Dangerous Essay topic?

questionablecadet

USMA 2027
Joined
Sep 13, 2021
Messages
16
Hello,

I am working on my essays for my Class of 2027 application, and I was hoping to receive some opinions on a topic. For the "Difficulty" essay, #2 I believe, would it be a bad idea for me to discuss my religion? This has been a huge part of my life and I think it would be a good way to show who I am, but obviously there are some caveats. Is this a dangerous topic to approach and should be avoided altogether or can it be a valuable piece of my application? I thought about describing a difficult point without actually saying what religion I am, but this seems vague and as if I don't take pride in my story. My religion does not interfere with my ability to serve properly, so I can't imagine it would cause any issues. I was hoping to receive some opinions on this.

Thank you!
 
Hello,

I am working on my essays for my Class of 2027 application, and I was hoping to receive some opinions on a topic. For the "Difficulty" essay, #2 I believe, would it be a bad idea for me to discuss my religion? This has been a huge part of my life and I think it would be a good way to show who I am, but obviously there are some caveats. Is this a dangerous topic to approach and should be avoided altogether or can it be a valuable piece of my application? I thought about describing a difficult point without actually saying what religion I am, but this seems vague and as if I don't take pride in my story. My religion does not interfere with my ability to serve properly, so I can't imagine it would cause any issues. I was hoping to receive some opinions on this.

Thank you!
I would go into it. It’s who you are and that is what West Point is trying to assess with these essays. I discussed my demographics in mine last year.
 
Does viewing the essay question through your "religious lens" allow you to best answer the question? If the answer is yes, then don't be afraid to discuss it. USMA does not use your religion as a weapon against you.
 
Hello,

I am working on my essays for my Class of 2027 application, and I was hoping to receive some opinions on a topic. For the "Difficulty" essay, #2 I believe, would it be a bad idea for me to discuss my religion? This has been a huge part of my life and I think it would be a good way to show who I am, but obviously there are some caveats. Is this a dangerous topic to approach and should be avoided altogether or can it be a valuable piece of my application? I thought about describing a difficult point without actually saying what religion I am, but this seems vague and as if I don't take pride in my story. My religion does not interfere with my ability to serve properly, so I can't imagine it would cause any issues. I was hoping to receive some opinions on this.

Thank you!
Great question, it’s great to see that you’re being careful and meticulous to submit the best package possible. But I will say, here is the best advice I can give for service academy applicants to all academies:
Do not try to make yourself look like what you think will look good for an admissions board. They want genuine responses, not what you think they want to hear, and that goes for every step of the application. So in interviews, on essays, and in general, don’t be worried about if it’s a bad idea to talk about something that has great impact and place in your life.

I know your question was a little more specific to this particular essay, and I apologize if it seems like I was calling you out, that’s not my intention. But please please please be genuine, and if that is a huge part of your life, then I think you can write a very unique, compelling, and frankly kickass essay to submit to them. Do not settle for a topic or answer that may not be as good of a reflection of you and your experiences over worries that they won’t like it.

When you present your true self and experiences in the package you submit, I also think you do yourself a favor. It gave me comfort with West Point that they chose me after submitting an application and essays that were the best and most truthful representation of who I was, what I did, and what I was passionate about. On the converse, it actually gave me comfort with USNA as well. I received multiple noms to Navy, but in the end was not chosen for appointment, which I think ultimately meant that it was just not where I was meant to be, and gave me confidence that USMA is the place I am meant to be.

Again your question required a much simpler answer, but it reflected a common worry of many applicants over being seen as less qualified for including something they were passionate about, or for sharing a very big and personal part of their life. If someone perceives it bad, then their loss.
 
I’d have someone whose judgement you trust, who is not religious and not a church goer, read your essay after it’s completed.

Does it read like a SA essay or one for divinity school?

Does it come off read well and express the best of you well to those who do not share your religious views.

Id never pick an essay where I talked about my politics. Especially if I were a true believer as far as politics. Politics and religion often go hand in hand as far as keeping your own views after graduation.

Have someone not a true believer read and give you advice and feedback.

If you did not think this a possibly tricky topic you would have never made the thread and asked the question.

”someone perceives it bad, then their loss”

Nope then it’s your loss .
 
I think writing about a challenge you faced in your faith journey and how you overcame it would be helpful; however, you may wish to tack on bit about how facing a challenge and overcoming it will help you be a better leader of soldiers.
 
Write the essay only you could write. That means it shouldnt be so generic that it could apply to other people.

Also essays don't have to be confessions...for example some people might have difficulty with mental health but that is not something one has to confess to just because it may have happened (more for college essays than SA, but still)

Make sure it doesn't come across as being a victim or pot-stirrer

Keep in mind what admissions committees are trying to figure out...how you deal with adversity and how you could apply that to leading soldiers.

So "Everybody hated me because I am Jewish" comes across victimy.

"My religion has Saturday as a sabbath day instead of sunday so I had to work with my team to figure out how i could best serve the soccer team while still honoring my religion so I worked with the league to make sure Friday games ended before sundown" shows how you are part of a team
 
Back
Top