<p>Hey guys! I was thinking about using these essay ideas to apply for some summer programs next summer and maybe even colleges after.</p>
<p>Topics:</p>
<p>1.) I was raised a Catholic (private school, Catholic parents, no internet, etc.). I've always had an affinity for learning what was going on around me, but it was hard to learn until I moved into a public high school (9th grade). It was definitely 10th grade, when I took AP Biology, that my perspective of life really changed, and I feel as if I'm "coming out of my closet" by pursuing my love of science and helping others with it.
2.) During and after the recession, my family was not as well of as it used to be (still really isn't). I experienced both worlds--somewhat rich and pretty poor--and have learned how, in a larger scale, this inequity really does hinder curiosity (especially scientific curiosity). I would try to live by the day, which was really awkward in a private elementary high school where rich people abound. </p>
<p>Feedback? I can scrap these, but I just wanted some feedback on them.</p>
<p>What are you trying to convey with your first topic? If it’s about how a class helped your love of science grow and how you’re now pursuing that love, the fact that you were raised Catholic isn’t relevant. If it’s about how you learned about evolution and are now pursuing your love of science by leaving behind your old Catholic views, then I would forget about that essay.</p>
<p>The second topic sounds like you’re saying that being poor means that you have less scientific curiosity, so I would forget about that as well. It sounds pretty offensive.</p>
<p>Perhaps I didn’t make them clear enough–sorry. @stressedouttt I just think it’s a bit important to me because I have to convince my mom on a daily basis I want to study science. The only reason I got into that class in the first place is because my mom’s “illiterate” when it comes to English, and my dad, who has a “BS” degree (he calls it that because he ended up a box designer from a chemical engineering degree; that’s a whole different story), didn’t really care. Whenever I talk to my friends in class, I feel as if they had so much more opportunity, but I simply find that more motivation to prove my worth in the “science world” (and I guess I have at my school). @Hunt First off, awesome name you have there. How would you suggest I be more specific? Find a different topic? Can I narrow down one of these topics to a moment? </p>
<p>Your science topic is the more interesting one but what you have here is all over the place and very unfocused. Maybe start with an idea/theme that is much more generic (e.g., science vs. religion) and then talk specifically about your particular experience and growth (and goals) within that context. </p>
<p>The first topic sounds like it could be good, but trying to point out that you didn’t seem to have as much opportunity as your friends might come off as whiny. The past is passed.</p>
<p>Is it controversial because you were raised Catholic and Catholics are against the teachings of evolution, big bang, and such? My Bio teacher was Catholic and he would always explain to us how Biblical passages were scientifically accurate. Like something about fish dying in a river because of something white? I don’t know, didn’t know the Biblical story but it made a lot of sense. I don’t think that it’s controversial unless you’re applying to a religious school, but they shouldn’t care THAT much. I think it makes for a good topic. Raised up one way but finding the love for something else with your studies. I think you’ll be fine. And the second topic is perfectly fine! Colleges want to know your story and how you are the person you are today. I’m writing mine along the lines of how my parents’ divorce, the foreclosure of our house, etc., led me to being suicidal but I found my passion in writing when I started my Tumblr, then how in a moment of panic when one of my friends discovered it I deleted everything with one click. But I will not say it like that. I’ll also mention that I no longer have suicidal thoughts… Anyways, I think almost anything is fine just so long as you word it right way. There’s a difference between “I wanted to die” and “This made me wonder why I was even alive”. I know how it feels being surrounded by rich kids. Like my entire life this past year. But yes, I do believe both topics are reasonable and will make for great essays. Good luck! :)</p>
<p>^^Do yourself a favor and don’t write anything in you essay about having suicidal thoughts. That is is too risky. Say ‘things looked bleak’ or something, but don’t go there. Introducing unstable person risk into the community might be a problem, what are you going to do, give a Dr note that you are fine? That is TMI, you need to be a little calculated that this is a professional objective here to present yourself as a potential student. Yes it is personal but not your journal, don’t overshare, yeah?</p>
<p>And OP, I didn’t understand the first possible essay at all. The second one might be okay, but you have to have the right touch that you don’t whine about what other people have or just that you can’t do stuff. It is more interesting if you can comment on your own situation and the differences you find and how you have to struggle and be more creative when perhaps you took things for granted before.</p>
<p>Just try writing some drafts and see if you like how it’s going. Don’t forget you are writing to a prompt.</p>
<p>The Catholic Church is not against such teachings. Some individual Catholics might be, but official Catholic teachings do not contradict any science. Pope John Paul II actually made this very clear some years back.</p>
<p>@everyone lol… It seems like the Catholic church has gone a bit more deistic as time has passed. However, in my personal experience with both family and (private) school, they completely ignored it. Our science teacher in 8th grade mentioned evolution one time, and it was how she didn’t want to teach it. As far as I can remember, that’s the first time I heard of that word prior to high school. </p>
<p>@BrownParent Hi again! I always see you around :D! I was definitely hoping to use it for a “the world you come from” essay. The common app doesn’t seem to have any of those around, but I’m still a rising junior. (STRESSSS MOARRR)</p>
<p>@SomethingWithin -gives virtual hug-</p>
<p>P.S.
If you are “everyone,” I am sorry. I didn’t know there was somebody with that username >_<…</p>
<p>@BrownParent Guess I’m a risk taker. And I’m not unstable and other people who have those thoughts aren’t either but I want them to know exactly how badly my situation affected me. And I’ve outlined it out so it’s fine. I’ll also let some teachers read over it. I’m not going to treat it like my journal, it’s a formal essay just with my personal experience in it. The essay perfectly shows that I will never return to those bad times ever again. </p>
<p>@NROTCgrad Ah. Well I’m not an expert. I thought it was something along those lines. Guess I should’ve researched some before posting. </p>
<p>@Newdle
Sorry to hear that. Although the Catholic Church does not teach totally literal interpretations of the Bible, obviously some of its members do. Very unfortunate.</p>
<p>@SomethingWithin
As Newdle’s experience shows, a lot of Catholics are ill informed on these things. A very small minority of Catholics were none too happy when Pope John Paul II gave the “okay” to evolution. He literally said we have to go where the evidence takes us. Something was learned from the Galileo embarrassment.</p>
<p>The big bang theory (“theory of the primeval atom”) was originally proposed by a Catholic priest & physicist, Father Georges Lemaître, in 1946. This was well-recieved by Pope Pius XII, who viewed it as being in line with The Creation (although the Pope never made an official pronouncement on it).</p>
<p>Father Lemaître was also the first known person to formulate what we call Hubble’s Law (in 1927, at least 2 years before Edwin Hubble).</p>
But I will not say it like that. I’ll also mention that I no longer have suicidal thoughts… Anyways, I think almost anything is fine just so long as you word it right way. There’s a difference between “I wanted to die” and “This made me wonder why I was even alive”. I know how it feels being surrounded by rich kids. Like my entire life this past year. But yes, I do believe both topics are reasonable and will make for great essays. Good luck! :)</p>
And I’m not unstable and other people who have those thoughts aren’t either but I want them to know exactly how badly my situation affected me. And I’ve outlined it out so it’s fine. I’ll also let some teachers read over it. I’m not going to treat it like my journal, it’s a formal essay just with my personal experience in it. The essay perfectly shows that I will never return to those bad times ever again. </p>