did use were mainly in quotations.</p>
<p>Big risk. I don't recommend it. Not only might it offend someone, it may be viewed as lazy writing.</p>
<p>I could see including it if your personal statement was a satire or other humorous, creative piece, and a PG-rated word like d a m n was crucial to make it zing. In my wildest imagination I can come up with a scenario that would justify a stronger word (if the personal statement was about abuse that the student suffered at the hands of counterprotesters when he was involved in a political demonstration, I could see quoting the abuse). But in either case, the safer course would be to find a way to write around the word.</p>
<p>A fiction piece in a supplemental submission is a totally different thing. Only you can judge if a character you've created can't be sketched any other way.</p>
<p>i once wrote "no effin way!" in a ap lang persuasive essay and got flayed alive. dont do it.</p>
<p>What if the profanity is used to describe something in an almost scientific way- as a descriptive tool? I guess I'll provide an example (not actually from my essay, but it serves as analogy): "After he saw the intricacy of the problem, Bob decided to dumbass. In the circle of his friends, dumbassing meant that he was going to try to solve the math problem the hard way, not relying on the flashed of insight that served many of his friends well."</p>
<p>Y'all need to take a risk, stop being "safe". Safe is not always good. Seriously, be yourself... maybe you'll get in, maybe you won't. And, shark, the AP lit test has a more formal essay to write about the literature while an application is personal, not requiring so much formality; it wants your personal voice. Now, I do agree with mystic that saying "**** this, **** that" is not the best thing you can do. But, those one or two bombs can make for a memorable essay.</p>
<p>I'm telling you: there have been essays with f-bombs that have gotten into Harvard, and when I read them I see why: THEY WERE AWESOME ESSAYS that let me know about the person.</p>
<p>The use of profanity is often viewed as an intentional defacement of the conversation. It's not permitted here on CC and many other places besides; why would it be a good idea to put it in your essays?</p>
<p>If you wish to convey to the adcoms that you are a bad mannered and foolish person of limited vocabulary and thought, go ahead and use the profanity.</p>
<p>I would definitely shy away from profanity in essays. As my Creative Writing teacher said, profanity is the biggest form of cliche. And you don't want your essay to have cliches, so try using more unique words.</p>
<p>"i was wondering about this too. i was thinking about sending in a creative writing portfolio that ive put together as part of a college writing class im taking and there are some fiction stories that use profanity, but not gratuitously. "</p>
<p>Using profanity in a creative portfolio and using it in a college essay are two very different things.</p>
<p>The rules of creative writing are a bit different. Profanity is accepted (and, from contemporary writers, almost expected). In the first place, a supplementary portfolio likely won't be read by your admissions officer, and the rules of "Creative License" don't necessarily apply to college applications the way they apply to genuine creative pieces. Even then, though, I'd try not to overwhelm the reader with profanity in your portfolio. </p>
<p>But as far as actually cursing in your essay . . . I'd be weary. I can't imagine a situation where it's absolutely necessary. (And anyway, for the sake of effectiveness, it's more impressive when people find ways of producing the same effect without actually using the profane words. Profanity is losing its edge. But what could you possibly be writing about that you'd even need it? Beats me.)</p>
<p>PS--
Good luck to all of the creative writers applying. Harvard has a great, GREAT history of writers (Ashberry, Mailer, Updike; professors like Jorie Graham, Zadie Smith taught here for a while . . . ), as well as an active writing community.</p>
<p>I'm reminded of the old saying "Obscentity is the crutch of inarticulate motherf---ers." There's an essay in the Harvard Crimson's "50 Successful Essays" book where a guy uses "sh it" to very funny effect in a story about a malfunctioning Mexican toilet. But in other places it can be seen as gratuitous so be careful. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that most people reading applications are relatively chilll twentysomethings who've recently graduated, not the sort of ultrapuritanical humorless types that some people on this board imagine (or are).</p>
<p>i agree with pyroclastic...although be careful of excessive use, i myself would only use it in dialogue though...i actually used the word spic in one of my essays, but it was in a conversation i included in the piece</p>
<p>A list of 52 "don'ts" from a member of the MIT admissions staff. I'd take this as advice for Harvard as well. "Don't" number 44 is "Don't use profanity in your essay, even if you're quoting someone." </p>
<p><a href="http://nance.mitblogs.com/%5B/url%5D">http://nance.mitblogs.com/</a></p>
<p>I strongly advise against it. A good sign of this should be how many people, right now, in this topic, have different viewpoints. It's a risk and you can't be sure how it will be interpreted. Find other ways to show creativity.</p>
<p>here is the aforementioned essay that got one kid into harvard:
"*****"
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0312343760/ref=sib_fs_bod/104-5829684-8816767?%5Fencoding=UTF8&p=S00H&checkSum=MKTrtcVrsknYQEmBiOOU1yzEdHCHDP2wEC99ZETwar0%3D#reader-page%5B/url%5D">http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0312343760/ref=sib_fs_bod/104-5829684-8816767?%5Fencoding=UTF8&p=S00H&checkSum=MKTrtcVrsknYQEmBiOOU1yzEdHCHDP2wEC99ZETwar0%3D#reader-page</a></p>
<p>Well runningcircles, they may get a kick out of "H-Bomb".</p>
<p>If the semi-consensus is that profanity will have a negative impact, then how big of an effect do you imagine it'll have? Would it become enough to constitute a unique reason to reject? In other words, could it break your application, by itself?</p>