Should I mention that I'm a furry in my SOP?

[caliphante]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I will be applying next year and am writing my POS. I have several hobbies, and one is "fursuiting" (i.e. being a furry). I have actually won several dance awards at furry conventions and am active in the community. Should I mention my involvement and awards?

 

[deleted407021]

This is a first.


I don't know if that's advisable. Unfortunately, I think you'd draw some unflattering opinions from people who probably won't "get it".

 

[Javevmey]

it is so unique that it can only make you stand out

 

[deleted659912]

You'll be remembered but not exactly for the reason you want... is there any other way you can put it on your app without explicitly stating you're a furry?

 

[Squamous Eddie]

No. Holy ****, no.

 

[ac62994]

First of all, you're awesome.

Mention it as "alternative dancing"?

 

[caliphante]

I know that there is some stigma which is why I'm wary about it, but a) as Javavmey mentioned it is quite unique, and b) I think given my high level of involvement (and again, some awards), it would feel weird to ignore it completely.

 

[Dr.Sticks]

I would describe it as costuming in an animal suit, furry has a lot of negative stereotypes attached to it.

 

[ZedsDed]

I will be applying next year and am writing my POS. I have several hobbies, and one is "fursuiting" (i.e. being a furry). I have actually won several dance awards at furry conventions and am active in the community. Should I mention my involvement and awards?

Depends. Do you want to get into med school or do you want some great lulz? If the latter, show up to your interview with @gyngyn in costume

 

[caliphante]

You'll be remembered but not exactly for the reason you want... is there any other way you can put it on your app without explicitly stating you're a furry?

That's possible, but I'm not sure how I would without it sounding very vague. And I don't want to misrepresent myself. Open to suggestions though!

 

[deleted407021]

Wait ... POS =\= personal statement.

 

[JustAPhD]

I read the thread title "should I mention I'm funny in my POS" ...came in to say no.

Upon further review, still going to say no.

 

[ZedsDed]

Wait ... POS =\= personal statement.

I noticed that too. POS stands for Piece of **** last time I checked
This thread has a lot of potential

 

[caliphante]

Wait ... POS =\= personal statement.

Whoops, I meant SOP, long day!

 

[OllieO]

As a general rule, anything that is showcased on TLC right alongside "Hoarders" and "My 600 pound life" is probably not the best hobby to discuss as a major talking point on a graduate school application.

"Interpretive dance" if you really feel the need to add it. Make it sound boring though, so no one actually asks for details...

 

[Reckoner]

Whoops, I meant SOP, long day!

So standard operating procedure, then?

PS might be what you're looking for

 

[deleted407021]

So standard operating procedure, then?

PS might be what you're looking for

I'm guessing OP meant SOP = "statement of purpose".

 

[Reckoner]

That's possible, but I'm not sure how I would without it sounding very vague. And I don't want to misrepresent myself. Open to suggestions though!

Only one way to make sure they understand: Wear a costume to the interview and bust out your best routine

 

[Goro]

This is a thing?

I will be applying next year and am writing my POS. I have several hobbies, and one is "fursuiting" (i.e. being a furry). I have actually won several dance awards at furry conventions and am active in the community. Should I mention my involvement and awards?

 

[ZedsDed]

@caliphante All joking aside, most people will probably see it as "weird" rather than quirky, funny, or endearing unfortunately.

 

[Reckoner]

I'm guessing OP meant SOP = "statement of purpose".

Whoops, my bad OP. Step I studying has me juggling too many acronyms

 

[deleted407021]

This is a thing?

Google "Furry Fandom".

 

[ZedsDed]

This is a thing?

Yup

 

[Goro]

After doing so, Goro thinks "......Okaaaaaaaay"

I suppose this would be great at children's hospitals. More power to you then. This is definitely unique.

Google "Furry Fandom".

 

[atomi]

I will be applying next year and am writing my POS. I have several hobbies, and one is "fursuiting" (i.e. being a furry). I have actually won several dance awards at furry conventions and am active in the community. Should I mention my involvement and awards?

My understanding of what a furry is: a person who is part of a culture that dresses up in animal suits and has sex with other people in animal suits. Any time the word "furry" has been mentioned or I have ever heard it mentioned has involved this context. If you simply like to dress up as animals, you should be aware that there will be plenty of people who assume you are part of this sex-fetish crowd.

 

[deleted407021]

After doing so, Goro thinks "......Okaaaaaaaay"

I suppose this would be great at children's hospitals. More power to you then. This is definitely unique.

They commonly raise money for children's hospitals, apparently lol

 

[Holmwood]

Call it something else perhaps?
Cosplay design
Cosplay dance competition

Only because, as you may know, the furry community has gotten alot of bad coverage in the media... While the greater cosplay community, not so much. (I know I know, it's not really just cosplay... it's a life style...)

 

[Lawpy]

I will be applying next year and am writing my POS. I have several hobbies, and one is "fursuiting" (i.e. being a furry). I have actually won several dance awards at furry conventions and am active in the community. Should I mention my involvement and awards?

Make sure you wear a tanooki outfit for your interviews

Spoiler: it's big in the desktop

 

[7331poas]

Jesus. I would not mention this at all.

 

[caliphante]

As a general rule, anything that is showcased on TLC right alongside "Hoarders" and "My 600 pound life" is probably not the best hobby to discuss as a major talking point on a graduate school application.

"Interpretive dance" if you really feel the need to add it. Make it sound boring though, so no one actually asks for details...

@caliphante All joking aside, most people will probably see it as "weird" rather than quirky, funny, or endearing unfortunately.

Yes, I am used to this kind of perception from the general public. Again, this is the main reason I am having trouble deciding if I should include it (if I had this level of involvement in something else it would be a no-brainer). Part of me wants to include it regardless (and not misrepresent it) because, well, what better way to break stigma than to show that I'm no different than anyone else? But I also don't want to needlessly jeopardize my application.

 

[7331poas]

Yes, I am used to this kind of perception from the general public. Again, this is the main reason I am having trouble deciding if I should include it (if I had this level of involvement in something else it would be a no-brainer). Part of me wants to include it regardless (and not misrepresent it) because, well, what better way to break stigma than to show that I'm no different than anyone else? But I also don't want to needlessly jeopardize my application.

I dont see how this is any different than me putting down that I have thousands of hours in DotA. Yes you have a lot of hours. Yes you got "awards".

That has no bearing on the merit of the feat. I really dont think this is something that should be put down, this is coming for a computer science major who lives on the internet. (familiar with furries)

 

[sharpstickie]

If anything, I would save it for an area in secondaries where they ask for "unique characteristics or hobbies".

 

[RurouniKarly]

Yes, I am used to this kind of perception from the general public. Again, this is the main reason I am having trouble deciding if I should include it (if I had this level of involvement in something else it would be a no-brainer). Part of me wants to include it regardless (and not misrepresent it) because, well, what better way to break stigma than to show that I'm no different than anyone else? But I also don't want to needlessly jeopardize my application.

Your application isn't the place to try and challenge the stigma surrounding questionable activities. I say talk about it, but don't use the words fursuit or furry. If you make your own fursuits, talk about how you make your own costumes. Talk about attending conventions (keep this generic, don't specify which kind), competing in dance and/or cosplay competitions, and the awards you've won. You can get pretty detailed about what you do and what your accomplishments are without bringing furry preconceptions into the mix.

 

[Holmwood]

I think you're just going to have to write a draft and let other people see if it's "appropriate". And save it for the hobbies section if necessary.

As an aside...
Fursuiting can be spun in interesting ways. Like you can talk about learning how to emulate anatomical structures such as tails, jaws, moving eyelids, ears with robotics/wires/optical illusions and stuff.

 

[ac62994]

I dont see how this is any different than me putting down that I have thousands of hours in DotA. Yes you have a lot of hours. Yes you got "awards".

That has no bearing on the merit of the feat. I really dont think this is something that should be put down, this is coming for a computer science major who lives on the internet. (familiar with furries)

You're behind a computer and OP is out dancing... That's the difference.

 

[Squamous Eddie]

You might get some older adcoms who don't really know what furries are. Or you might get one that sees the word "furry" and instantly assumes you masturbate to anthropomorphized animals. I left my gaming hobby off my application. Please, leave being a furry off yours.

 

[Mad Jack]

Yiff in hel...

Wait, I'm not on 4chan? Uh...

Don't do it, op, don't do it. Most of the adcoms will simply google "furry" and then toss your app in the trash.

 

[sharpstickie]

HAHAHAHA
Leave anything questionable off the app.

You might get some older adcoms who don't really know what furries are. Or you might get one that sees the word "furry" and instantly assumes you masturbate to anthropomorphized animals. I left my gaming hobby off my application. Please, leave being a furry off yours.

 

[Dr Tony T. Chopper]

Never in a million years did I expect furries on SDN, but I would think don't mention it since it may have sexual deviant connotations and fetishism(?)

I will be applying next year and am writing my POS. I have several hobbies, and one is "fursuiting" (i.e. being a furry). I have actually won several dance awards at furry conventions and am active in the community. Should I mention my involvement and awards?

 

[Dr Tony T. Chopper]

Is this /b/ or pre-allo, Jesus christ.

Although...I did put cosplaying and taking commissions at Cons as an EC so...

Yiff in hel...

Wait, I'm not on 4chan? Uh...

Don't do it, op, don't do it. Most of the adcoms will simply google "furry" and then toss your app in the trash.

 

[Spector1]

This is a thing?

 

[tkim]

I'm the medical director of a first aid group that staffs comic and anime cons, so we deal with unique ... medical problems. Heat emergencies happen in furdom.

 

[Doudline]

@OP:

 

[tkim]

http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/07/us/illinois-furry-convention-evacuation/

 

[Dr Tony T. Chopper]

As a con-goer, thank you for your service 😀

I'm the medical director of a first aid group that staffs comic and anime cons, so we deal with unique ... medical problems. Heat emergencies happen in furdom.

 

[deleted482591]

ROFL

SDN needs a 'misc' section for this stuff

 

[sharpstickie]

ROFL

SDN needs a 'misc' section for this stuff

I believe you're looking for the Canadian applicant section.

 

[efle]

Make sure you wear a tanooki outfit for your interviews

Could you not find anything bigger?

To OP, no. If they've never heard of it, they'll think you're weird. If they've heard of it, they'll probably still think you're weird.

 

[moisne]

Lol you should talk about it in your interview - the volunteer part - not the fetish. Lol

Skip it in the app or rename it

 

[Glazedonutlove]

Play it safe and don't mention it ever again