Essays... ??

<p>Do the essay topics change from year to year? I just wrote a really kick-ass essay for one of the current questions posted on the website as part of an english assignment, and I would LOVE to use it this fall when I begin the application process... so will I be able to? Also, if the questions do change from year to year, do you think it would be ok to submit that essay as part of the number 5 option (the option where u come up with your own topic)? </p>

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<li>and one more question!! Would it be ok to submit that essay to other colleges if they had a "pick your own topic" option? or would they know that it was just "stolen" from U Chicago's website? </li>
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<p>Sorry if that's confusing, please let me know.. anyone?!</p>

<p>I think they do change up their topics each year. As I understand it, they poll the current students to cull the next years' topics. </p>

<p>I would be careful when you recycle. Some of U Chicago's essays...the mustard one for example, are very identifiable as U Chicago prompts.</p>

<p>THe other issue with other colleges is that they often are much more conservative with word usage than Chicago. Chicago allows "1-2" pages; my essay was about 1300 words. Most schools won't let you go over 500. I ended up way chopping down my chicago essay to fit in other school's requirements, and editing things that were completely specific to the prompt out.</p>

<p>but, you think it would be ok to recycle the essay and send it to other schools though?</p>

<p>i send my uchicago essay as a supplemental thing to some schools..only because it was funny/interesting...but i'd neverrrrrrrr send it as the actual essay. they'd know for sure, especially if it was really quirky enough to be a uchicago essay..if anything, change it a bit so it doesnt seem to uchicago-y. i was going to use my chicago essay for macalester which also had no limit and no topic..but decided not to because it really was an obviously chicago essay..i just strongly suggest you write another essay..its kinda fun anyway</p>

<p>haha.. fun isnt the word I'd choose to describe it but ok</p>

<p>My essay was in response to the voice question and I wrote it about being a coxswain for crew...it's posted somewhere below. I sent it basiccally as is to Uconn and Ohio U since they had no word limits and were safeties and I was in a hurry and said my question was "how have your extracurriculars influenced you?". Even with that though, I tried to take out parts that seemed really specifically about voice. I got into both of them. Then when I was not having an enormous amount of success writing shorter essays (they all seemed worse), I had a friend help me rework the Chicago essay so that it was 800 words less, and more about crew, less about my personal voice. Haven't heard back yet from anyone I sent it to. I wouldn't suggest sending the exact same essay, and also think about how identifiable it is with Chicago. You write about mustard, they'll know.;)</p>

<p>My "essay" was only about 2/3 of a page, but then again, it was a rap, not an essay, so that probably explains it. I just hope they don't look down on me for the brevity. Didnt's some guy once say that it was the soul of wit or somethin?</p>

<p>mine was heeeeeeeeelllllllllaaaaaaaaa long... 5 pages or something. but then it was a movie script so it was veryyy spaced out...a rap..thats cool..and honestly, my essay was the most fun i had with my college apps</p>