<p>I am currently working on my UChicago supplement essay, and after finishing my first draft, am a bit nervous about the direction I am taking. </p>
<p>While I think my CommonApp essay did a better job of depicting who I am below the surface, I think that this supplement essay might not be as descriptive. It is more of a fictional story, nothing to do with me. The essay is definitely different than most, but I think that is the point for these UChic essays: They pose very abstract, unique prompts in the hopes of eliciting very unique responses. </p>
<p>So, again, my question is should I should ditch this essay because it does not explicitly (or implicitly, for that matter) describe my personality, character, or convictions? Rather, it is just a unique narrative, and, in my opinion, a quirky way of responding to the prompt. </p>
<p>Note: Although I do respect all opinions and advice, this thread is geared more towards current students at UChic, alumni, or people that are connected to the University.</p>
<p>My Uncommon supplement was a narrative about a young Native American going on a coming-of-age journey to save his father. I’m not native American, so the story had really little to do with me. Whether that essay in particular helped or hurt, I don’t know, but they accepted me in end. I say go for it, as long as you feel the story is written in your own voice and reflects your highest quality of writing.</p>
<p>I say go with what you have. As long as you arent trying to be super quirky on purpose or anything, they really just want to see some quality writing. I think.
No really you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>Sounds fine to me, as long as you aren’t trying to make it quirky, as okfine said. There was a kid on here awhile ago who had an absolutely brilliant essay that was a fictional story, and I’m pretty sure he got in. (It was two years ago, I think) Often, your writing tells more about you than you think. :)</p>
<p>The Chicago essays are designed to see how well one handles ideas. Other elements and essays tell more about you and your interests. The optional favorite things essay may help provide a way to further depict who one is.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input! I am unsure if I want to continue with the essay that this thread is referring to. I just wrote another one, answering a different prompt, that is a full 180 from my other essay. </p>
<p>Both of them are just preliminary drafts. Would any U Chicago students be willing to glance through and give me some feedback on which one I should pursue? Both of them are fairly short, not more than 1000 words. </p>
<p>At this point I feel like they are both awful…but I am always extra critical of myself. Perhaps I have stumbled upon gold, and just don’t realize it?</p>