<p>U of Chicago had sent me a postcard asking me to describe myself in numbers... as in batting averages, Facebook friends, etc.
Do they want to see creativity?
I don't get their purpose..</p>
<p>It’s just for fun. You don’t have to do it.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>They want you to get engaged in a conversation of sorts with them, so that you think about applying, learn more about the University, feel a connection there, feel comfortable with them, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>They want you to think, “That University of Chicago isn’t like all those other colleges that are sending me junk mail. The people there are substantive, interesting, and a little funny; they care about me as a person.” So that you want to apply to the University of Chicago.</p></li>
<li><p>Maybe they want to learn something about you in a low-key, no-pressure way, unlike the formal application. After all, these are the same people who had an essay choice a few years ago asking applicants to describe themselves as mathematical functions. Some kids wouldn’t care for that; some think it’s the coolest question in the world. I don’t know whether they even save the answers, but they probably do. I doubt it can hurt you much or help you much. Maybe a little help, if when you get around to applying you manage to squelch any element of your personality in your application, but your file has some stuff in it that shows that you are not as boring as your application.</p></li>
<li><p>Whatever you do, please, please do not describe yourself primarily in terms of your GPA and SATs. That COULD hurt you.</p></li>
<li><p>Maybe they don’t want to admit any more kids with 2400 SATs and three Facebook friends, one of whom is their mom. Just kidding.</p></li>
<li><p>It’s just for fun. You don’t have to do it. If you do respond to their postcards, though, they will keep sending you more.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Hahaha okay!
Thanks!</p>