<p>SoCalDad2, that isn’t the exact prompt, although it was something about describing something you would do with a very large jar of mustard. But your comment is off base because that prompt is actually from several years ago before U of C started their current marketing push (and the follow on difficulty of picking the actual intellectuals in their applicant pool). Also, you try writing 500 words on that topic – it may seem "obvious’ in some way to you, but actually turning that into an interesting essay might be more than most of us could accomplish. Every prompt they put out isn’t an obvious intellectual challenge, but plenty of them still are. Also, they always offer several prompts. </p>
<p>I also disagree about whether they should get rid of the prompts; it is a part of U of C history, and still is helpful it sifting some wheat from chaff in the applicant pool. I also don’t think they look too foolish – they have certainly succeeded in climbing the rankings, regardless of what else you may think of them. Some on their marketing push, but some because they have a lot of great qualities that they had kept to their nerdy selves over the years until recently.</p>
<p>Pizzagirl, somehow U of Chicago brings out those conflicting emotions in a lot of people. I know it does in me – I find a lot to admire in the school, but it sure isn’t for everyone (including my kid, who decided not to attend). I wouldn’t wear the parental swag they sent prior to her May 1 decision (it felt like marketing their school to my own kid), but I regularly wear the U of C t-shirt they sent me now. Shrug… I don’t parse it too much, but I find I can easily defend or criticize U of C.</p>
<p>On one hand, you’re dissing U Chicago for the quirky prompts, which (in your direct words) “deters applicants who could and should have been interested by a school such as Chicago for its academic programs.” In other words, you think that getting more applicants is a good thing - and here U Chicago cut off its nose to spite its face by requiring applicants to jump through a silly hoop (could I put more clich</p>
<p>There are always some people who are attracted by what’s uncommon / not like anything else, and respond well to marketing messages to that end. “You’re one of the special ones who can appreciate us; not everybody can, you know.” Petit bourgeois (sp?) and all.</p>
<p>Well, mustard or Waldo or something else – they all are the same for purposes of my comments.</p>
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<p>I didn’t say anything about it being obvious. Instead, I said that true intellectuals would run from this type of prompt. In fact, such persons might find it very difficult to write an essay that addressed such a prompt.</p>
<p>There’s room for fun essays, pseudo-intellectual essays, true intellectual essays. Most of them are very, very open ended. I still, would rather be inspired by almost any of these than the typical “talk about someone who influenced you” or a “an experience that changed your life” ones.</p>
<p>Isn’t it great that no one is forced to apply to Chicago if they don’t like the prompts? They don’t want to be cookie cutter. I wouldn’t ever be interested, nor my kids. Oh well.</p>
I know it does in me – I find a lot to admire in the school, but it sure isn’t for everyone (including my kid, who decided not to attend). I wouldn’t wear the parental swag they sent prior to her May 1 decision (it felt like marketing their school to my own kid), but I regularly wear the U of C t-shirt they sent me now. Shrug… I don’t parse it too much, but I find I can easily defend or criticize U of C.</p>