Humor in personal statement

[echolalia16]

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I'm in the process of writing mine up, and I was wondering whether it would be appropriate to have a little humor in it. I don't mean to write up the whole thing as a parody, or put anything in it that's not true, but just a little quip that's appropriate in the context of the paragraph.
Have any of you folks brought the funny to your PS? Are any of you folks currently in med school?

 

[NickNaylor]

I would recommend against it, as it most likely won't be funny. No offense to you, but you just have no idea who will be reading your PS.

 

[organdonor]

I would avoid it. Comedy must be tailored to the audience, and wrinkly old guys who have already read thousands of PS BS are difficult to entertain.

 

[garyinthehouse]

I'd agree with the above posters. I dont think an old guy in his 70's is going to appreciate a joke on the PS.

 

[Catalystik]

Irony, sarcasm, and humor don't always translate well through printed words when someone doesn't know you well. If you want to take the risk, have multiple readers, including old guys, check it out first.

 

[Disinence2]

I say go for it! As long as its nothing offensive. Think of the hundreds of PS that these readers will read. Anything to make yours stand out is huge.

 

[Dianyla]

Nothing overt. But I snuck in a few subtle witticisms that either won't register as a joke or might get a chuckle depending on the reader.

 

[Frazier]

My coworkers at the mortuary, funeral home and library say that I am a pretty funny guy.

 

[WNT Signaling]

I'm in the process of writing mine up, and I was wondering whether it would be appropriate to have a little humor in it. I don't mean to write up the whole thing as a parody, or put anything in it that's not true, but just a little quip that's appropriate in the context of the paragraph.
Have any of you folks brought the funny to your PS? Are any of you folks currently in med school?

I learned a long time ago in debate that if you can make the judge laugh, even just once, they will be in your palm. Even if you give a mediocre speech, that short burst of humor will pique the judge's interest in you.

My PS started with a semi-gross observation/joke, and I got in

 

[CdnHopeful]

Stay on the safe side, don't use humor. It really might not be funny to the adcom. Everyone has a different sense of humor and the highly conservative adcom will likely not think it's funny lol

 

[FlowRate]

My take on it is that PS' aren't funny in general. However, if you consider yourself a skilled writer and comedian, it can hurt, but it can help. Not to be mean but, to be honest, if you're asking this question, it's likely you're neither of the above.

 

[Innulja]

I used humor in my PS I don't think it did anything extra but it definitely didn't hurt. If a were on admissions commitee I'd actually appreciate some🙄, just my.02$

 

[Chemdude]

I fell into a well once. I learned to tend to the sick and leave the well alone. That is why I want to be a doctor.

 

[Narmerguy]

I say go for it! As long as its nothing offensive. Think of the hundreds of PS that these readers will read. Anything to make yours stand out is huge.

You don't want to stand out for the wrong reasons though.

 

[eablackwell]

I'm a nontrad and I put in a short paragraph about my naivety upon graduating high school. That's it, I couldn't keep my personality from leaking through into that, but it wasn't like "roll on the floor" humor or anything even close to offensive. It was more of a "but life had other plans for me" paragraph. I had several readers, including English profs in their 60s and all thought it fit very well.

However, humor is VERY hit or miss, especially in a piece of work that should by all means be serious. I would be careful, and if you think what you're going to put might not come across well to some, I'd leave it out.