As an incoming senior in high school, most likely you will have to deal with the “common” Common App essay questions. However, some universities are known for their un-common essay questions. The University of Chicago is a good local example. In past years, their topics ranged from essays about your favorite joke, your thoughts on Wednesdays, or your best attempt to pinpoint Waldo’s whereabouts.
The Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at U Chicago, Grace Chapin, revealed this year’s essay questions. So, as you finish your finals and recharge your creative juices, how might you answer one or two of these questions?
1. What’s so odd about odd numbers? Inspired by Mario Rosasco, Class of 2009.
2. In French, there is no difference between “conscience” and “consciousness”. In Japanese, there is a word that specifically refers to the splittable wooden chopsticks you get at restaurants. The German word “fremdschämen” encapsulates the feeling you get when you’re embarrassed on behalf of someone else. All of these require explanation in order to properly communicate their meaning, and are, to varying degrees, untranslatable. Choose a word, tell us what it means, and then explain why it cannot (or should not) be translated from its original language. Inspired by Emily Driscoll, an incoming student in the Class of 2018
3. Little pigs, french hens, a family of bears. Blind mice, musketeers, the Fates. Parts of an atom, laws of thought, a guideline for composition. Omne trium perfectum? Create your own group of threes, and describe why and how they fit together. Inspired by Zilin Cui, an incoming student in the Class of 2018
4. Were pH an expression of personality, what would be your pH and why? (Feel free to respond acidly! Do not be neutral, for that is base!) Inspired by Joshua Harris, Class of 2016
5. A neon installation by the artist Jeppe Hein in UChicago’s Charles M. Harper Center asks this question for us: “Why are you here and not somewhere else?” (There are many potential values of “here”, but we already know you’re “here” to apply to the University of Chicago; pick any “here” besides that one). Inspired by Erin Hart, Class of 2016.
6. 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.
If you are an incoming Senior, we can help guide you through the college essay/personal statement writing process. Contact us at info@morethansat.com or 847-481-9795 for a free consultation.