Hi,
So I’m struggling with a decision here. I run a very popular adult video website that receives millions of hits each month and make a substantial income off it. Yes, I am 18, so it is legal, but would it be considered unsavory to include it along my list of extracurriculars/work experience? I’m thinking it could be a bad idea so I’m leaning more towards not putting it on my Common App.
What do you guys think?
I would leave that off, since there is a stigma in this country against the adult entertainment industry.
HAHA! thats how Tom Cruise got into Harvard in the movie Risky Business!
@guineagirl96 Yeah that’s what I was thinking.
@ZBD5421 Haven’t watched it, but that’s kind of what I was thinking. It’s unique, EC which I’ve managed to be successful at, and could possible be a tipping factor. Of course some admissions officers might be turned off (no pun intended) by it and throw away my application.
I guess it depends on the content. How adult is it?
I think it’ll help you more than it’ll hurt you, just as long as it isn’t too obscene.
User name of fig leaves. Are they even wearing 'em? #:-S
You aren’t required to describe the content of your website beyond saying that it provides popular entertainment videos and produces x hits and y income. As long as what you are doing is legal and your videos aren’t exploiting anyone vulnerable, I don’t see a problem. If someone in admissions wants to ask more questions about the content, you can certainly describe it in more detail, and I’m sure you are capable of making the intellectual argument for why your service adds value, but I doubt they will even ask. Or hold it against you, if you were to describe the content. Meanwhile, you are demonstrating initiative and business savvy.
@ka7Scope The website is basically a search engine for XXX videos.
@N’s Mom …I agree except that could sound very vague and unbelievable to the admissions officer. Is there ever a case where they directly contact an applicant for more information? Don’t they usually just go to the guidance counselor? And my guidance counselor doesn’t know about it (it would be awk). As for business savvy, I have several other businesses, but the results from this website outshine the others.
For anyone wondering, I didn’t end up it on my app for the two apps that I submitted yesterday, but I still have four colleges remaining so this is still an open question.
just leave it off.
too risky.
don’t give colleges a reason to reject you.
I would still add it. If you have several other businesses, then it’s obvious that it’s just a business venture as opposed to… something else.
And who knows, maybe someone in that committee is feeling stressed out.
Princeton.
It was Princeton that was the object of his desires in that movie.
I think you might want to consider leaving it off. It is rather unique, but here’s my take: the admissions officers won’t really attribute the success of your website/company to you, but rather the XXX itself.
Maybe look at individual colleges and see if they are known for admitting or rejecting applicants with these sorts of inclinations. See which colleges it would make sense to include with, and which ones it be better served left in the privacy of your own home.
@pizzabagel The four colleges are U Chicago, UPenn, Dartmouth and Wash U. It’s pretty hard to find similar cases - I’ve tried. Yes, I was worried about that. I was worried that it also gives off the false image that all I care about is making money.
Well I think if you can discuss it in a mature way, it would definitely make you stand out. You might want to add information in the additional info box explaining how you got involved in the industry and why you’ve found it helpful to your business career. Hopefully they’ll appreciate your honesty and uniqueness and admit you for it.
I think it ultimately represents a tremendous PR risk for the university. At nearly any big university, a PR risk equates to money in or money out.
Look up if they have any alumni who did any sort of thing relating to the adult industry lol and if they do “shoot” away and add it
@NeedAdvise123 Didn’t find any alumni at those four colleges who did anything like that. But maybe they’re hidden.