<p>I would love it if one or two people could read through my essay and just give me a thumbs up or thumbs down. I don't need an edit or anything like that.</p>
<p>I'm applying to Notre Dame, and they specify 400-500 words in bold on their application. Their topic is open, so I took the shortest essay I had (about 650 words) and cut it to make it fit the word count. Although not about being gay, my original essay certainly talked about it. Since this is the same essay re-worked, this one does, too, though to a lesser degree. I did my best to tone it down while staying true to the original.</p>
<p>I would love an outside opinion on whether this essay is OK or not for Notre Dame. If not, I can probably whip one up, but I'd really rather not. </p>
<p>I am hugely appreciative, parents. Thanks a lot!</p>
<p>This is really, really easy. It's 508 words, and all I need is a "yes" or "no" response. It would take about one and one half minutes, given a reading speed of one page (=500 words) per minute and a half minute for the response.</p>
<p>Though I'm not a parent or even an adult in the legal sense, you might consider pming it to me; I'd love to read it/comment on it, if no one else offers.</p>
<p>corranged... in defense of myself and others who have viewed this post but not responded, you are asking a tough question. Not just to read your essay - but for an opinion whether a gay-themed essay is appropriate for Notre Dame. That's a tricky question, one that should probably be answered by someone with real knowledge of the predominant culture and attitudes at Notre Dame. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people.</p>
<p>I just feel a little lost since, although I know the general attitude of ND, I do not know how that would play into admissions or, and this is the real issue, how "gay" my essay looks to someone reading it. It is simply hard to judge my own writing from the point of view of an outside evaluator.</p>
<p>I certainly do not want to alienate the people at this school because I am obviously looking to get accepted; however, that is competing with my instinct to simply be myself. I tried to balance the two by toning down my essay while keeping its essence intact, but I have no idea if I was successful!</p>
<p>No need to apologize for tone - I understand that you really could use feedback. </p>
<p>I'm wondering whether Notre Dame would really be the best place for you in any case... but as I said, I don't really know, and I would be working from a stereotyped view of a Catholic institution with my own mind heavily influenced by the well-publicized recent decisions of the Catholic Church to discourage or expel gay priests. What the current Pope thinks might be a far cry from what the ad com at ND think. </p>
<p>This looks like a good resource for you to get some information about the degree of acceptance you can find among students and faculty at ND -- you'll note there is a page listing committee members with their email addresses. But it still doesn't answer the question about how the ad com may view your essay. </p>
<p>My kids have both done somewhat risky essays for colleges - and I think on the one hand a risk essay is a good way of making the student stand out. On the other hand... it can definitely lead to a rejection. My kids' response to my concern was uniform: "if a college doesn't want me because of what I wrote in my essay, then I don't want to go to that college". So I guess the real question is whether you feel that way - in a sense your essay is a good way of finding out whether ND is likely to be accepting and supportive of you. I mean, you sure don't want to end up attending college in a hostile environment -- and if you think of your essay in terms of a real and honest part of the process of determining fit, then maybe the essay that best describes who you are is the best way to go... even if it turns out that the college doesn't want you because of it.</p>
<p>corranged - I agree with calmom's view that someone who knows ND inside would be best. However, since you've had no offers (that I know of), you can PM me. I did attend Catholic schools for many years and know that culture in general, if not ND specifically. Maybe my opinon will have <em>some</em> value.</p>
<p>Notre Dame would probably not be the best place for me. I know a gay student who went there (there aren't as many as that website makes it look!!), and he said it was a very difficult situation. However, my father is an alum and is making me apply. This is not my choice. I am definitely one of the better applicants for the school, without this essay. Thanks!</p>
<p>I would think ND would not be the place for you...it seems to be a very conservative Catholic institution and even if you got accepted with the essay, I don't know how you'll be treated there. You might feel sort of out of place in a sense. However, I don't know ND too much and am just basing it on my opinion. GL. Where else are you applying?</p>
<p>Well, then, you know that if you're rejected from ND it'll have been because of this essay. Which could def be a blessing, and not even in disguise!</p>
<p>Yes. If I were rejected it would almost certainly be because of this essay. My father, although loyal to ND, is thankfully more loyal to me; he told my mother that if I didn't get in he would never watch another football game in his life! </p>
<p>I'm applying to:
Harvard (deferred)
Michigan
U Chicago
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Columbia</p>
<p>Oh, you don't want to go to ND but your dad is making you apply. </p>
<p>That's different.</p>
<p>Make your essay flaming. Be sure to mention your activist gay politics, the rainbow flag you want to hang outside your dorm room, and your penchant for cross-dressing. </p>
<p>:) I know I'm being facetious, but if you don't think you really want to go to ND, then go ahead and have fun with the essay. All of my "advice" above was based on the mistaken impression that you actually wanted to go there.</p>