Communist undertones in College application essay?

[Aspiring Humanist]

I plan on writing my common application essay about poverty and my experiences with it, and being a communist myself the essay will obviously have heavy anti capitalist messages in it. Is this a bad idea and will it scare colleges away? Not going to start ranting about production relations but going to talk about consumerist culture etc

[Catmatic Leftist]

Don't, unless it is EXCEPTIONALLY compelling (i.e. something similar to the Rodney King incident). Bourgeois colleges don't want to be reminded about their privileged hegemony, and talking about race, gender, economic circumstance, or sexual orientation makes it sound like (to them) that you're playing the "(insert form of cultural identity here) card" and they'll promptly reject your application. Pretty much any college applicant sites and books and recommendations always advise against talking about these kinds of experiences.

Just talk about an interest or hobby of yours and tie it back into the essay. It's probably the best way to go.

[Aussie_Leftist]

in my experience universities are VERY sympathetic to leftist ideas. i think the communist messages would help rather than hinder.

[Commissar Rykov]

Most of the papers I have written during my Academic Career have been extremely left wing and I have never had any trouble.

[¿Que?]

While I agree with the last two posters, I think for a formal university application, it's generally considered good form to tone down the rhetoric. It also depends on the school. Check out the department you're applying for, and read up on some of the profesor's published literature. Then you get an idea of what they're looking for.

[Commissar Rykov]

While I agree with the last two posters, I think for a formal university application, it's generally considered good form to tone down the rhetoric. It also depends on the school. Check out the department you're applying for, and read up on some of the profesor's published literature. Then you get an idea of what they're looking for.
I didn't even catch that it was an application essay. You are right about toning it down there as I don't see it being worth your time to do something like that. For some reason I was thinking of just writing essays, research papers, etc. in general probably because I had to hammer out three this week. Brain....fried.:bored:

[o well this is ok I guess]

I didn't even catch that it was an application essay. You are right about toning it down there as I don't see it being worth your time to do something like that. For some reason I was thinking of just writing essays, research papers, etc. in general probably because I had to hammer out three this week. Brain....fried.:bored: How bad is it?
I've been thinking of going.

[Veovis]

Sure, just don't use the S word or the C word.

[Commissar Rykov]

How bad is it?
I've been thinking of going.
I have overstretched myself this semester in hopes of knocking out a lot of classes required for my Degree so I feel a little, "Meh." at this point. I would say my experience overall has been quite good though it largely depends on the professors. This semester is pretty boring compared to the personalities I had last semester so I kind of feel bored. If you can find entertaining professors it usually helps make the class more enjoyable at least in my humble opinion. I specifically have enjoyed my professors who have eviscerated people in class for reactionary views like homophobia, racism, etc. I just enjoy the stammering as the student caught in it tries to think of a proper excuse.

[smk]

just jump through the hoops.

[thesadmafioso]

The two college application essays I've penned both involved a direct defense and outright promotion of communism, both were rather well received. If you advocate for socialism in an effective manner, I would say that it will probably help you more than anything else as you are displaying a comparatively advanced understanding of an ideology which is so horribly distorted and misconstrued by many. It also denotes a sense of responsibility and empathetic thought as it shows a desire to better the world on your part, which is something most liberal college admissions boards go for. I mean, it's not like they are going to agree with the precise content of what you expose, but the sentiment is something they could easily sympathize with in this context.

Your knowledge of communism is an asset, don't squander it out of some fear that it is otherwise.

[Manic Impressive]

I don't know much about Universities especially in the US, but this did remind me of a discussion I had with a lecturer a few weeks ago. He was basically saying he didn't like students who were coming in with pre-formed ideas but was looking for students who are initially asking challenging questions.

Bare in mind that this is second hand information

[thriller]

Keep the overtly anti-capitalist pro worker run society to a minimal on the college application essay. But they do love the anti-racist anti-sexist anti-homophobic stuff because they get more funding for diversity. And if they know their students are tolerant and accepting, they can pull it off better. Wait until your essays for class come up, then rant all you want about communism and such. I was actually able to convince my anthropology of globalization teacher last semester that Joseph Stiglitz is a bourgeois fuck. She changed her outlook on him with my insight :D

[Nox]

A hint of leftism and some anti-discrimination too can add a nice touch.

Try not to mention the word 'Communist' though, especially if you are applying for a college in America.

[Binh]

Why not stick to condemning capitalism, Wall Street, bailouts, etc.?

It also depends on what college. I assume not Bob Jones University? :)

[Binh]

Why not stick to condemning capitalism, Wall Street, bailouts, etc.?

It also depends on what college. I assume not Bob Jones University? :)

[Agent Ducky]

in my experience universities are VERY sympathetic to leftist ideas. i think the communist messages would help rather than hinder.

True this. Plus, they want the essay to reflect "you as a person".... so you don't wanna be supressing that. I think universities are probably pretty used to having leftist applicants. It's kinda what college students do....

[Aspiring Humanist]

Thanks for all the responses everyone.
As I said I don't plan on going too deep into theory or start condemning or defending communists or anything like that just going to explain the reasons why I am a communist without saying communism or alluding to any communists
Again, planning on a more anti-capitalist essay than a pro-communist one

[Sam Varriano]

My essay was basically about how I plan to use what I learn in college to overthrow capitalism, but then again the college I applied to actually has classes on Marxist theory so maybe I'm in a differen situation.

[Jake14]

Sam, may I ask what college that is?

[thriller]

My essay was basically about how I plan to use what I learn in college to overthrow capitalism, but then again the college I applied to actually has classes on Marxist theory so maybe I'm in a differen situation.

Fuck! I want to go to that college!

[Red Economist]

Whilst I haven't been in a similar situation, I imagine taking a 'left-leaning' (not out right communist/socialist point of view) would be good for some courses and not others.

Economics (the home of neo-liberalism) would be almost certianly a no.

lectureres from a Sociology course (which will use watered down versions of Marx's theories) would probably appreciate the independent interest and also be left-leaning liberals any way, and look on it favourably.

A Politics Course, not sure, but I imagine showing that you can make 'informed' decisions (by providing evidence/experience) about particular political theories would go down well.

[Sam Varriano]

Sam, may I ask what college that is?

Evergreen State

[NewLeft]

I got perfect after writing a major rebuttal on agriculture and its relation to capitalism.. I doubt it will affect your chances, but just try to avoid dogma and arrogance.. That will probably turn off people.