<p>This might be a dumb question.. but..</p>
<p>If I say that I am conservative because of my Asian background, could that possibly offend an Asian admissions officer when they're reading my application?</p>
<p>I'm not sure if I'm overthinking this...</p>
<p>I don’t think so because they would know how you feel. I think it’s good to make a connection to your reader/admissions officer. </p>
<p>But you should explain why you are conservative. In what ways are you conservative?</p>
<p>What I would find offensive is lumping half the world as a monolithic “Asian” culture, but I guess the adcoms think it’s peachy.</p>
<p>Being more specific can’t hurt.</p>
<p>how many Adcoms are asian?</p>
<p>You might want to be a bit specific about what parts of the background (cause I mean, I’m Asian too, and I’m pretty liberal, so Asian=/=conservative).</p>
<p>it doesn’t hurt to state what you feel about your own culture if you can back it up.</p>
<p>I don’t think the “because I’m asian” part would be a problem… but I can’t think of why it would be a good idea to talk about your political views in college applications, and I think we all know why it could be a bad idea.</p>
<p>yeah I agree, not all Asians are conservative (I’m a flaaamin’ liberal!!! :P) but as long as you can back it up with personal examples, I think you’re okay :)</p>
<p>I think it shows narrow-mindedness if you ask me. I’m Asian…Indian actually. I come from a Brahmin, or the Elite, family of pureblooded Hindus.</p>
<p>I’m liberal. My best friend is gay.</p>
<p>I’m a (somewhat) conservative Asian and I would be offended.
Saying you’re conservative b/c of your upbringing or personal experiences would be safer.</p>
<p>i dont think so</p>
<p>I think the OP means conservative culture-wise, not politically.</p>
<p>It should be fine, if you explain and elaborate on it. Agreed with Mudskipper on the upbringing/personal experiences thing.</p>
<p>how about focusing it on your family and your family’s practices?</p>
<p>Am I the only one who understands what he’s saying?</p>
<p>If your parents have conservative policies about being independent, dating, school, etc . . .because of your specific Asian culture, that makes perfect sense, and you can talk about that.</p>
<p>Perhaps saying that your native culture has strong traditional stances on issues may better convey your thoughts?</p>
<p>“Conservative” often is used to describe political leanings.</p>
<p>Asian =/= conservative. Many are very liberal, both politically and culturally. Many Asians, especially on the lower end of the social class, party, drink, smoke, gamble, watch/read porn (disguised as “anime”), spoil their children to no end, take vacations, date (and marry) very young, and other things that would be considered liberal by American standards.</p>
<p>I recently read an essay by a student admitted to Harvard who talked about the same thing. They don’t care.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say that Asian culture is conservative in general, because that’s arguable. Argue that the upbringing that you experienced in your Asian family was conservative.</p>
<p>Try saying “My family is very traditional” instead of “conservative”. As you can see, the word ‘conservative’ makes people think politics.</p>