<p>I already submitted my SCEA application, but the topic choice for my Common App essay has been lingering in the back of my mind. I really like the essay and my teachers liked it a lot. Butttt, I'm a Canadian student at a school that rarely sends kids to the states and the guidance counselors are brand new this year, so I'm not sure if I got a valid assessment.</p>
<p>So basically, I chose the "discuss an issue of local, national or international importance blah blah" prompt and wrote about the tension between Islam and secularism in France and Western Europe. I'm not European.</p>
<p>It wasn't personal in the sense of "I overcame this and this essay is explicitly about me" at all. I talked about how hatred is perpetuated by distrust and whatnot. Talked about how as a second generation immigrant I've been shaped by a meaningful interaction between Islam and liberalism for the better and my sadness for kids from similar backgrounds in Europe who are forced to choose between religion and "society". Also talked about how it concerns me that Islam is increasingly considered mutually exclusive from the West because both are foundations for my values and identity.</p>
<p>The essay isn't about me (I start and end talking about France and explaining the actual issue makes up a lot of the essay), but I think it shows a lot of reflection and I dunno, empathy?</p>
<p>So basically, is this kind of essay acceptable? I keep reading on CC that essays have to be these amazingly personal 500 block chunks that give admission officers really deep insight into who you are. I'm not really a "this was such a formative experience and gave me qualities x,y,z that your institution loves" kind of guy (my supplement was on v-necks) and prefer nuance I guess. Can this work against me?</p>
<p>note: I don't really want to send the essay out just because it's already been submitted and the last thing I want to do is worry for a month.</p>
<p>note 2: anyone watch La Haine? "La haine attire la haine." brilliant movie!</p>