<p>On the common application where it asks for your religious preference I plan to put none because I'm an atheist, but quite a few of my ECs are through church. I'm afraid that this will make me look like I'm not really dedicated to my activities and that I'm doing it just for college. My parents force me to go to church and be active in religious activities, and initially my participation in these activities was reluctant, but eventually I started to realize that I liked helping people and I was pretty happy to do it even if I didn't do it in the name of God. I'm from a small, religious town so a lot of the community service organizations are church based. Anyway I'm just worrying if putting none as my religion but having tons of church based ECs would be a red flag to any admissions officers? </p>
<p>No.</p>
<p>Why not just consider that the application is looking at religious “affiliation” rather than “preference” and fill in the denomination of your parents’ congregation? You aren’t committing yourself to anything by doing that, and your religious affiliation is not going to make any big difference in an admissions counselor’s opinion unless you are looking at a conservative Christian college.</p>
<p>I’m sure colleges will pick up on it. However, we can’t tell whether or not it will leave an impact. Just make sure you stress your desire to be involved in the general community, instead of a desire to be involved in your religious community.</p>
<p>Alternatively, you could choose to not answer the question at all, and just leave it blank, although all of the options given above are viable as well. </p>
<p>You’re overthinking it. College is meant to explore and many people cast off past affiliations and adopt new ones, including religion. Colleges want to know if you can handle the academic work, first and foremost. Secondly, a few care if you can contribute to community. Most don’t care and only need/want your tuition.</p>
<p>I agree with the overthinking part. Google the chaplain’s offices for the colleges on your list and look at the number of religions on campus. For example, at Yale, this is what comes up: <a href=“Yale Religious Ministries | Chaplain's Office”>Yale Religious Ministries | Chaplain's Office;
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<p>If a college can be inclusive of all these religions, they also have room for student’s who are atheist’s.</p>
<p>FWIW: Many students rebel against the religion they were brought up in. And oftentimes this makes for a great essay topic. My daughter, for example, wrote her essay about the lack of religion in her life.</p>
<p>I wonder why Common app ask about applicant’s religion.</p>
<p>Some religious schools use the Common App and would like to know w/o awkwardly asking: “Do you share our same affiliation?” Some colleges pass this info along to their own religious groups to use as an extra outreach tool (eg. how some schools use LGBT status)</p>
<p>@gibby I think the OP was referring to the fact that s/he is an atheist participating in religious activies. I don’t think the concern was being an atheist in general.</p>
<p>I put none because I’m an Agnostic.</p>
<p>You can put your parent’s church affiliation down to make the ECs on your application just flow better…nobody will care what religion if any you put on your application once you are in the school.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about. You can participate in religious activities without have a “preference” for that religion. Unless you are applying to a strongly religious school (eg, Liberty, BYU, Wheaton, Pepperdine, Calvin, etc .) or possibly a Catholic college (where I do think they notice if you don’t check that box), I doubt it would have any impact at all.</p>
<p>“Preference” can mean different things to different people. You enjoy the EC’s because you are helping people, and you can do that no matter what you believe. </p>
<p>For this reason, many people of different religions (or none) help a local soup kitchen in our area, which is run by a Christian organization. Basically, everyone likes the idea of helping people and it makes more sense to pool resources than to have a bunch of small soup kitchens based on different people’s beliefs. </p>
<p>Consider that the Common App is asking your preference, not your belief. Do you have a preference over what customs and holidays you might observe? Do you like celebrating Christmas, Easter, and will you continue to do so? Will you continue with any of your EC’s in college? If you think that you prefer some aspects of your religion over other religions, than you can indicate your religion, or if you plan to not be connected to religion at all, then you can say none. </p>
<p>I think the reason for the question on the Common App isn’t about a declaration of faith but to learn more about who you are and what qualities you will bring to the college. The best answer is the one that fits you and what you plan to do. </p>