I’m currently working on my essays and I’m starting to think that they might be a little too tongue-in-cheek and weird…generally speaking, does anyone know how H admissions officers feel about quirky/cheeky essays? (As in, I know that U Chicago has a rep for favoring quirkiness in their essays-- does Harvard, if at all, have a similar rep?)
Generally speaking, what a 17 year old thinks is quirky, cheeky and funny doesn’t go over well with the 26 to 60 year old crowd. Which is why it’s recommended that student’s don’t attempt humor in their essays. Before submitting your essays, I would have a trusted adult – preferably one of your recommendation writers – look them over to get their feedback.
Keep the quirk loose the smirk. If your toungue-and-cheakyness comes in as insulting or rude tone it down but don’t erase that personal flair you can deliver to Harvard admissions.
It might come across as you trying really hard to stand out or make them fall in love with you, and because of that it might fall flat. I suggest making it more serious (cut the humor-- what’s funny to a teenager isn’t funny to an adult who has to read 50 more essays) while still keeping the personality; make it seem like you talking to your favorite teacher, not your best friend.