<p>Hey Guys! This isnt really my account; this issue is a controversial topic so I figured Id do it on a separate account for privacy reasons. I am applying to 27 universities next year. I am an international student and I was thinking of basing my essay on the challenges of being a homosexual in Egypt, how it influenced me positively, negatively,. Would it be too controversial? Could it be mentioned on my admission decision leading up to my parents finding out? Could it be a cause of rejection?</p>
<p>I don’t think it’ll ever be mentioned in your admissions decision for your parents to find out. </p>
<p>I think that’s a great topic but be wary of which colleges you send these to. America is still pretty worked up on this whole homosexuality thing, especially with older generations being not so open-minded. You don’t know who your reader is or how they feel about homosexuality, so it might make them feel uncomfortable or even put a teeny bit of bias towards rating your essay.</p>
<p>I was advised with my essay, since I wanted to write about rape/sexual abuse, that it’s best to leave little detail as possible and focus on what you got out of it as these sensitive and controversial topics can make the reader uncomfortable and probably will negatively impact you. If you have any schools on your list that are KNOWN to be flowing with liberals, I think it’s a great topic! I think it’s an overdone topic though, but your special touch with being in Egypt would make it a great twist. Remember, a lot of other kids have had trouble with their sexuality and maybe even bullied. You have to focus on: why is YOUR essay out of the norm from other kids?</p>
<p>I was also advised to let an English teacher or someone you trust read it too. 
They can let you know if it makes them uncomfortable.</p>
<p>If my memory serves me correctly, someone in the MIT forum wrote an essay about overcoming the challenge of being gay in Alabama, and was accepted. Of course, be careful not to confuse association with causation here - for all we know it could have had nothing to do with the decision - but we do know it didn’t result in rejection.</p>
<p>That said I think the treatment of the topic is more important than the topic itself. Show them your character qualities using pictures (“Show, don’t tell” is pounded into the honors students at my school), captivate the reader with a strong attention getter in the first paragraph, etc.</p>
<p>I assume some admissions officers will hold it against you for your sexuality, but most probably won’t. In the more liberal states, at least, you should be relatively safe.</p>