So I wrote my essay based on a prompt and I have a response that’s mostly a joke with a story that I think checks off the creative+memorable boxes, but I don’t go into any philosophical or intellectual points. Should I be worried? I really like my response, but I’m thinking I might have to change it to show them more why I want to go to U Chicago and why I would fit (by fitting in intellectual stuff).
Edit: I also want to add that my “story” is about how I had already thought of the phrase I made up, does it sound bad/less able to think outside of the box if I had already thought of it before I had seen the prompt?
My DD was accepted for class of '22 with a very witty, fun essay (mispelled major prompt), not intellectual. Her regional admissions officer wrote her a congratulatory note and mentioned how her essay made him laugh. I think it might be refreshing for them to read a funny essay while most other ones are trying to be deep and intellectual. Just speculating from one data point, but it worked for my DD!!
My uncommon essay was a cringe-inducing historical mashup.
You don’t need to figure out the meaning of life in a short admissions essay. If that was the standard, our philosophy department would quickly be out of work - or else we’d have a very small class of 2022.
A sense of humor is often viewed as a sign of maturity if tasteful, gentle & insightful.
Creative intelligence can be displayed in a variety of ways–and humor is certainly among them.
S did a very witty yet intellectual essay and was well received measured by acceptances to several very strong schools a few yrs ago. I would categorize it as “clever”. Showing intellect in a humorous way.