Essay Sharing/Commenting Post

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
41

<p>I've read some of the essays on CC for the mustard prompt, and everyone's essay are so... smart. So smart that sometimes i don't find the essay interesting anymore. To counter the intelligence, I submitted this one.</p>

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<pre><code> Mustard? Personally, I don’t think mustard is edible. Mustard has a terrible taste, a grainy texture, and a horrible odor. Mustard even has its own color: mustard yellow!

Mustard brings only two ideas to my mind: stains and death. Regarding stains, one must understand the horrible feeling of a mustard stain. Mustard contains a yellow dye called turmeric. If a mustard stain is not treated immediately, it is almost impossible to remove. This logically points to the likelihood that the people who take home those jars of super-huge mustard are planning on staining something.

A logical item to stain is clothing. With the economy going down and the prices going up, spending money on clothing is becoming increasingly harder to do. Instead, why not stain that old white T-shirt that has been sitting in the back of the closet? It saves you from wasting gas to head down to the Armani Exchange and it also saves you from a quizzical look from the cashier for buying an unpopular, unattractive, mustard yellow shirt. To look at the big picture, mustard-colored shirts are just... well, mustard-strange. By staining your own shirt, you not only create a mustard-colored shirt, but a mustard-FLAVORED shirt. Missing the mustard on your hot dog? Suck on your shirt, you can still taste the residue!

Another logical item to use a ton of mustard for is paint. Can’t afford to buy cans upon cans of paint? Stain everything with mustard! Antique furniture that needs staining? Mustard can definitely do the job! Mustard could give houses a unique look. It could be a new fad... “Mustard is the new black.” Hey, it could happen. Here's another idea! With the custom car craze overtaking America, a mustard-colored car would definitely stand out in a parking lot. Why mix regular-colored paints to produce a mustard color when the mustard color you’re looking for is sitting right in your condiment cabinet? Car owners don’t need to fret about the durability of the mustard color either, since personal experience concludes that mustard stains are basically permanent. Paint takes a back seat to mustard in the year 2005! Another idea for ‘paint a la mustard’ is to give it to children for finger painting usage. Mustard finger paint, given its unique color, texture, and ‘non-toxicity’ (even though I say otherwise) will be socially and medically acceptable. I would actually strongly promote this idea. Think about it. What would alarm you more? A child that is foaming blue paint from his mouth, or a child playfully tasting the unique flavor of mustard? Using mustard as paint would also finally make playing with food acceptable. “Don’t play with your food now! Wait for art class!”

Another possibility is using mustard as a weapon of mass destruction. Ever heard of a little thing called “mustard gas”? Well, that’s not possible using real mustard. However, one must consider the possibility of dropping huge jars of mustard on disapproving countries. First of all, dropping giant glass jars from high altitude is highly deadly. Second of all, people really can’t really eat mustard all by itself. From personal experience, I know that mustard gives a burning sensation to the tongue that is really quite painful. So when jars of mustard of dropped onto cities, the residents wouldn’t really know what to do with it. It’s not edible. It doesn’t fit into any existing recipes. It’s practically useless. Third of all, if the jar misses its target, it creates this disgusting looking spot in the middle of the road. Thus leaving the residents to either try frantically to remove the mustard stain or leave it there, suffer having a strange yellow spot on their roadway, and having to explain why it’s there over and over again to annoying tourists. So logically, you can only conclude that the buyers of super-huge mustard can only be the United States Armed Forces.

After proofreading my essay, I truly don’t believe any of my ideas will arrive with any real success. That still doesn’t change my opinion about mustard. It’s still yucky.

</code></pre>

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42

<p>This was the first essay I wrote for colleges. Critique as you wish.</p>

<p>Essay Option 3</p>

<p>“Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust,” wrote the Reverend Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr., in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” We want to hear your thoughts on justice as it relates to this
“human personality” that Dr. King mentions.</p>

<p>Inspired by ongoing campus conversations about social justice</p>

<p>Notice:</p>

<p>Did you happen to pick up on the news?
The slaying of three black men?
Removal of lives, of souls from limbs.</p>

<p>Did you happen to come to any conclusion?
On the killing of three black men?
None since have seen them then.</p>

<p>Did you happen to realize finally?
About the murder of three black men?
You, also, do not forget him, him, and him!</p>

<p>If one places a person from any other minority, ethnicity, or marginalized group in the spaces allotted to the three black men above, the poignancy remains the same. In the case of three civil rights workers--Michael Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andrew Goodman--Chaney alone is black. The 1964 slaying of these workers assaults the “human personality” highlighted by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Still, the imperishable human personality exists. The assailants of Schwerner, Chaney, and Goodman feel the use of deadly force eliminates the contributions of these men. They assume that with the death of body comes the death of soul. On the contrary, human personality always lives freely and moves from darkness to light as it wishes. Consequently, none successfully trap it; the reemergence of the names and unfortunate circumstances of these workers by a recent $100,000 donation toward information on their killers proves this fact.</p>

<p>In the opening lines of “Notice:”, I allude to this lingering quality of the human personality. The works, efforts, and even death of an individual scream for recognition. They all demand that the proper respect be paid in total. Saying farewell never suffices; human personality accepts no eulogy. For its thirst for justice to be satiated, human personality must attain acknowledgement. Moreover, it must acquire the respect it covets so endlessly.</p>

<p>Justice may mean different things to different people, but to the human personality, the meaning varies little. To illustrate, the audience of a singer lets her know of their delight, when they begin to sway and gradually burst into louder applause with every increasing note. Likewise, a painter may feel vindicated once his blood, among other things, entirely collects on a piece of canvas. Surely, the aforementioned civil rights workers felt comfort in the smiles of voters they registered. Indeed, many examples of the human personality finding justice abound. Yet, the instance, which perhaps best represents this, is the one of the student who achieves a goal and in doing so earns the respect of both peers and those senior to him.</p>

<p>As indicated earlier, the 1964 murder of Michael Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andrew Goodman attacks the human personality. However, no attack comes close to erasing the contributions and good deeds of an individual. Let us return to an old friend, “Did you happen to realize finally? / About the murder of three black men? / You, also, do not forget him, him, and him!” (7-9). In the last line of the poem, the writer admonishes the reader not to forget these three men, but the use of the word “also” makes one thing clear--the writer himself has not been able to forget.</p>

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43

<p>Dude monkey boy (Sun Wu Kong?), I read that essay in one sitting and I was enjoying it. Admission officers are probably just as happy to read something different. The worst essays that won't get you anywhere are essays that are a pain to finnish. The best essays are ones you really enjoy to read.</p>

44

<p>Thanks j10cpc5000. Who's Sun Wu Kong?</p>

<p>edit-
woahhh. I didn't read the name Sun Wu Kong out loud, and when i did, i know exactly who you're talking about. Haha, Journey to the West, classic Chinese Literature. I'd be ashamed if i didn't realize who he was, being chinese and actually PERFORMING as Sun Wu Kong at a Chinese New Year's festival. =)</p>

45

<p>Did you ever watch the epic movie? Damn I love it. Are you planning on going to Chicago next year? We have a lot in common so far (including test scores).</p>

46

<p>The epic movie is like none other: Pure greatness. I'm not sure yet, I'm hating that UChicago has no engineering program. But since their chemistry program is phenomonal, i think i may go. I just hope i can afford it..</p>

47

<p>I really liked Chicago's application because the essay questions were so intersting/fun/odd/etc but i find this whole thread rather hard to read. But if anyone wants to read mine, here it is. I'm not sure that this was the final draft that i sent, but it's pretty similar.</p>

<p>Essay Option 4</p>

<pre><code>If all you have to do in life is contemplate which is the real me when my atoms are copied exactly from Mars and put back together again on Earth using the Teleclone Mark V, you need to take up knitting. At least knitting has a wearable result. The conclusion of this contemplation can only be more confusion. Perhaps it was an attempt to be Zen Buddhist, to meditate on an unanswerable question similar to “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” From a spiritual standpoint, it could be enlightening. However, at this point in my life, I am not searching for enlightenment. All in due time. Right now my life is filled to the brim with hockey practices, SAT scores, grades, and college applications. In between, I sit on my couch and giggle with friends. If any of this interests you, you’re invited to a laughfest. But if all you want to know is the answer (or unanswer) to your question, here is my attempt:
</code></pre>

<p>Each copy is either half of the original or double the original, depending on your definition of the number two. To a certain extent, they are both me, but now there are two. Then again, they are each a separate being, and since they were created from one divided into two different bodies they must each be half. Each contains half of my spirit or soul, the sum of the intangible things that make up who I am.
For an immeasurably small moment after the creation of the second copy, both are me. Then they diverge. For example, if I was mid-cough when the machine was turned on, then after the duplication, the copy would continue coughing exactly simultaneously with me. However, at that moment, the copy could take a slight step forward while I stood still, and the duration of the copy’s cough could be slightly shorter than the duration of the my cough because it was squeezed out a tad faster. After that, all bodily functions, thoughts, and so on would be different.</p>

<p>The copy would feel like me, but know that she was nothing but a copy. After all, I knew that I was planning on copying myself before the event took place. I hope the copy would have enough sense to deduce from her surroundings that she had changed into the copy, and adjust her thoughts accordingly. </p>

<p>In conclusion, none of this matters. There is not a machine that can beam the exact blueprint of a person from Mars to Earth. There aren’t even any people on Mars, if such a machine did exist. It has, as a matter of fact, caused me quite a headache to sit here thinking so hard about people on Mars. I hope that if these people I’m thinking about ever do exist, they will have the sense to leave their Teleclone Mark V at home. Imagine the confusion it would cause to have two of the same people, or two different people, or two half people, or two double people! The universe will be much better off if nobody ever invents the Teleclone Mark V.</p>

48

<p>Hey I was accepted to U of C and will be attending just submitting my mustard essay for feedback. </p>

<p>I am in the middle of a routine trip to Costco when I see it. It seems to fill my very vision with its leviathan bulk. What is this object that evokes such awe? It is a humongous 600oz. tub of yellow gold, known to the rest of us as mustard. Now, as I am walking by this breathtaking site, I find myself pondering many questions. Who would buy that monstrosity? What would anyone even do with it? Why does the store still carry it? Most importantly, however, is it going to fall on me? Then, as I get in line, still pondering these life-altering questions, what is the person in front of me hoisting onto the conveyor belt but that elephantine creation, the mustard. Here in touching distance is the person who could so easily answer my questions about the possible motives behind purchasing such a large tub of mustard. I dare to ask, and he responds with a simple, “Why not?” This mindset gives me pause. While it may seem simple, is there any reason to buy the mustard? Conversely, is there a reason not to? Should I go buy mustard?
As I stand in line behind the person with the tub of mustard, I contemplate reasons why I might buy it. Then it hits me. The reason has been in front of me the whole time. The motive for just buying the mustard is simply because oftentimes one must do things purely for the adventure of doing them. While these quests may be purely spontaneous, they are often what gives a person the energy, drive, and experience to complete other everyday tasks. Although these adventures may seem risky, adopting an I’m Just Not Buying the Mustard philosophy may allow opportunities in life to pass one by. Throughout the course of these adventures, people often grow through the discovery of qualities about themselves of which they were previously unaware. These adventures may also have some other unexpected benefits. Who knows, once I get home with my prized jar of mustard I may suddenly remember that I need it for a block barbecue, for a soft pretzel fundraiser, or even to paint a fence. These rewards, however, are mere trinkets in comparison to the experience of the adventure itself. On the other hand, while it is vital
to enjoy life by engaging in such experiences, there are other factors to consider. The arguments so far seem to beckon me to take myself out of the line, follow the example of the person who is in front of me, and just buy the mustard. Although buying the mustard purely for the adventure of it sounds great,
buying the mustard still comes with a price. Likewise, to enjoy an adventure there are always consequences, both good and bad, no matter what the intent of the adventurer. In the case of the mustard, paying for the mustard may mean having to forego putting gas into the empty fuel tank. By spending the money on something that is not necessary, one may be forced into a situation in which it is not possible to perform other necessary tasks. The energy expended on these smaller adventures may also limit one’s ability to go on to quests that are more meaningful. Our choice to go on these quests also rarely affects only ourselves. In the case of the mustard, once someone buys the mustard the store sees it is selling and orders more. Therefore, after I purchase my tub of mustard just for the fun of it, the next time I come into the store and try to understand why I see rows of mustard, I will have to look internally.
As with most actions in life, the choice to be adventurous is complex, and its effects may ripple through the rest of one’s life.
Now I am back to my original dilemma. Should I buy the mustard? The answer, as always, lies with the asker. While these choices may seem exciting at the time, it must be decided when the price for adventure is too high. To enjoy life, one must find the perfect balance between spontaneity and caution, between the time to buy mustard and the time to leave it on the warehouse shelf. However, like many important revelations, experience is the best teacher. The choice as of whether or not to buy this particular tub of mustard lies within oneself.</p>

49

<p>Lol, I like the mustard essays so much :) Had fun reading everyone else's spin on that one...</p>

<p>Mine's here ...<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=48871&page=3&pp=20%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=48871&page=3&pp=20&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

50

<p>...</p>

<p>i am so happy. i want to meet all of ya'll now. "life of the mind"...no kidding.</p>

51

<p>wow, you guys all sound so sophisticated and smart, i think im actually a little threatened by my own lack of intelligence. everyone here has such great essays... i wrote about my neighbors house.</p>

52

<p>hey monkey. u better go to uchicago! u of i is crap! haha dude we can room at shoreland it would rock!! do itttt!!!!!</p>

53

<p>Any laid back but ambitious people should come to Broadview, we'll chill out there.</p>

54

<p>While analyzing this question, I came up with the following analogy. Suppose you are in a cabin on a ship that either
moves with constant velocity or does not move at all. The cabin that you are in does not have any windows, so you
cannot see if the ship is moving. Then, according to the Einstein’s principle of relativity, you are unable to determine
whether the boat is moving or not no matter what kind of physical experiment you carry out in the cabin. This is
because you are in the reference frame of the ship, and you cannot look at it from any other reference frame, being
locked in the cabin. Similarly, if you are clone, you are in the “reference frame” of the clone, and you cannot identify
yourself with anybody else but yourself. Only a third person can distinguish between the clone and the “original”
astronaut. One might ask: “What if you know exactly that you are the clone, and you do not need anybody to tell
you?” I believe that there is a difference between “know” and “feel”, and your knowledge of the fact of cloning
would not prevent you from feeling the same person. You would think: “I am still a human being, despite the fact of
my cloning, with all the consequences. Moreover, I am the same individual as I have been before because I feel,
think and behave in the same way as I did before”. To the people around you, however, the knowledge of the fact
of cloning would make all the difference in perceiving you. In my opinion, if they know that you are a clone, they
would never identify you with the astronaut they used to know.
In both cases with the astronaut, people know who the “original” person is and what happened to him. The trouble
begins, I guess, when the replica does not agree with being considered a replica. It is more likely to happen in the
case of Teleclone Mark IV, because the clone believes that he is unique, just as any other human being on the Earth.
If I went through this teleporter, I would say that I am the astronaut. My argument would be that there is no other
person like me in the whole universe, I am unique. With Teleclone Mark V, there are two distinct human beings, but
each of them would still feel “original”. The clone would not do things that are not inherent to him on purpose, just to
be different from his counterpart. The situation becomes more complicated, and society now has to deal with a
major paradox – two people claiming to be the same individual. Of course, the fact that one of the “twins” (though
they are not twins – twins have differences, and these two guys do not) is on Mars, and the other one is on the Earth
will help distinguish between the two; but each of them would think he is “the astronaut”. If I were cloned this way,
the “me” on Mars would feel himself, and the “me” on the Earth would feel the same way. Both of them are right,
since neither one can feel or think of himself being two people at once, or not being himself at all. If I were either one
of them, I would behave naturally and just be myself, no matter what other people say. The question whether I am
the astronaut or the clone, therefore, cannot be answered by any of the two “me”s. Asking a third person would not
help much: even if this person knows exactly which one is which, his decision about who is the original person would
be unjust toward the other person. People cloned this way lose their personality and are not unique anymore from a
third-person point of view, although they will always be unique to themselves...
This brings me to another, somewhat similar question: in a fictional situation, where two astronauts on a broken ship
can only survive if combined into one person, who would this person be: one of the astronauts – let us say the one
possessing stronger personality, or a plain combination of the two, or probably another, completely different, human
being?</p>