being funny in seccondaries

[laya533]

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Is this ok to have a little humor in secondaries or not?

 

[UCLAstudent]

I used humor in a few of my secondaries. I don't think it hurt. Just use caution. Good luck! 🙂

 

[45408]

as long as it doesn't seem like you're being flippant about a serious subject, I don't think it would be bad. I'd use the kind of humor that doesn't seem overt - if they get it, they'll like it, but if they don't get it, they'll just move along instead of going "Was that supposed to be funny?"

 

[ChuckRock]

Should be okay, adcoms are people after all. Don't think I'd have the stones for it though.

 

[Sundarban1]

A gay man, a jewish woman and a panda walk into an emergency room..

 

[jintonic5]

make sure other people who read it find it funny and relevant. a friend of mine asked me to read his personal statement, and not only did i not find it that funny, but i thought he was skirting the issues. wit is absolutely key 😉

 

[silas2642]

Yes, if you're a funny person. If you're not, I wouldn't try to force it.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

The problem with "using humor" in written form is that many people will have trouble detecting your humor. The tone of your writing has to be carefully constructed because the tendency will be to read these applications expecting a serious tone; if you dont use the expected tone, readers may confuse your intentions. I'm sarcastic quite often on this site, and I find that even if I try to make it clear that I'm joking, someone almost always gets offended if I make fun of something they care about. No matter how clear your humor is, some people are simply not going to get it, and you may come across negatively. Just be careful 🙂

 

[Law2Doc]

Yes, if you're a funny person. If you're not, I wouldn't try to force it.

There are also a lot of people who think they are funny, but in fact they are not. Go to any non-headliner comedy club on an open mike night and you will see that this is the case. So have other people read the essay before you try to use humor. Additionally, you will be writing for a group of older professionals, so the kind of humor that gets good laughs with other college age peeps just might not be right for this crowd.

 

[dilated]

Additionally, you will be writing for a group of older professionals, so the kind of humor that gets good laughs with other college age peeps just might not be right for this crowd.

Oh man.. if only I could go back in time and edit those dead baby jokes out of my Loma Linda secondary!! 🙁 🙁 😡

 

[crazy_cavalier]

I just submitted my vcu secondary and threw a little humor in it. I don't like feeling like I have to censor myself. What I wrote is what I am and I yam what I yam, so there 😛

if I get an interview invite there, I'll share what I wrote here ^^

 

[Law2Doc]

Oh man.. if only I could go back in time and edit those dead baby jokes out of my Loma Linda secondary!! 🙁 🙁 😡

lol -- hope you aren't planning on obstetrics 😀

 

[MoosePilot]

I agree with the folks who say that it might not come through well. The word limits are tight, you're trying to say the important stuff in as few words as possible... I'd avoid the humor. Use it during interviews, when they can pick up on your non-verbal cues and your tone of voice.

I cracked a very small joke during my pre-med commitee interview and I think it helped. I joked how I was never nervous... heh.

 

[Law2Doc]

Use it during interviews, when they can pick up on your non-verbal cues and your tone of voice.

I totally agree with this (although I'm not sure the dead baby jokes work any better in person than on paper -- sad but true). But just don't launch into a stand up routine in the interview -- just perhaps pepper in a one liner or two as "icebreakers" where appropriate. Otherwise you can come off as immature.

 

[deuist]

Humor is fine so long as it is topical (meaning not off course) and subtle. Don't try to go over the top here. You are looking for a chuckle from a wide audience, not a belly laugh from the "Family Guy" crowd.