The actual UChicago 2013-2014 essay questions are up.

<p>A few of these are fabulous!</p>

<p>the fact that it’s my turn to write these essays. My friends are complaining about writing college essays, but I snicker to myself - I will have the most fun. As much as I luurvvvee bragging about myself, being able to express my creative weirdo to a top university is only the GREATEST THING EVER. </p>

<p>I still remember the day UChicago sent me a t-shirt and it had a <3 at the end of the attached letter. LIKE HYP WOULD EVER DO THAT.
I still remember the first time I visited when I was in the 8th grade. It was an instant click. My family doesn’t understand why I want to go to such an expensive school, but they don’t see what I see. I see the ardor and adoration of knowledge and life and beauty of it. </p>

<p>meeeep</p>

<p>donotblink: Based on your comments, I think you are a good candidate for UChicago.</p>

<p>good luck everyone! hope you’re keeping these questions in mind as you go out and explore this summer :)</p>

<p>For all those applying to Chicago this coming year with perfect records and not so perfect grades…I know for many of you (if not all) the ‘WHY CHICAGO ESSAY’ may make the difference between an acceptance and a rejection…so I would like to suggest the following…</p>

<p>…as you begin to write your essays think deeply and honestly about how YOUR values have been shaped over the years…how you, along with your FAMILY unit, continue to grow and INTERACT with the environment on a daily basis…how you react to adversity, how you develop integrity by choosing to do the right thing when no one is looking, how you become the peacemaker when no one dares to step in to stop a fight, how you stand up for people being bullied, how you choose to lead when others cower, how you challenge the status quo if the status quo is WRONG, how you admit to making mistakes and learning from them, how you grow each day to become a better person…</p>

<p>…essays can be of any style…but the most successful essays bring out the true authentic VOICE and CHARACTER of the INDIVIDUAL in an INSPIRING manner that cannot be explained anywhere else in your application…</p>

<p>Best wishes!</p>

<p>^what he said!</p>

<p>For the “Why UChicago” essay, i have known many ppl just copying and pasting the “Why <insert college=”">" essays from their other supplements, and then making some changes. But you should actually put in some good thought. The main extended essay is important but so is the why chicago essay.</insert></p>

<p>Can anyone explain the joke prompt to me? Am I supposed to explain the joke even though its right out there(as in super easy to understand)?</p>

<p>if anyone has the prompts from the year before - if so Id be very appreciative to have them
if possible
thanks very much</p>

<p>Chicago has them on the website.</p>

<p>If anyone wants me to give them feedback or edit their essay, I’d be glad to. I was accepted to UChicago RD (I’m taking a year off–going next fall) and I know how important the essay is. UChicago is an AMAZING school, so I’d be glad to help :)</p>

<p>Are you talking about Immanuel Kant the philosopher?</p>

<p>Yes, that’s the point I think. I’m actually pretty sure that the prompt works best when the joke is super obvious.</p>

<p>Hey people,
I think I just found myself in the tight spot. I was applying for UChicago and I wrote the essay below…</p>

<p>“In the spirit of adventurous inquiry, pose a question of your own. If your prompt is original and thoughtful, then you should have little trouble writing a great essay. Draw on your best qualities as a writer, thinker, visionary, social critic, sage, citizen of the world, or future citizen of the University of Chicago; take a little risk, and have fun.”</p>

<p>I wrote the essay and submitted it but I realized that I did not write the prompt. So will my essay be rejected just because I forgot to write my prompt?</p>

<p>You are required to submit the prompt as well. Just communicate it through the portal or by sending an email.</p>

<p>Whom should I send email, to Chicago or common app?</p>

<p>Hey everyone! So I’ve seen a few alumni hanging around this forum board, and I pose a question regarding the essay. I’ve chosen to write my own prompt, because I don’t find the premade ones particularly intriguing. Given that I’m incredibly introspective, I want to write my essay on ‘when all seems lost’, and how I’m currently experiencing depression and a lack of motivation and such. That’s the kind of essay I can truly pour my heart into right now. However, given the college’s reputation for academic excitement, I fear that an essay with such a negative perspective might kind of turn them off a bit. Of course, I intend on ending it in a highly positive way, but of course the admissions people would have to delve through the negativity part first.</p>

<p>So, in short, do any of you think that kind of an essay would be taking too much of a chance? Should I make it more positive, or maybe more externally focused?</p>

<p>Thanks for your help!! </p>

<p>I’d recommend writing whatever you feel will come out best, and if pouring all your passion into that essay will be the best you can write then do it. Keep in mind that the admissions office is looking to admit people it sees as contributing positively to the campus culture and atmosphere. Your essay may very well reflect the difficulties of life and such but make sure an underlying attitude of optimism and resilience shines through. Make it clear to them how having you on campus would add to the campus culture. I’m also sure many students write whiny essays about their petty problems, make sure your essay is not a cliche. </p>