<p>So, I’ve written two essays for the Common Application. One opens with the line “Buddha perches in front of a giant wooden cross and next to a pink polka-dotted dog that towers over him.” and is about my bookshelf and how it reflects me.</p>
<p>The other is about the influence Stephen Colbert has had on my life, and it’s pretty tongue-in-cheek at the beginning. I know Carleton prides itself on its sense of humor, but when some of my friends read it they were like, “Wow, this is really… dramatic.” I like this essay muvh better, but now I’m second-guessing whether Carleton will “get it.”</p>
<p>Without reading your essays (or honestly, even being remotely involved in the application assessment process), I have no idea. If people aren’t reacting well to your second essay because it is ludicrous, I would revise it to make it not sound like you’re trying too hard, and then reevaluate which you will send. You don’t want a contrived essay. The same may go for your first essay–not gonna lie, I’m not feeling that first sentence.</p>
<p>A Carleton alum, Peter Gwinn '93 (?), now writes for The Colbert Report, FYI. He spoke on campus last year. You might want to include this tidbit or research the comedy groups at Carleton more and even mention those in your essay to put your humor in context at Carleton.</p>
<p>One article I read when my D. was working on her essays suggested that humor in essays should be avoided, mostly for the reason you cite: the reader may not “get it”. That said, a little humor that fits the narrative can make an essay interesting. If your essay’s successful it will help the school get to know who you are and maybe who you want to be. Do your essays do that? That’s why it’s hard for people who don’t know you to evaluate your essays.</p>