<p>1) Should the "Why Chicago" paragraph/two paragraphs be done in the form of a creative writing piece, and does it hurt you if you simply write it straight?</p>
<p>2) When it says 1-2 pages for the Extended Essay, does that mean single or double spaced?</p>
<p>3) The optional prompt: Is this recommended, and what sort of form should I take with it? It feels like it'd just turn into a list of stuff.</p>
<p>Thanks! I'm almost finished with my applications and it'd help a lot to get some information here.</p>
<p>The honest and most succinct answer? Whatever works for you.</p>
<p>Seriously. There is almost no right or wrong way to write a U Chicago essay. But I suppose you’ll want a little elaboration.</p>
<p>1) Writing your Why Chicago essay “straight” will only negatively affect your chances if the essay is generic and boring. If you feel as if writing it with a creative slant will improve the essay, then by all means, go ahead. But if you’re forcing it, and the admissions officer can tell, that will hurt you. Personally, I weaved in a life story.</p>
<p>2) There are no precise word limits for a reason. There is enough flexibility in the length of your essay that the difference between two pages single-spaced and double-spaced is negligible, at least in regard to the suggested number of pages. Just be sure to include all the necessary details, and no more. </p>
<p>3) A list would be perfectly acceptable. It is highly implausible that doing this essay could hurt you in any way, although I’m sure it’s not impossible. Many students have been known to get in without writing the optional essay. If you feel as if you’ve already made yourself “jump off the page,” so to speak, and that doing the optional essay adds nothing that your application doesn’t already convey, then don’t waste your time. But for most applicants, a couple of essays and some basic information still seems insufficient, because, really, there is no way typed words on paper can possibly illustrate the whole you in all your multi-faceted glory. So this essay is just another opportunity for you to help the admission officers get a better sense of who you are.</p>