Have you ever read an essay that was truly funny?
"Yes, I have read truly funny essays and greatly wish to read more of them. They are refreshing to read and generally come from students who are willing to take risks. Funny essays are not easily crafted and differ from essays that might simply include a joke."
- Bruce Walker, Director of Admissions, University of Texas-Austin
"Why I love Jesus, which was printed in 50 College Essays that Worked in the mid-80s. The writer took a chance, but pulled it off in a humorous, poignant essay."
- Tony Strickland, Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
"Occasionally, an admission office stumbles upon a truly funny essay. However, there are infinitely more attempts to use humor in the context of an essay than there are successes. An essay is an opportunity to add personal expression to an admission application. It is an opportunity to bring attention to a specific attribute, talent, ability, experience, or character element that may help an admission committee to better understand an applicant. Often, attempts at humor result in masking the truly unique or individual characteristics that an admission committee seek to determine. Our best advice at humorous treatments of the essay is to proceed very carefully. They are often ineffective and typically result in providing little additional insight into the attributes of an applicant."
- Michael Steidel, Director of Admission, Carnegie Mellon University
"To begin, I have to tell you that questions about the essay are a close second to questions about the SAT. Yet, I ca not tell you a single applicant in thirteen years of admissions work who has been admitted based solely on the essay. (I can tell you a few who have been rejected, though.) I have read some truly funny essays. But I hate to give them out because I know that next year someone will try to adapt it as his or her own! But, the one that comes immediately to mind is one about lessons this guy learned while weightlifting. The struggle with the weight above his chest. The symbolism of social struggles in his life. On and on. It cracked me up. (He got in -- because he was also very bright and a real leader.)"
- Roland M. Allen, Associate Director of Admissions, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
What is the worst thing a student can do on his or her application?
"The worst thing a student can do on his or her application is to be less than truthful in providing information requested in the application for admission. The entire admission process is an opportunity for a college or university to assess the relative strengths, talents, and abilities of a prospective student. The integrity of that assessment is dependent upon the truthful reporting of student performance, extracurricular participation, leadership, written expression, and recommendations provided in support of and on behalf of the application of a student. When information, secondary-school performance and testing records, writing samples, and recommendations are inaccurate or not truly reflective of the applicant, the overall admission assessment is out of focus and, as a result, inaccurate."
- Michael Steidel, Director of Admission, Carnegie Mellon University
"The worst thing an applicant can do is not take the completion of the application seriously and/or make the mistake of believing the admissions committee will understand the depth of their contributions to their school or community without the need for clarification .... This includes the use of initials of obscure (at least to the reader) organizations without spelling out what the organization is about and what their contribution to it was. Of course the application should be on time and neatly completed."
- Bruce Walker, Director of Admissions, University of Texas-Austin
"One of the worse thing an applicant can do is to use the ideas of someone else as his or her own in the essay. You might think that this idea you picked up from a talk, or on the Web, or around the lunchroom is just the best and most unique you have ever heard. But, if it is not your own, my bet is that tons of other people have picked up the same tip. I see it every year when reading essays. For example: writing your own obituary; or the one about doing superhuman things, except having not gone to college. Everyone has heard these before. Be yourself. Don not borrow what you think is creative or unique."
- Roland M. Allen, Associate Director of Admissions, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
"Probably to try to be too cute or patronizing, or to try to come across as someone he or she obviously is not."
- Tony Strickland, Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
If you exceed the college application essay by, say, 200 words or so, is it held against you?
"At Carnegie Mellon, each college essay is expected to be roughly a page in length. We do not count words in an essay. Should a college essay become too long, it is likely that it will not get the close attention a student might think it deserves. As a result, it is best to stay close to the targeted length specified by the college or university on the application."
- Michael Steidel, Director of Admission, Carnegie Mellon University
"It is best to follow the directions given on a college application. If you have more to say, attach it as a separate essay or addendum."
- Roland M. Allen, Associate Director of Admissions, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
"It surely is not a plus in the admissions process. At best, the student is taking a risk that may be successful if the writing is truly outstanding. The ability to follow directions and address the topic concisely are both to be considered attributes in the admissions process."
- Daniel J. Saracino, Assistant Provost for Enrollment, University of Notre Dame
"We do not specify a length; I have seen ten-page essays that were too short and one-page essays that were too long."
- Tony Strickland, Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
