<p>Hi, I was just wondering, if it would be okay to use last year's Uchicago essay prompt, specifically 'Find x,' as my common app essay for other schools NOT Uchicago. (Uchicago is my top choice, so I'll definitely apply, but obviously not with one of their past essay prompts). Since it is not this year's essay prompt, will it be okay, if I use that prompt for my common app essay for schools like UPenn, Northwestern, JHU,etc. (applying RD)? I was really inspired by that prompt last year when I was browsing through the university website during my junior year...and I feel like I've made a decent essay out of it. If I use it for my common app for other schools, will it reflect negatively that I used the prompt of another school, even though it is not for this year's admission round?</p>
<p>Most colleges have heard of the topic since it was considered the hottest topic last year. So it would be a risk to use that headline since they might interpret it as you much more in tune with Chicago than their school. If you are using the prompt in commonapp about writing your own essay, you should always define your own title so it does not look recycled.</p>
<p>I don’t think you should use it if it is apparent that you are using UChicago’s prompt. Can you change the essay so that it fits the more general “tell-us-something” so it doesn’t seem like you’re sold on Chicago?</p>
<p>thanks for the reply. I guess I shouldn’t use the essay unless I can change it to be more general…Any suggestions on how I may be able to do that? I’m trying to take out most parts that I explicitly mention ‘x.’ Would it be too much to expect that schools might just think that I was inspired with this idea without reading the Uchicago prompt?</p>