If your position and arguments are sound and if you make a good case of why you are socialist, then write the essay. An essay which is heartfelt and well-reasoned is much better than mush.
My DS wrote an essay about how he is a socially and fiscally conservative Christian. Zero effect on college admissions, as every top school was beating down his door. I do believe it is because he did not hide who he was or tried to be too cute-by-half with platitudes.
Secure people like others who speak their minds. I once hired a president for a division AFTER he told me in the final interview that he had to be upfront and let me know he did not believe in two things that I was a part of (and still am). I knew right then I needed to hire that guy because nothing better than a president who is not afraid to speak his mind and disagree with you when his ideas are different than yours. keeps the ideas flowing throughout the company.
And if being a socialist is an important/major part of who you are, then you would be remiss not to write about it. However, make you you explain why you are socialist and what prompted you to become one - show insight into your logical thinking process in arriving to your becoming a socialist.
Thank you for that refreshing perspective. I actually am not writing to convince or justify my views, but rather explain the influence it’s had on me. I plan to be very humble and not at all brash. I was nervous however to reveal myself as a socialist.
My take on anything Political/Religious in a general forum is simple. Does it HELP me?
Bigger Issue here… you are going to college to understand how to THINK and REASON. If you are going to simply win arguments or to reinforce your ‘rock solid’ beliefs, save your time and money and get a job waiting tables.
I know many people who had their students chose a particular school BECAUSE of the politics. The students ended up with a very large college bill but no real ‘learning’ skills. But, they are GREAT at debating down anyone who dare have a differing opinion.
This is especially true at expensive and selective Women’s colleges, and at least one ‘Christian’ college I know a bit about…
Your comments seem to indicate you are looking to foster greater influence. Outside of school, the ability to see things as they are is the sign of an educated person. Trying to recreate the world in your image is the sign of… well someone who may have graduated from the finest Universities, but is not educated.
Why take the risk of writing about something so controversial? Reveal your character and better qualities, but not at the risk of offending readers. Socialism sucks anyway. Keeps on failing. Don’t be a slave to rigid ideologies
Just remember that you yourself are the Message of your essay. Anything else you choose to write about, whether it is socialism or knitting or playing for the world curling championship, is just the Medium you are using to express that Message.
Also, keep the qualities of a good narrative arc / hero’s journey in mind. You can reveal a lot about yourself by showing how you faced challenges in your process of adopting your belief system and putting it into action. A position piece might focus on building up what is great about socialism, painting a rosy (red) picture. An admission essay would focus more on showing what is great about you, and how it emerged in response to difficulty, uncertainty, and/or a calling that was too compelling to ignore. The original Star Wars film, for example, is not meant to convert anyone to the Jedi way. Jedi is just the context in which Luke’s journey unfolds. Medium and Message.
There is little UPSIDE to adding your political beliefs. You either get in BECAUSE of them or rejected as someone who thinks they know everything.
Better to be the one who shows that an education at XXX University would help you evolve your current opinions. Isn’t that the purpose of an education?
Take time to listen to “The College Admissions Toolbox” podcast - episode number 3. Former Cornell admissions counselor Nelson Urena describes what happens in admissions committee meetings. He openly states that each committee members’ biases come through clearly throughout the process. Some committee members (like Nelson) work to try to balance the biases out, but some members have powerful voices and strong biases. Do you want to take the chance of being on the wrong end of some admissions counselor’s bias? In my opinion, its not worth the risk.
I’d say that based on this week’s news, the risk of annoying someone by associating yourself with socialist political views is going up. Who knows what the news cycle will show in the next few months? It could become less of an issue or more of one. Personally… at this point I’d think about what else I could talk about.
I think that’s where the kernel of a good essay may begin. Your origin story, and how you feel about the parts that make you, you. And why you’re not so comfortable with some of those parts, and how those elements began to form in you.
You mention the word humble-yeah, I wouldn’t go there. I’d shoot more for authentic and honest. Most people who attempt humility don’t do a good job with it.
Just focus on what brought you to your realization, and how it informs you at this point in your life, and maybe where you can see it leading you later in life.
And have somebody you trust check it for you to make sure it conveys what you want it to convey. Everyone needs a good editor/gut checker.
ETA: Don’t let the word “ardent” show up anywhere in your essay, either.
You did not logically digest my post. I stated that if being a socialist is an important and major part of who the OP is, then the OP would be remiss not to write about it.
It does not matter that a person is multi-faceted, as even for the multi-faceted only one or two things really move him and for which he is truly passionate.
I gathered by the OP’s post that being a socialist is important and major to him. The admin will learn more about the OP if he writes about something important to him and for which he is truly passionate; it would then be easy, even natural, for the interest, enjoyment and drive for the subject matter, as well as his character to come through in the essay.
As someone who more often receives advice regarding the essay than giving it here is my two cents.
You need to seriously sit down and decide whether or not you are willing to take the risk to write this essay. I don’t think there is a person on here that would disagree with me that it is, in fact, risky to write about being a socialist.
It’s up to you, just make an informed decision.
(I also echo all of the previous advice regarding the fact that you need to be able to tell as story that reveals something about you – if this can’t do that, don’t write about it)
An admission essay would focus more on showing what is great about you, and how it emerged in response to difficulty, uncertainty, and/or a calling that was too compelling to ignore. The original Star Wars film, for example, is not meant to convert anyone to the Jedi way. Jedi is just the context in which Luke’s journey unfolds. Medium and Message.