<p>
[quote]
(Got some really funny stuff to write 'bout them cows!)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>i've heard you should shy away from humor in college essays, you never know who might not find it funny or even offensive.</p>
<p>I promised myself that not so much as the tip of my smallest toe would enter into these waters again...</p>
<p>But... I think I can offer an informed opinion on the subject of humorous essays/personal statements.</p>
<p>I will resist the urgent and excruciating temptation to offer myself and a half-dozen others as examples of success achieved either due to, or else in spite of, using humor in an application, and to then conclude from my self-selected and anecdotal sampling that whatever our experience has been is the "norm." And if I disallow myself from such a faulty bit of reasoning (for which there is a common Latin term -- but I am not allowed to use Latin, even in a forum flooded with Ivy Leaguers), then I clearly cannot use such a "norm" as proof that anyone who relies on a more traditional picture of admissions is mean-spirited and [insert insulting adjective of choice here: condescending, full of BS, petty, meaningless, pretentious, etc.].</p>
<p>So, I will only offer the experience of myself and a few others as an indication that humor in college applications CAN work. It may not work, but it CAN. Two of my own children, two nieces, one nephew, and several students whom I have tutored and whose application essays I have read/critiqued have used essays that were overtly humorous, and they have been accepted to the following institutions, among others:</p>
<p>Amherst
Carleton (with "early write")
Williams
Brown
Swarthmore (with unadvertised "Presidential Scholar" no-loans fin. package)
Harvey Mudd (with partial merit scholarship)
The US Air Force Academy
Princeton (but NOT Yale or MIT)
DePauw
Dartmouth (not recent)
Columbia Medical School
Vanderbilt
Middlebury</p>
<p>I have to agree with Shraf in principle, although I wouldn't take it as far as he does. Humor is a risky strategy, and should be used only with great care.</p>
<p>The following points are only my personal opinions, but I think they can be of use :</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The absolute first requirement for a humorous essay's success is that it be a genuine reflection of the writer's normal style and personality.</p></li>
<li><p>The humor must be sophisticated enough to appeal to adults. Yet, adcoms will see right through it if the essay is not actually written by a high-school student. Have brutally honest (and savvy) people read over any essay that attempts humor. Believe them if they say it doesn't work; don't argue with them, and stubbornly explain why it really IS funny.</p></li>
<li><p>A humorous essay will work best if it is supported by a letter of recommendation that underscores the applicant's wit as a personal quality.</p></li>
<li><p>A humorous essay needs to have some actual substance contained therein.</p></li>
<li><p>A humorous approach is high-risk. On the other hand, it can be high-reward. If you are a student who genuinely writes with wit and style, and if your SATs and GPA are not inspiring confidence in you, then why not show yourself to best advantage in the essay? </p></li>
<li><p>Nothing is much WORSE than FAILED humor. (see #2 and #5 above) Adcoms will wince at leaden or frivolous humor. Or at any bad jokes in general.</p></li>
<li><p>Did I mention that the applicant should be a truly amusing kid? Not a "class clown" type, but Oscar Wilde re-incarnate? Did I say that a humorous essay will NOT work (IMHO) if it is not genuine, a natural reflection of the writer's personality and style, "of a piece" with the rest of the application? (Did I make it obvious enough that I am being repetitive for the sake of grinding in my point, even though you all probably got it the first time around?)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I am on record as saying that I believe that it was her essay that got my daughter into Columbia (although, of course, who really knows?). DDs essay was unmistakably intended to be humorous. BonneFille, if you would like, I can pm you her essay, as well as the overtly humorous essays of three others who have, within the last three years, been admitted to Princeton, Brown, and Vanderbilt. I would be happy to look over your own essay -- once the cows do something that is sufficiently amusing.</p>
<p>Genuine good luck to all RD applicants, ED deferees, and ED applicants who are now working on applications to schools that will be lucky to get them!</p>
<p>Actually, I wasn't really planning on writing humorous essay about cows; comment was for purposes of post here, not essay title etc. Yet, thinking of it.</p>
<p>I might-could want to read sample humorous essays. What is PM?</p>
<p>thank you ael for your admission assesment...im a regular decision applicant and your post helped me...we're actually quite similar</p>
<p>I agree with piglette about humorous essays. To sum up: it is high-risk, high-reward. Try it ONLY if you give it to some adults who don't know you well, and if they crack up and tell you it's amazing. There are few things an admissions officer would like to see more than an essay that accomplishes, at once, telling something revealing about the applicant and amusing them at the same time. But something that really isn't very funny, or comes off as childish, is the absolute kiss of death. (Think about it: how obnoxious/arrogant do we all find people who act like they're a lot funnier than they are?)</p>
<p>so good luck BonneFille... j'espere tu peux ecrire pour la universite avec plus d'esprit et moins de depression que tu as ecrit ici.</p>
<p>Thanks for comments. Denzera, merci mille fois pour vos sentiments ici exprimes!</p>
<p>Now I AM kind of thinking about writing a humorous essay. But standards seem VERY high. (Figured out pm and read essay by Pig's daughter. Have to say I see why she got into Col. Drop-dead funny.)</p>
<p>Will post on other parts of board about where to apply, etc. Don;t mean to take over this thread. Congrats to all. Deferrees - are we all feeling better now?</p>
<p>[ size=+1][ color=blue][ b]Accepted [ /b][ /color][ /size]</p>
<p>[ b]Stats:[ /b][ list]
[ *] SAT:Math 640 CR 540 Writing 670
[ *] SAT IIs:MAth II 570 Spanish 710 Writing 670
[ *] GPA:3.5
[ *] Rank:Top 20%
[ *] Other stats:
[ /list][ b]Subjective:[ /b][ list]
[ *] Essays: Excellent
[ *] Teacher Recs:great
[ *] Counselor Rec:great
[ *] Hook (if any):none
[ /list][ b]Location/Person:[ /b][ list]
[ *] State or Country:Michigan
[ *] School Type:Public
[ *] Ethnicity:Hipanic/Black
[ *] Gender:M
[ /list][ b]Other Factors:[ /b]
[ b]General Comments:[ /b]</p>
<p>
[quote]
[ *] Ethnicity:Hipanic/Black
[/quote]
this cannot possibly be the only thing that did it. congrats though.</p>
<p>*Decision: Accepted *</p>
<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT: 2350 (770 M, 800 W, 780 R)
[</em>] SAT IIs: Bio 740, French 740, English Lit 780
[<em>] GPA: 4.1
[</em>] Rank: ??
[<em>] Other stats: hmm, 10 APs total
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[</em>] Essays: great, made my dad cry
[<em>] Teacher Recs: one fantastic, one iffy but probably good
[</em>] Counselor Rec: great
[<em>] Hook (if any): legacy?
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[</em>] State or Country: california
[<em>] School Type: private
[</em>] Ethnicity: half korean/half white
[li] Gender: female[/li][/ul]Other Factors: yearbook editor, peer support leader, admissions committee, etc. etc. etc.
General Comments: the letter's pinned to my bulletin board :)</p>
<p>wow im so jealous of everyone that was accepted. columbia's my dream school...i would seriously do anything to get in! haha just waiting for my rejection letter sometime in early april -.-</p>
<p>papas fritas is like my twin!</p>