Applying to Business School (definately gun related)

[atek3]

So I'm applying to Business School for Fall of 2006. The schools are looking for leadership experience, community service, and outside interests.

For me all three can be summed up easily:

guns, guns, and guns.

As a UC-Berkeley Student, I was a co-VP of one of the Cal Gun Club. minion82 and I restarted the Berkeley Gun Club after it disbanded. I organized numerous trips to the range where I've taught countless novice shooters the fundementals of safety, marksmanship, and armed self-defense. Several of the trips I posted here on THR.
One such trip was affiliated with the Berkeley FreeSkool, a learning collective that encourages those with skills or knowledge to share those skills with fellow community members. I organized a course called "Firearms; Use, Safety, and Laws." Many Berkeleyans have limited knowledge about firearm safety. I sought to rectify this by teaching a free class to many area residents. In addition I've taught similar classes to many different groups of people including co-op residents, college students, and others.

My interests that I've shown a large degree of commitment? NRA High Power Rifle (ranked expert), IPSC (I've shot maybe 20 matchs in the last year and a half), reloading.

How do I apply to Business school while playing up the responsibility, leadership, and community service angle, why playing down the "who the hell is this crazy gun nut"-factor. This might be less of a problem applying to Purdue and OSU, but might be a major deal breaker for Dartmouth, UNC, Duke, and UC-Berkeley (Haas school of business), and other schools with a liberal outlook.

thanks,
atek3

 

[geekWithA.45]

My advice:

First, write it up in the complete abstract, without mention of your dirty, aberrent secret.

Focus on the skills of leadership and organization that you had to learn, sharpen, and employ.

Then take another pass, and _gently_ work in a light level of details, to make it concrete, and prevent any assertion that you've hid the truth.

It might take a few rounds to "dial it in", but you will then be left with two complete pieces that can be wielded as appropriate.

 

[TonkinTwentyMil]

Recommendations:

1. Join the ACLU.

2. Then, write a letter to ACLU's national HQ that (a) urges them to immediately investigate "political discrimination in the workplace and academia," and (b) where you will personally volunteer time to help spearhead the ACLU's efforts on this.

3. Write letters to your Congressman and your 2 California U.S. Senators (Feinstein & Boxer -- yechh!) requesting they convene hearings re "political discrimination in the workplace" for the purpose of crafting subsequent legislation to curtail such reprehensible and, umm, politically-incorrect stains upon our society's fabric.

3. Join multiple Gun-Rights organizations... and get letters of appreciation from them and any other groups/persons for your helpful activism and community service.

4. Find a respected, Gun-Rights knowledgeable lawyer and have him write a letter advising you of relevant Constitutional issues and case precedents supporting your right to be an advocate/activist in this area... and rights to seek legal redress (lawsuits) in the event of de facto discrimination for exercising your liberties. (It'll be worth the $$ he'll charge you.)

5. Include copies of all the above correspondence as supplemental exhibits (to document your unflinching leadership) in your B-school application.

In short, put THEM on the spot. Do NOT duck the issue. Boldly and unapologetically make THEM aware of your high degree of civic and political awareness... and your clenched fist ready to smash 'em in the face if they play cute, politically-driven academic games.