<p>So, I slaved over my Why Chicago essay, and I was really proud of it. I thought it was my best essay, and I was really proud of what it added to my application.</p>
<p>My essay is almost exactly like this. Perhaps not as well written, and it's more in the form of a vignette than a letter, but the idea is exactly the same, some of the phrases (down on one knee, accept me, etc) are all the same. And to top it off, I'm Indian too, like that Rohan guy.</p>
<p>Why did the Dean have to go publish the essay? Do I have to revise Why Chicago completely now, so close to the deadline? I don't have time to come up with a new, brilliant idea right now, with my father pressuring me to submit the applications within the next two days.</p>
<p>This is ridiculous. What do I do?</p>
<p>Also, if you need to read my essay to compare them, then I can PM them to you, if you're not a 2014'er.</p>
<p>If you’re capable of writing another “Why Chicago?” essay that effectively communicates your passion for UChicago and encompasses many of the same points, then do so. However, if revising your essay would result in a product of substantially lower quality, then throw caution to the wind and submit anyway. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that the admissions officers probably read hundreds of essays in that particular format every year; you shouldn’t be discouraged from submitting your own just because they chose to publish a particularly well written one this year.</p>
<p>Yeah, I agree with apple. If you can re-encompass the same points in a different form then do it, and if not, don’t. Honestly, I don’t think that the adcoms are going to be upset about it because they’ve had to have received Why Chicago essays of the same format before…</p>
<p>meghna, I’m in the EXACT same situation. Indian+Matching Essay+****ed at dean. But I’m just gonna submit mine coz I love it and I do think it is different enough from Rohan’s. </p>
<p>Just take a good hard look at yours. I think you’ll be fine. Also, the Dean has some 'splainin to do if get admitted.</p>
<p>The only thing I’m concerned about (other than the startling discovery that I’m not as original as I’d like to be) is that Chicago will think I have copied/plagiarized the idea, especially since the Dean specifically mentions, ‘This is not a format to be followed…’</p>
<p>Anyway, I’ll see what I can do. My father is piling pressure on me and I’m so creatively barren, so I’ll cross my fingers and hope for the best.</p>
<p>I honestly don’t think he wanted to screw anyone over. What about the RD kids who turned in an essay of this format before the letters were mailed? I’ve heard it debated on the parents forum that maybe Rohan isn’t even real and they were just giving an example of a non-bland essay.</p>
<p>Also, tell your dad to not worry about the deadline (difficult to do, I know - I have to do the same as well :P). You do have about a week, so use it! I submitted my app 11/01 at like 1 pm and I was admitted EA so it’s not the end of the world if you don’t get it in ahead of time. Good luck! :)</p>
<p>I think in that statement Nondorf wasn’t saying “Don’t copy this essay!” but rather “Don’t be compelled to follow the format of this essay.” He cannot place the burden on those students who had already written similar essays.</p>
<p>And yeah, I waited until the last day to write the short essays and submitted my Chicago supplement at like 10:30pm November 1st, and was admitted. I really, really suggest you don’t wait that late though. :)</p>
<p>My dad gets a bit panicky and irrational, so there’s nothing I can do there. But thanks to all of you, because you’ve comforted me a lot in this very stressful time. </p>
<p>Are you sure they won’t suspect anything/ look unfavourably at my application if they see my essay since it’s similar? I mean, how will they know if I wrote this essay before I saw Rohan’s or after? Will they really give me the benefit of the doubt?</p>
<p>I’m trying my best to send if off early, but it’s good to know last minute is always an option? (Dad’s convinced that anything after tomorrow and the networks will all get jammed and the site will break down and I’ll never go to college. Parents. >.>)</p>
<p>^dude i feel you, my parents were the SAME way, they were freaking out and were like “you have to submit this today! (3 days before the EA deadline) or else you won’t get financial aid! (b/c FA is due on 11/1 or 11/2 and we needed to get an account before applying for financial aid and you have to allow your account to be set up which can take a couple of days)” " haha… </p>
<p>sorry, i’m rambling… </p>
<p>anyway, i’m sure they know that a lot of students are in the same predicament. i’m sure before they sent it out that they knew there would be some kids who have sent/are already working on/will send an application essay of the same format. I’m feeling that they will give you the benefit of the doubt… but then you also have to consider, how many other students are writing like that and how will the adcom know if they truly came up with that idea or if they copied… if your essay if really really similar, i’d suggest you add something else to it to give it your own flavor. and besides, even if the dean didn’t send out such a letter, i’m sure the admissions office still gets a lot of essays in similar lovey dovey letter formats. 1 or 2 maybe exciting, but after a while? does it not get a little sappy? i guess what i’m trying to say is that… whether or not the dean had sent out such an essay, there are many others who have written in the same format. </p>
<p>ALSO… haha i’m having epiphanies as i write…i think that those who haven’t started the essay when they received that letter from the dean would not really have the nerve to do something similar…i know i wouldn’t… but i guess i’m too naive. </p>
<p>i think the why chicago essay is not as important as the supplemental essay. as long as you don’t make huge blunders in your why chicago essay, as long as it is not too unoriginal, too bland, too “insert-other-college-name-here” essay, then you are okay. I’d say focus more on your extended essay, as it will show more of who you are. and if that stands out, your why chicago essay should still be fine.</p>
<p>@OP I don’t know why worry too much about “Why Chicago?” essay. If what you wrote was in your own words then that should be fine I think. In any case, this is a small portion of your application. I personally know someone who got in EA writing a generic why essay. But his other essay was very unique. So, if you have decent score (class + SAT) then you don’t have to worry.</p>
<p>The why Chicago essay is but one of several they will read. Let’s see, there is the Common App essay, the Common App expand on an EC short response, the main “you select a prompt” essay, the Why Chicago? essay, and the “optional” favorite things essay. Seems like they get a good overview of one’s creativity and ability to handle ideas from a variety of sources. I would not worry about just one. </p>
<p>You could add that you recently have discovered that there are other suiters, and considered keeping this to yourself, but decided it was what you really feel even if others have said similar things. (A quick polygamy joke just flashed by as I write this as well.) But it is likely not necessary.</p>
<p>No offense to anyone or their writing abilities, but 95% of all essays they read take one of about 6 forms. There just aren’t all that many ways to answer that question. I guarantee you that every admissions person at the U of C has read 100 essays structured almost exactly like that one this year.</p>
<p>Personally, I wouldn’t worry about the format as much as I would take pains to let them know you’ve actually investigated the University of Chicago and Hyde Park, and can make it clear that you’re not just plugging in the usual BS you’ve already used for 10 other Common Applications or parroting what you’ve read on their website.</p>
<p>Relax, unless you’re from Northern Greenland and your essay says that you’re interested in the U of C because of the mild winter weather, there really isn’t anything you’re going to write that they haven’t read before.</p>
<p>To reiterate what Maxxwell said, you can just write a generic essay if need be. That’s what I did (though what I said I liked about UChic wasn’t as generic), and I got in.</p>