Ok so UChicago is my dream school and the application is due tonight. I have been hesitant to submit it because I like tweaking my essay’s until the last minute…I guess I have FOMO and am scared I’ll think of something to add if I submit too early.
Anyways for the uncommon essay I chose the prompt that says, “Write an essay somehow inspired by super-huge mustard.” I wrote a fictional story about a kid who lives on a planet with mustard oceans. I think the story has a cool message, but I was looking over it and realized that it doesn’t really say much about me. Is this a bad thing? Should I edit it to speak more to my character instead of this fictional character?
For me it also is pretty hard to keep the right message. I mean, when I found a few ideas and I am starting to explaining it all, I forget about all the restrictions and end up with a much larger word count and a totally different message. Once compared an essay ordered from https://bestessayservices.org/ to the one that I’ve written and they managed to use much less words for the same amount of value and the message was much clearer. I assume it is just a skill you need to acquire to become really good at essay writing
I think how you write and what you think is important is definitely something the AOs will notice. UChicago’s admission prompts are fun, because they encourage you to write about something besides yourself for once, which I really loved. Looking back, I wish I’d gone with a more adventurous prompt (I ended up hating my essays, haha, but it only makes me more eager to go back and try some other prompts, just for fun).
That said, it’s important that your essay directly answers the question and somehow illustrates your analytical skills and some level of, what’s the word, nuance. Don’t be quirky for the sake of being quirky. Write about something you’re passionate for, and make sure it’s relevant to the prompt. It doesn’t really matter if it’s not about one of the hundred extracurriculars you’ve probably been involved in. I think the best way to get to know someone is to get involved in their interests and learn about what makes them smile in the morning.
What makes you happy? Does that kid living on the planet with huge mustard oceans embody some interest or emotion that keeps you alive? Keeps you ticking? You need to find a way to connect your essay to that core of you. That’s what the admissions officers are searching for.
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