Supplement Topic- Too Risky?

[trefethen]

<p>I'm writing my UVA school-specific supplement, and the prompt is ""What work of art, music, science, mathematics, or literature has surprised, unsettled, or challenged you, and in what way?" </p>

<p>The only thing that has really come to mind while thinking about this is writing about Lolita. Obviously I'd have to be super conscious about making it clear I'm not in support of Humbert Humbert, but more interested by how he nearly appears as a sympathetic narrator. I feel like this might be too risky, considering I don't know who would be reading it. Or, it could be seen as not being afraid to discuss that sort of thing, but I'm not sure which way it would be more likely to lean.</p>

<p>My Common App essay is pretty personal, and my other supplement covers social media/some foreign affairs stuff which is what I'm interested in, so I'm not sure there's a specific base left to cover and am just going for whatever I feel like I could write an interesting supplement about.</p>

<p>Any opinions/advice is welcomed!</p>

[Mamalumper]

<p>It could be risky or it could be fantastic. Why don’t you write it and then see how it comes across. Let someone else read it and give you feedback. If it seems offensive after you write it toss it and try something else. I know that seems like extra work but you would not be the first applicant to toss essays. My two boys tossed plenty after writing them in pursuit of the ones they were comfortable with. Good Luck</p>