<p>Is this an acceptable practice or not? I personally feel that my Common Application Personal Statement is well-written, unique, and reveals a lot about me. Not so sure if it's Chicago style or not but it's pretty honest and stuff. Anyway, if I do this, do I have to make up a prompt to fit the essay in under Chicago's #5 Long Essay category?</p>
<p>yes, you would have to come up with a prompt.</p>
<p>and no, i don't think its a good idea. chicago acceptances are all about the essays and they put a lot of emphasis on their own prompts.</p>
<p>if you do your own, you should make your prompt just as original as one of theirs</p>
<p>I believe if Chicago realizes you recycled your common application essay for the Uncommon Application they may frown upon your application.</p>
<p>Umm, I would really be shocked if they minded as long the essay was good and gave them insight into your personality. If Chicago was that intense about their prompts, then they wouldn't be abandoning the Uncommon Application in favor of the Common Application next year anyway lol.:rolleyes:</p>
<p>they're still requiring their supplemental essay in addition to common app, so looks like the prompts are that important</p>
<p>Evilasian- If its well written like you said, then do it. We don't know what your essay is. It seems like you want us to tell you to do it, but we can't, really, without reading it. All we have to go on are the vaque generalities you are giving us. If such generalities are true, then you will be fine. But again, its hard for us to say.</p>
<p>I would agree with the others and say go original. IF your common app essay is original, then it might be okay. However, if you choose number five and just write "Question: What has been your biggest challenge...yadda yadda yadda" I think they would wonder how much you cared.</p>
<p>I would say that the admissions office would frown upon a recycled Common App essay. The application is what it is because the admissions office thinks the Common App is dumb, especially the essay prompts. Also, I get the impression that the admissions office was not happy with the switch to the Common Application. If your essay is quite original and could be a response to a unique questions, maybe it would work, but if it is just an especially good response to the Common App long essay, it probably would rub the admissions folks the wrong way.</p>
<p>How are they going to know if the essay was recycled? All you have to do is come up with a creative prompt for which your essay is the answer.</p>
<p>^Absolutely.</p>
<p>Lots of people get in using common app essays. Everyone I personally know got in with soso essays. The stigma that comes with "common app" essay is that it will be bland and unoriginal. If the essay is good, Chicago will not mind. If you can come up with an original prompt for your essay, you should be fine. However, if you rewrite the common app prompt, Chicago may not be so happy. I wrote all my essays hours before I submitted my app and still got in. I can PM some people my atrocious essays so you know that essays are not everything when applying to any college. The thing about the Chicago essays is that they have fun and creative prompts to create some self selection, and to encourage people to be creative and have some fun working on applications.</p>
<p>Although my prompt for #5 was original (and I got in) I could easily use that essay for my common app. schools (the common app also employs a "write your own prompt" option) without making my relative laziness apparent. I found the Common App prompts confining and superficial; not conducive to a strong, uncommonly well-written essay. However, if you are proud of your essay then I really believe UChicago will appreciate it, no matter where the prompt originated. They're interested in your words.</p>
<p>i used a penn essay and kept the prompt verbatim (stupid move, atleast change the prompt so the essay still fits) and got in. i also mentioned that i knew that defeated the point of their essays but this was really well-written and my best writing and it really showed something about me. and i got in, so do whatever you want.</p>
<p>If your essay is creative, original, thoughtful, well written, and revealing, then I see no reason why you shouldn't use it. I used an essay that I used on most of my applications (though none were common app schools), but with a few word additions and a title change I made it fit one of the prompts. You can always try to write another essay specific for Chicago and decide based on how it's going whether you want to go with it or your common app essay.</p>
<p>baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad idea</p>
<p>I'm doing that b/c I really love that essay, and I can't write a better one w/in these few days...</p>