<p>"Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?"</p>
<p>I go to a catholic school, and and I changed to atheism, should I talk about changing religions while in a catholic school or is religion too sensitive of an issue to put on an essay?</p>
<p>Just my opinion: Such an essay might be viewed as biting the hand that feeds you.</p>
<p>I think religion is one of the risky topics to write about - along with politics, affirmative action, abortion, same sex…etc. I think it’s ok to write about it if it made you question yourself or helped you see something in a different light. Just don’t be overly religious (or anti religious). The point is not to convert someone, the point should be showing your growth as a person.</p>
<p>So would something like</p>
<p>The confusing lives teenagers live in these days can benefit from two different perspectives on life. I, for one, have that experience and it has changed the way I view… </p>
<p>That’s all I got off of the top of my head, but if I create an essay that is central to this concept, this isn’t too sensitive AND it doesn’t stray from the prompt?</p>
<p>I think that the topic could be risky. I would stay away from religion and politics. You never know who will be reading your essay. If you do decide to write about this, be very very careful.</p>
<p>Personally, I wouldn’t write about your religious views. It’s just too easy to offend some readers.</p>
<p>I went with a much more innocent topic, tennis. Would anyone like to read it and give their opinion through a PM?</p>
<p>I say go for it! It’s awesome that you’re such an iconoclast, so if you want to write about it you should. The worst that happens is that you get rejected for the essay, and if that were to happen then that wouldn’t be the right school for you anyway.</p>
<p>Whoops, just saw your most recent message; tennis is cool too (we’re both tennis playing atheists who enjoy PRS guitars, so totally PM me that essay.)</p>
<p>Write it. Then show it to some people and see if they think it’s too risky. It never hurts to write multiple essays about different topics and then choose whichever one reflects best on yourself.</p>
<p>If you have to ask, you already know that you shouldn’t. Surely there are other times you’ve stood up to a particularly pernicious ideology, or a non religious idea that you disagreed with. </p>
<p>Remember, the vast majority of Americans are theists and atheists are one of the least trusted groups in the US. It’s fine to casually mention atheism or religion, but I wouldn’t make it the central focus of your essay.</p>
<p>You could make an interesting personal essay on one challenge you have had being an atheist at a Catholic school. Tell a story, write a narrative. You shouldn’t go into details justifying why you are an atheist. </p>
<p>Also, I wouldn’t start an essay this way: "The confusing lives teenagers live in these days can benefit from two different perspectives on life. I, for one, have that experience and it has changed the way I view… "</p>
<p>That’s not what a personal essay is about, it sounds so wooden, too much like an essay for a class. They are looking for a personal narrative. Meaning relax and sound like yourself, not a textbook.</p>
<p>Ok, so you might have ditched this idea, and are writing about tennis. What about tennis? Atheism in a Catholic school sounds a bit more exciting, but it depends on how you wrote it.</p>
<p>I had some trouble with the sport and after watching a professional match I realized my faults and overcame it.</p>
<p>Not to be rude, but in all honesty writing about overcoming your faults in tennis is one of the most cliche things you could talk about in a college app essay. Also, I feel that talking about overcoming your faults in tennis doesn’t really relate to your identity or the bettering of yourself as a person… like how exactly does that affect your personality, attitude, and outlook on life outside of becoming a better tennis player? I think colleges would like an essay that is much more reflective of your thoughts, beliefs, and character… not so much of your tennis skill. That’s just my opinion, though.</p>
<p>I think a tastefully-written essay on atheism would be a much better choice as long as you remained respectful of religion.</p>
<p>Atheism is way more interesting than the essay you describe. Getting better in tennis is really not interesting, unless the essay is much more creative than it sounds.</p>
<p>Not disagreeing with you that the essay is cliche, but Atheism is a sensitive subject, and it runs on a fine line. I also don’t have anything EXTREMELY inspiring to write about, I could write about it to reflect me easily, but there is no major problem I can think of that I overcame.</p>
<p>I was about to ask the exact same question, so I’m glad I found this thread. That topic really seems to be asking for an essay about something controversial…
For me it was a huge challenge, because I’ve grown up in a super conservative fundamental Christian home and I hid my atheism for 2 years before my parents found out, and they have been very disapproving. </p>
<p>Not going to write about it, though, since it seems that that’s a taboo topic.</p>
<p>Unless you are applying to a catholic college, I would say definitely write about something that you feel deeply about and have thought through. In my opinion, that is exactly what a good liberal arts institution is looking for in an essay. If it is atheism, go for it.</p>
<p>Writing about “how sports are like real life” is routinely mentioned by admissions professionals as the most boring and overdone of topics they read.</p>
<p>Like OACLVJ said though, the taboo is there. Somehow, there will be that hypersensitive person who will get offended and undermine the person writing it simply by the word atheism. And with my luck it will be the person reading my essay.</p>
<p>Think about multiple things you could write about. Writing about religion affiliation, or lack thereof, would be quite dangerous. It might end up being the thing that makes the reader go “nope”. Possible because they simply do not agree with your view point or see you as threatening. Tennis would be highly cliche though. Just keep brainstorming and write until you come across something that is not cliche or too controversial.
Cheers!</p>
<p>Just 2 things: first, you can write about anything as long as the essay reveals who you are. I disagree totally with what others have said. There is no taboo on the topic of atheism, and I would go for it because you have something to say. Unless you are applying to an ultraconservative, religious college, in which case you might want to try something different.</p>
<p>Which leads to point 2: know your audience! The people reading your essay want to hear your voice. Direct, clear and well-written are important. Tell your story in a compelling way.</p>
<p>Remember that as an atheist you are in a minority and this could be attractive to the right schools. You would provide diversity. Use this to your advantage by knowing the values of the schools you’re applying to and whether they value this type of diversity.</p>