Should I write about a sticky political situation with my principal on the Common App?

College Essays
1

Background: I’m a rising senior ('16 baby!) at a non-competitive public HS near Boston, MA, and I’m currently first in my class.

This year I started a social justice club in my town and we gave out social justice-related pins at the HS. My principal singled me out as the leader of the people giving out pins, and threatened me with suspension/pressured me to stop. He accused me of creating hatred and division in our high school and made vast generalizations about the purpose of the pins.

It was very hard for me to sit through that meeting and I considered just giving in. Instead of doing that I called some lawyers and figured out that there was no legal reason she should keep my club from handing out pins. So we kept on doing it.

I want to write about this incident on my Common App essay, specifically for the prompt called “Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?”

However in order for my essay to really make sense with the prompt I need to talk explicitly about what happened with the principal and why it was a difficult decision for me to continue doing what I believed in. And I don’t think there’s any other story that more accurately depicts who I am as a person and what challenges I had to face to become the person I am today, which is why I want to write about it so badly.

I drafted some Common App essays where I only refer to “the administration” threatening me with suspension and focus the essay on overcoming my personal fears. But even though the essay I wrote is pretty good, I don’t think it answers the prompt completely because I had to be so diplomatic about the incident to avoid shedding bad light on my school.

There are no news articles about what happened at my school, or about what she said to me; the only other person in the room was my guidance counselor, and she said she would not “allow me” to submit even the draft I wrote because she thought colleges would think I’m a trouble maker.

I want to write about what happened in her office honestly, and I know I can write an amazing essay about it. But I’m afraid I’ll need someone to confirm my story, and I don’t even want to ask my guidance counselor about it because I know she’ll say no. She’s really a good person, but I don’t want to put her in the situation of supporting me/the truth or staying on my principal’s good side.

SO should I write about this incident or not? What should I do, what can I do? If it helps, I’m interested in applying to Princeton SCEA.

2

I vote no. GC is right. I’m not sure it will make you look like a trouble maker, but I think it would make you look like you could not find a way to resolution.

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@HRSMom The only way it could have been resolved is if I did whatever the principal wanted me to do. He had no legal right to control our freedom of speech, and the only reason he wanted us to stop was because he personally disagreed with our views and didn’t want us to cause controversy with parents.

I understand what you mean though, and how a college admissions counselor could see it. Thank you for your insight.

4

Yes, it’s about perception…maybe there is a way to tell the story without the spcifics. And then go on to show HOW that has changed your future actions? So it is just a short mention, but not the full story?

5

@HRSMom Well, the draft I already wrote centers around that experience and talks about my fears, but I feel like it doesn’t have enough detail to be really engaging. There’s a lot more “telling” and less “showing” of who I am, basically. I don’t think it’s the best I could do. I’m not sure if a short mention would work in this case because it’s the kind of story that needs an explanation, written or not.

In short this topic is controversial and questionable. Even worse, I know that I can’t write my best about it.

I’m doing a political activism program this summer, and if all goes well I may ask someone from there to write me a recommendation letter. I could then ask them to include all my previous experiences in activism that I brought to the table. Then I could write my supplement for Princeton (or whatever EA college I pick) on activism but not on this particular incident with the principal. I think that’s a much better option for me.

So I’m going to make my Common App essay much more insightful and a story that won’t be present anywhere else on my application.

6

I agree. If it isnt a good vehicle for the “you” story, choose a better one:)

7

Ha, you could open with a quote from The Chocolate War. “Do I dare disturb the universe?” Literature is full of students and other people who act in the great American tradition try to right a wrong.

However, from your telling, it is not clear who is right and who is wrong. That is my main issue.

8

The prompts for '15-'16 actually have a new option: “Describe a problem you’ve solved or would like to solve. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took of could take to identify a solution.” I think this would fit that well.

In my opinion, you can write a good essay about anything as long a you write it well. If you write it so that the readers are on your side and you’re not depicting the administration as the enemy (which might be very difficult) then it could work.

I think this is a really good idea, and if you do it well, it could very well say something about who you are. So I would write it, show it to a trusted family member or friend (if they share opposite political views, even better!) and ask if they would find it offensive. If you find you can’t get around the political aspect of it, choose another prompt.

9

I think this is a great idea, so long as you don’t come off looking like your painting your principal as the “bad guy.” I think if done properly, this could be a great essay.

Also, your guidance counselor won’t “allow you” to submit this essay? That irritates me. It’s your essay. I came from a high school where the guidance counselors knew your name but didn’t interfere with the process so much. Besides, you’re submitting via Naviance on your own at home. I don’t see how she would know (unless you ask her directly to edit the essay or something).