Should you put activities that could be controversial in app

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midgely: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 9; Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2008 1:43 pm; Location: California

by midgely » Sun Sep 27, 2009 11:03 pm

Hi everyone!

I have volunteered as a canvasser for Obama and as a phone banker for Kerry. Should I include this in the activities/achievements section? On the one hand, it shows my commitment to activism and my community, but on the other, it could be politically charged, and given that I did my undergrad at Berkeley, I could come off looking like a radical

No matter how unbiased the readers want to be, we all know that emotions are a big part of politics, and it could subconsciously give a reader a bad impression of me. I also didn't have any big leadership roles in these activities, I was just a volunteer. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Source: Beat The GMAT — The Application Process | Sun Sep 27, 2009 11:03 pm

Sophia007: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 225; Joined: Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:21 amFollowed by: 10 members; Location: Phoenix, AZ / Houston, TX; Thanked: 40 times

by Sophia007 » Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:41 pm

Hi midgely:

These are some sensitive topics - agreed. While picking activities for your resume, always remember that you are trying to put your BEST foot forward as a potential MBA candidate who plans to be a future leader later. Based on that, I'd say first add all the leadership stuff you've actually done first in chronological order. Then, if you still have still have space - the rest is suppose to be added. The MBA committee really wants you to first tell them if you have leadership experience, not just activities, not just a participant but someone who actually made a difference in their community, impact in their teams or took an initiative to help benefit some group.

Think along these lines and then add on stuff.

Hope this helps! Good Luck.

Sophia Pathak| Admissions Consultant |

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dragoljubce: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 18; Joined: Sun Sep 20, 2009 6:13 am

by dragoljubce » Wed Oct 07, 2009 5:10 pm

LOL! Most universities are liberal, so volunteering for Dems is a plus

Before you put that on, do make sure that the school you are applying to has majority of faculity that leans left.

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