Can the favorites supplement be in list form? The instructions on the common app page weren’t totally clear. Thanks!
The supplement could certainly be written as a list. My personal take on this is that a list of 20 favorites won’t show much, except that you can spell the names of some works you may or may not have read, and which the application reader may or may not recognize.
With the disclaimer that this is my personal, uninformed opinion, I would pick one or two favorites and go into a profusion of detail on them. The favorites essay shouldn’t be as long as the uncommon essay, but it’s worth writing as much as a page. Why take the uncommon essay as your only chance to be funny, off-beat, and inquisitive when Chicago allows you to write three supplement essays?
To give one example, I wrote my essay on an obscure satirical book from the 1980s that I read a few years ago, going into considerable detail on the work’s peculiar brand of irreverence. I haven’t a clue if it’s any good (waiting on feedback from a few people), but I’d rather have the person reading my application think “This book sounds interesting.” than “Know that. Read it. No idea. Nope. Know that. Boy, I liked that. Know that. And that. And that. Ugh, not that. No Clue. Know that as well. Ok, done. Next essay.”
@NotVerySmart I’m not missing anything am I? There are only three essays for Chicago right?
As far as I know (and if I’m wrong, this would be a very good time for someone to point that fact out), there are 3 supplement essays for Chicago. When you send in your application, they’ll see those three - Why UChicago, Favorites, and the Uncommon Essay - plus your Common App essay.
Right, okay. I have that. By any chance, do you think there’s a limit to the length of the Why UChicago essay? I have about 550 words, which is about 1 full page single spaced.
From the CommonApp website, on the right-hand side there is a blurb about the Why UChic length being around 250 words if I remember correctly. However, I am sure you can go over it if needed since it is just a recommended limit.
Hmmm. I checked the blurb, and it applies to the Favorites essay as well.
Would application readers dislike a Favorites essay that hovers around 1 page, or would they not really mind? Thoughts, anyone?
I’m pretty sure they say in another one of their blurbs about how readers will continue reading but there would be no guarantee their interest would be held past the recommended word limit.
Oh… I really need to rewrite then.
Or, you know, what do you guys think?
I’m sitting at:
Uncommon: 660
WhyUchicago: 600
Favorites: 600
I’ve seen people who posted similar numbers get accepted. Does it matter?
If your Favorites and Why UChicago essays are both around 600, I think a rewrite could help. The average reader spends about 10-12 minutes on each app, and if all your essays are fairly long they may skim-read (which, given the importance of essays at Chicago, is not what you want). The Uncommon Essay is fine at 660, but if you can shorten the other two it wouldn’t hurt.
Of course, I’m just an uninformed senior. Don’t take my word for it.
Yeah, I was gonna re-write to the last two to about 400-500. For the favorites, I might actually just do a list with a 1 sentence explanation of why I like them. I’m just hesitant to do a list! I know a bunch of people have gotten admitted and done it, but…
This is from last year on the UChicago admissions tumblr:
http://uchicagoadmissions.■■■■■■■■■■/post/66379372109/what-is-the-suggested-word-count-for-the-different
Cool, thanks. I rewrote my WhyUChicago essay and it’s now 441 words. I think it might even be stronger than before. This isn’t so bad, after all.