<p>Ok, I know they say "don't try funny if you're not funny."</p>
<p>I can do funny. But...it may apply only to those of a certain age and/or personality. I'm not sure how safe I should play it.</p>
<p>For example, I'm working on my Tufts app right now. For the one where they ask you to describe yourself in 200 words, I say things such as "I play piano (shocker!)" [I'm a Chinese girl...], that I have "ridiculous micropipette skill," that "my goal in life is basically to learn Japanese" cos I'm obsessed with manga. Is that stuff acceptable? </p>
<p>Even more importantly...how frivolous can I get with an actual essay topic, e.g. what you would want the 44th president to address in 100 days, can I say that I think he should make Malice Mizer (epic Jrock band) reunite and perform in the US? I mean, I feel like I could write a solid, funny essay on that but is that a bit too...out there? >_<</p>
<p>Be funny but don't overdo it; sometimes the writer comes off as unintentionally ignorant and bigoted. Have friends and teachers read it and ask them what they think of it.</p>
<p>One has to be very careful with humor because people's reaction to humor varies so much. How people respond depends on things like their age, region of the country among other things. I didn't find any of the things that the OP is considering including in her essays to be funny.</p>
<p>Also, I was kind of surprised about your piano statement. Although it was clearly light-hearted, it may give off the impression that you don't actually care about the piano (this would be disproved by uber-awards, etc.) or have been pushed into it..."obviously."</p>
<p>Creativity is appreciated, but from what I see, it's borderline (to the adcoms) not giving the process and the essays the respect they deserve, i.e. you don't care about it that much.</p>
<p>me neither northstarmom (thinking it was funny) and I also agree it seems like blowing off the essays...</p>
<p>personally, in an essay, I think funny only works if it is witty or clever. racist jokes (saying its a shocker you play piano because you're chinese) probably are not a very good idea. And your other ideas (for example, goal in life to learn japanese because you are obsessed with manga) would be confusing, because it is probably not your "goal in life" so they wouldn't be sure if you are adding that in there because you genuinely want to learn japanese or what.</p>
<p>I don't think "silly/ridiculous," "bigoted," "high school," "conceited/arrogant" etc. would be any of the words to describe the type of humor you would want to include in your essays. Clever, witty, and especially universal humor is the type you want to go for. For example, a new, fresh and humorous way to look at a common problem, situation, or occurrence that everyone has to deal with. Make sure the jokes are scattered in to keep the reader interested and engaged. Personally I believe they shouldn't be the SUBJECT of your essay, because they want to know your true personality (of course, you can make an essay reflective of your true personality using mostly jokes, but I find it harder). My only advice is use wisely and sparingly.</p>
<p>Definitely try to keep in mind who will be reading your essay. Some things people will only find funny if they can relate. I am also a Chinese girl, so I can understand your piano humor. However, I find that kind of "Asian stereotype" humor a little cliched, only because I grew up in a community with a relatively large Asian population and I hear that kind of joke a lot. However, if it has a clear purpose other than sarcasm/irony (maybe you break out of the Asian mold in other ways, or you are especially proud of your Asian side), then go ahead and use it.</p>
<p>I didn't find the Japanese band idea to be funny because I have never listened to Jrock. This seems like the kind of thing only fans would find funny. To juxtapose a little-known band with such a serious topic as the inaugural address may seem shallow and irrelevant.</p>
<p>Definitely definitely shy away from the race-related jokes. And run your ideas past adults, not just your friends because they probably have the same ideas of humor that you have. The type of humor that you use in your essay has to be much more sophisticated than what would pass as funny in everyday speech ("ridiculous micropipette skill"). Don't overdo the hyperbole and sarcasm.</p>
<p>PS - most of the stuff in my original post is not, er, real...I had to change it significantly b/c putting my real information would be a bit personal, and would instantly reveal my identity to people who know me...so in my haste to modify things, I realize a few of my examples sound ridiculous. lol. for example, I'm not actually a huge fan of malice mizer -_- (but Gackt is cool! for um, any jpop knowledgeables out there)</p>
<p>I think puns and wordplay are acceptable, but I wouldn't push it with the content or commentary.</p>
<p>I don't know, I've always been partial to a good pun. Or a good racist joke mixed with a pun. And something tells me clever wordplay would hint at a proficiency for the English language.</p>
<p>An excellent, humorous college essay that I saw was written by a girl who wrote how she enjoyed running even though she described herself as chubby and awkward. What made the essay stand out was the humor combined with her willingness to persist in a hobby that she enjoyed even though she wasn't a natural at it. It reflected a self confident, assertive, independent personality.</p>
<p>Instead of using "in-crowd" examples such as the Malice Mizer one (that sounds rather juvenile, even for someone like me, who is interested in Jrock), you should describe yourself with a natural warmth that shows off a quirky personality, aka subtle humor. You shouldn't rely only on your current method, but start working on using descriptions, well placed quips, smart wordplay, etc. If you haven't read "A Modest Proposal" in school, you could try that.</p>
<p>It's also a requirement to understand the medium and audience of an essay - it's the admissions counselors deciding on whether to admit you based on how you would mix well with the school and its potential students. An essay coming off with forced or nonsensical humor signals the admissions counselors that you are probably someone that's uncomfortable in their skin, in my opinion..</p>
<p>and a reminder - see post #11 >_< my examples sound ridiculous b/c they're not real...I'm just afraid of giving out too much identifying info online :]</p>
<p>I would not even attempt to be funny. You have no idea what the mood of the reader will be when he or she picks up your file. We live in times when people are incessantly offended or outraged over whatever their fickle scanners have picked up. Play it safe.</p>
<p>I wrote a humorous essay for my application about a conversation with a deity. It probably went through 15 revisions because it was initially in bad taste. However, humor if written well can pay off big time!</p>
<p>I think humor in essays is really a judgment call, obviously. If you can imagine someone getting offended by it or turned off, then don't write it. If you can genuinely say something is humorous and wouldn't give the wrong impression, then go for it. It's really a case-by-case basis. I'd stay away from racial generalizations, though, since the potential downsides are still fairly probable, and they easily outshine any benefits that may have existed.</p>