<p>Just by reading MIT's website, it seems that they (or whoever their writers are) have a good sense of humor. They also mention a few times that you can be humorous, if that's what suits your personality, and they write in a very casual manner (even on the application itself). What I'm wondering is, how risky is it to do a humorous essay? Do a lot of people do that? Will it be cliche or unique? Well-received or looked upon scornfully?</p>
<p>Not that I really have a snowball's chance in hell of being accepted, but I'm applying anyway (also to CalTech! Shh.. don't tell them!). lol</p>
<p>Well, it's more of a short answer question (must be < 100 words), so I don't have the space to make it insightful... which is why I thought a little humor would fit in nicely since my main essay is very serious. :-/</p>
<p>Apply EA. If you are deferred I am almost positive that they don't mind an additional essay when considering you in the RD pool. Write one that contrasts the serious one or modify a good one that you wrote from another school.</p>
<p>Just think about it, they must get pretty bored reading 30 essays a day about what kids think that MIT wants to hear....' love for science, love for math, etc,' whereas a humorous essay that shows a sincere love for anything will not only be fun to read, but will also set your application apart.
The kids I know who are best at math/science are most passionate about something else. They still enjoy school, but it is the application that they crave.</p>
<p>I wrote humorous essays to all colleges I applied to. I was admitted to MIT, Caltech, Emory, and UVA. I was not admitted to Harvard.</p>
<p>My tech school applications included an essay where I opened with how I attended "remedial math classes." I worked in a nursing home to earn college money, and one of my patients had been a math tutor before she developed Alzheimer's, and she believed me to be one of her students. </p>
<p>I actually got a handwritten note in the mail from the admissions officer who read my essay, thanking me for writing an essay that deviated from the standard fare that everyone writes.</p>
Not that I really have a snowball's chance in hell of being accepted, but I'm applying anyway
[/quote]
Hey, you know what? That actually would be a funny topic for an essay -- what a 'snowball's chance in hell' would be, and how you could prove it scientifically. Sort of like cold fusion in a water glass...only...not</p>
<p>Try for what makes you feel most comfortable, and what you feel will best express yourself.</p>
<p>I got completely rejected from MIT though, and I included some pretty funny material i'd written (at least everyone I meet says it's funny...). So I guess it's different for everyone. Hopefully the admissions officer will understand your humor, because sometimes what teens will think is funny older people might not.</p>
<p>Might be because one of the articles I sent in was "how to slap a girl" or something like that. I wrote it before the "*****slap method" skit featuring Ludacris on SNL... On hindsight I don't think the admissions people thought it was funny...oh well.</p>