<p>hey all,</p>
<p>Would my personal essay sounds quirky if I begin my essay's introduction with an except from the bible? And after that I would elaborate about how my life is centered on this particular verse.</p>
<p>My concern is that I'm mentioning 'Jesus'. I'm not sure what would be the reaction of the adcom to that. :)</p>
<p>If you were my child I would advise against it. But please listen to others, I am not the best person to ask (Atheist.)</p>
<p>First, you are using up valuable words quoting someone else. The essay needs to be so spare that I don't see space to do so.</p>
<p>Second, in case you do see space to do so.... it is more impactful to 'show', not 'tell'. and in giving a quote, you are not even showing your own words. I don't think a quote is right in a college ap. </p>
<p>Third, you can refer to the quote within the essay, if it is so central. Really, your essay should be more focused on your life as a student. Not as a religious student.</p>
<p>Remember, despite the general population in the U.S., there are a great diversity in religions in college populations and staff. There is no way that religion will sway someone to reject you or accept you. The admissions officer may be in your religion or not, but this will not determine your fate.</p>
<p>Have you though of applying to Christian Colleges where this would be a great essay opener? One of my kid's friends, at least, went to an all Christian College. And was happy.</p>
<p>Will you be giving detailed examples from your life, so as to show, not tell, as mentioned by BrownParent?</p>
<p>Show</a>, don't tell</p>
<p>Will the essay, with those details, be one that only you among all Christians could write?</p>
<p>Mimanchi, I think you could actually write a very good essay like that, but it's risky. Make sure that the rest of your essay is really strong and that you're not just talking about "faith" the whole time.</p>
<p>I intend to write an atheist essay - good idea?</p>
<p>hey, thank you for your replies. I am considering what you have advised me. Just to give a peak to my essay's contents... I actually did not write much about my Christian faith, though it is clear in my essay that I identify myself as one. </p>
<p>I wrote about how I applied that particular verse in the bible to my daily living that it shaped my perspectives or rather invoked me to see things in a different manner, and eventually influenced my aspirations.</p>
<p>That particular verse is central to how I have came to who I am today. My essay is more about on experience, not preaching anything. :P</p>
<p>All I can say is that it has to be real, which is not hard with much of the Bible. The problem I've seen with a lot of personal writing about scripture is that the writer gets so fixated on himself that he loses sight of the reader, and justifies it by saying, well that's my faith so it trumps all other considerations. Okay, you be an admissions officer and tell me how you are going to react to an essay about someone's favorite Koran verse or the blessed bodhisattva. As long as the verse you quote builds a bridge to me, I am very interested as a reader, but as soon as you start using your beliefs your distinguishing merit from others, you lose me. You might as well be speaking a foreign language. This is critical for ANY topic you write on--- bridge the gap to your reader in the first paragraph.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure your essy will be alright. nothing is so wrong you live your every day life with the belief from bible, it's possible and may be u r leading your life great but one exception what is that excerpt you mentioned..and how is your every day life?</p>
<p>Faith became an integral part of my own essay after a few drafts (though I didn't mention the Bible explicitly). This wasn't a tactic to look better in the admissions officers' eyes, nor was it meant to be boastful or righteous. In the end, I chose to include it because Christianity is a fundamental part of my identity--at least, I'm trying to make it that way.</p>
<p>Don't worry about what admissions counselors think. Be yourself in the essay--and if you consider your religion to be a big part of your life, go for it.</p>