Is it okay to use forms like “if you thought I’d say xxx…” in an essay? There’s one essay I want to write like that, but on others I want to keep a more formal tone. Are the AOs going to think it’s weird if I use one tone in one essay and the other in others? (i.e. are they going to think that it’s a different person writing because I change the tone? I mean I’m just changing the tone not my entire writing style, it should still sound like me)
I don’t think it would be weird, but make sure that it works. There are some things that work in a speech that don’t work in an essay. That being said I think the informal tone that you use is just fine and what they’d expect.
For instance for my main common app essay, I used humor and storytelling for the essay but used a different tone for the “Why XXX School” essays because of the format of the essay. It is not weird at all, and just shows that you are capable of different writing styles.
Don’t make them work too hard to get to what they need to learn about you. It’s not a hs essay for a teacher who knows you, it’s for admission. Usually a good idea to pare the excess. A little humor is ok. But remember these are adult strangers. There’s a difference between effective casual and too laid back, not careful, writing as if talking to peers.
I don’t think writing style makes a difference but I don’t want to be lectured to either. I would not try to do too much and be to cute, thinking it will be unique. You have a very short period of time for me to learn about you. I would rather learn about you and why you want to fit into the college community then your writing style.
FYI… I just read my sons first year college writing papers… Since they were left in our den for some reason . Ha… I was surprised how easily he was able to get his points across since he wasn’t under pressure to write a paper to impress anyone. The words and intelligence just flowed naturally. Do that!