<p>So, is Option5 basically the same as writing a "Topic of your choice" in the Common App?
Will the admission committee frown upon applicants that disregard options 1 through 4 to make their own topic?</p>
<p>yeah... you can write a creative prompt for an already-written essay</p>
<p>Thank you for your reply. Should the prompt be definitely specified or shall I just send the essay?</p>
<p>I think writing your own prompt helps. (That's what most do).</p>
<p>Make sure your prompt isn't, "Describe an important experience to you"</p>
<p>As to whether the admission committee would frown upon applicants who go with option 5, I think the answer is definitely not.</p>
<p>At the Summer Information Day that I went to with my son back in July, I seem to recall that Libby Pearson said that most kids go with option 5, and I think she also said that she herself used option 5. I could be wrong about that -- my memory is a little fuzzy -- but I know for sure that she clearly conveyed that choosing option 5 is not a problem.</p>
<p>P.S. I certainly hope it's not a problem, because my son wrote an option 5 essay for his early action app!</p>
<p>i used option 5 and here i am!</p>
<p>So write out on the form...</p>
<p>Prompt.</p>
<p>Essay.</p>
<p>?</p>
<p>I am confused by prompt 5. Is it judged on creativity? Whats wrong with "most important experience"? Can't you just tweak it, use different words that technically ask a question similar to an important experience;)? Personally, if the university is asking to get to know you, an important experience is worth writing about; but, if its judged on creativity, then I totally understand.</p>
<p>Can anyone shed some light on this issue?</p>
<p>I don't think the point is to get to know you based on your life experiences, but to get to know you based on the way you think or tackle a difficult problem (or essay prompt). If they just wanted a description of something important that happened to you, I doubt they would waste time finding/coming up with the prompts that they do.</p>
<p>Edit: reading my first sentence again, I relaize that isn't exactly what I mean, I mean that I don't intend to belittle anyones life experiences but that the prompts seem to be more about a thought process, and who you are intellectually, but this is all just my opinion.</p>
<p>My D created a prompt and answered it. She is now finishing her first quarter at Chicago. If they didn't want answers to Prompt #5 it would not be an option, it is not a trick. However, even if you are using a previously written essay you must create an appropriate prompt. And I do believe (though i have no actual knowledge of this) that they prefer to see a prompt along the lines of their prompts #1-4. In other words, not simply, "Tell us about an important experience in your life". That may in fact be your essay, but I think they'd like you to come up with a more thoughtful prompt that would trigger your response. The creation of the prompt itself provides evidence of your thoughtfulness. Just an opinion from the parent of both a Chicago graduate and current first year.</p>
<p>yeah agreed. make up a prompt that is similar to the ones they've given you. those are, after all, prompts other kids came up with last year...</p>
<p>I don't know, but based on some of the previous essays i have read, is it meant to define character? Like, for example, the one about defining a table...whats that all about? Are you suppose to define yourself somehow through the table? I'm really confused.</p>
<p>its anything you want. your choices do define who you are, regardless of whether its self-centric or completely irrelevant to your life.</p>