What are you supposed to write in a college application essay?

Is it a bad idea to write a college application essay about how much one hates America?

  • I loathe American capitalism. I loathe the school system, and most other bureaucratic institutions. I loathe the fucked-up political system. What should I expect if I submit such an essay to an American college?

  • Answer:

    The answer is don't write this essay.  But not because you will somehow run afoul of American patriotism. Writing about how much you hate something is a great way to make a terrible first impression.  Think about the people you know who hate things with passion.  They are negative.  They are tiresome.  Their hatred consumes them.  They accomplish little because they are so mired in their own dogma that they can't compromise.  Picture the guy on the street corner yelling about the end of the world.  Or socialism.  Or government conspiracies.  When was the last time you took him seriously?  I am not suggesting that you are being consumed by your hatred.  However, keep in mind what you actually want to accomplish in writing this essay.  Your objective is not to demonstrate that you have strong opinions.  Most people have strong opinions about something.  You want to show that you are an interesting, empathetic, dynamic human being who will be a credit to the college and make a positive impact on the world.   Can you do that by talking about what you dislike about America?  Maybe.  Is your dislike based in objectivity?  Can you (or have you) worked to change the things you dislike?  Have you started a student club urging voters to fight redistricting because it is leading to increased political polarization?  Have you written papers or worked with economists who propose alternate models of modified capitalism that would have prevented the recession?  These are all things you can write about.  If all you do is read the news and decide that the people running things are dumb and you can do it better, that is not the basis for a good essay. I would add one more caveat to all of this. A word of wisdom, if you will.  It is really really easy to criticize something that someone else has built.  It is really hard to make it yourself.  This applies to art, movies, political systems, business deals, dinner.  When you are really young, it is natural to be an iconoclast.  The world is so staid and ossified and why aren't we doing things better?  When you get older, you realize that things are the way they are because improvement is not easy and comes at a price.  People are complex.  They all have different stakes.  They all want different things.  They can't agree on what they want to do or how to do it best.  Those who are capable of making a genuine, lasting impact understand this.  And when they couple passion with understanding and empathy is when they become truly effective.  Whether we are talking about your essay or your life, this is what you should aim for.

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Other answers

Yes and you've bern given a good answer - you come off poorly talking about hate and presenting yourself as person who dwells on what they hate - particularly these days when hate-filled people have been motivated by hate to some horrendous actions.

Sara Matthews

Yes, its a bad idea..you always get more of what you focus on..but more importantly in this case..you will get back what you give...

Mark M. Whelan

Hatred towards anything is a bad way to deal with anything.

Tina Scott

Those are pretty typical liberal values and colleges love liberal applicants. But you need to tone it down. Say for instance that you think the rich aren't paying their fair share. And the wall Street culture of greed has driven a wedge between the have and have nots. Blame Republicans for every conceivable problem we have. Complain about gridlock and say that Republicans are responsible for it. Say corporations and rich blood sucking capitalists tilt elections. Complain that nobody can get ahead in this country unless you are connected or rich. They will think you are precocious because by senior year all the graduates in social studies are saying the same thing. Good luck!

Charlie Fortin

if you are applying for American university, it might not work. But I think it'll be okay to put forth your opinion since America is nation that talks more about freedom and you are just using it.

Dil Kumari Gurung

Well, it doesn't sound imposible. Just put yourself together and write this bloody essay. Of course, if you are such paranoid as I am and you still hesitate in aythenticity of the work you've written, you can scan it through plagiarism checker (as I always do)!:) Besides, i use Plag Control - checker which Anthony Brown has already recommended  It's not a surprise, 'cause the checker is really great!    paper   writing service.    http://www.premierpaperwriting.com/

Aurine Cindrella

You can focus all that hatred in how you are thinking in improving the system. Don't just write your subjective opinion but write it with something that backs up your train of thought. Some colleges like to have students that like to challenge the status quo, make your negatives look like positives and show that you have a pretty good idea in how execute that plan. But if your hatred for America has no basis, try going abroad to another country and then I bet you anything that you will miss this great nation. Note: I was born and raised in a different country, when I first moved here. I used to hate America too. Then I went back to my country and realized how great America is. I am back in the US. I love both countries, in two different ways. In this nation you can be whoever you want to be (hipster, latino, tattooed person, religious, etc) and no one will ever stop you.

Liana Herrera

A few problems: 1) Your feelings aren't really creative or constructive. Academics aren't about an emotional catharsis.  If that's what you seek, your best bet is art. 2) Most institutions, of all types, are self-reinforcing. People want to feel good about them. If you're trying to get in from the outside, resistance to your approach would be natural. 3) Potentially and especially if you're not American, in 2012, your application would be more likely to be reported to Homeland Security, particularly if it contains perceived threats of violence. 4) Capitalism isn't really American, and these days it's anti-American, because it's been too successful overall (not successful systemically for people, but successful in conquering all other systems). Like communists, libertarians (the most 'free-market' capitalists, short of anarchists) aren't interested in the integrity of national boundaries.  This is a potent potential refocus of your essay. Whatever case you make, make it intelligent.  That's what is needed.

Johann Saltzman

Bluntly, because you don't want the admissions committee to think that you have a mental health issue.  It makes you a bad candidate.

Carolyn Russ

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