<p>"Take as a model the students who inspired Options 1 and 2 as you pose and respond to an uncommon prompt of your own. If your prompt is original and thoughtful, then you should have little trouble writing a great essay. Draw on your best qualities as a writer, thinker, visionary, social critic, sage, sensible woman or man, citizen of the world, or future citizen of the University of Chicago; take a little risk and have fun."</p>
<p>Do you think we can choose an essay from years past? </p>
<p>In my honest opinion, I would not take one of their old prompts. The 5th one asks YOU to be creative, so taking others would not help you, and might even hurt you. </p>
<p>However, maybe by looking the essays of the past as models instead of just 1 or 2, you may be able to create a better prompt.</p>
<p>Exactly, As fortune4260 pointed out, option five is if you have an ORIGINAL prompt, not one from past years. However, I do believe that if you write a stellar essay one of the old prompts, they might even like it.</p>