Actually, @mdorbust, he said you should.
@fallenchemist I’m pretty sure he was being sarcastic/tongue-in-cheek.
If you think you can write an essay to show who you are, go on. I think adcom does not want to see any political debate in your essay. I believe they want to know who you are through your essay.
@NYDad513 Please read my original post again. I do not want to write a political commentary, I want to write about how the protests inspire me to fight for the issues I am passionate about.
If you think so, you should write. If you are passionate about it, why not? If you can show yourself through the issue, you should. I think it is extremely difficult process and I don’t know whether you are capable of it or not. So, you are the ultimate person to decide. Can you really write a personalized essay with the issue? If yes, I say go on, twice.
@NYDad513 I just don’t want to rub people the wrong way, you know? I don’t know how it will be received, no matter how apolitical I keep it…
It is very easy, I think. to talk about your “passion for politics” without mentioning current events or revealing your personal leanings. Granted it makes the essay harder to keep interesting, to not sound generic and bland, but I agree that the college application is not the place to broach topics that induce strong personal passions on the part of the reader that could easily conflict with your position.
In my opinion, a couple of adcom’s job are not to be impressed by applicant achievements and not having any political view when they read application. It does not matter you are liberal or conservative. They don’t care. They try to read who you are, what is your character, and whether you can success in their institution through your essay. Whether you have passionate on political science does not matter, I think.
I don’t know what you can present yourself with your essay, so I don’t have any answer. Nobody can answer. But what other people here in cc including me said is that it is very hard one. There are students who can write good college application essay with the issue, I am pretty sure, but we don’t know it is you or not. You know better than anyone here.
I am sorry if I look very sarcastic or blunt. English is not my first language and it is hard for me to write more polished sentence.
Wish you have good result in your college application.
Two different responses. First, of course achievements matter, and they are supposed to be impressed by the winning of an INTEL or Siemens competition or a National Essay Award. I don’t know why you would say that.
Second, and more relevant to this OP, I agree to a large extent that just coming across as generally liberal or conservative will usually not affect most admissions officers. But if one starts to get specific about certain issues or events, then I think it is naive to imagine that a lot of readers wouldn’t be influenced by that, even if subconsciously. The more hot button the issue (abortion, gun control), the more risk there would be in stating one’s position, even if it is to make a different point. Those are extreme examples, but the point holds whenever a political or moral issue is involved.
@NYDad513 Your English is very good, thank you for your help (:
@fallenchemist I think I should just stay on the safe side and not bring this topic up. The fact that I had to make a post on here to ask about it is very telling…you’re right in that since this issue is very very current, I don’t know which buttons I could potentially press.
OK, then. We will consider the question answered. Best of luck!!