IdRatherBeSATing

Penn's "You have just completed your 300 page autobiograhy. Please submit page 217" was my favorite. Stanford's "write a note to your future roomate" is also kinda nice.

Glad I didn't have to do any "What do you do for funs." I would have had to say study or make something up.

darkhope

the hardest topic that i saw but never did was michigan's...which was something like what would you be in 10 years from now O.o...

GIMEurSTRESballZ

the one for tufts asking who i was was fun. i said i had a corny sense of humor and that i was doing a great service to humanity with it.
uva didnt have the animal one this yr?

fengshuibundi

The common app ones aren't bad if you just go for writing about whatever the hell you please.

I wrote about my addiction to lawnmowing and how it's a cathartic experience!

For UVA my favorite word was "poetry" and I actually liked writing the Hopkins "free day" one.

mikenthemaddog66

When I saw the caterian cordinant plane essay for UChicago, I looked up and denounced my atheist views for a moment, only to realize the error in my actions and start pondering the perfect function to represent me.

For those that haven't witnessed this goodness...

The Cartesian coordinate system is a popular method of representing real numbers and is the bane of eigth graders everywhere. Since its introduction by Descartes in 1637, this means of visually characterizing mathematical values has swept the globe, earning a significant role in branches of mathematics such as algebra, geometry, and calculus. Describe yourself as a point or series of points on this axial arrangement. If you are a function, what are you? In what quadrants do you lie? Are x and y enough for you, or do you warrant love from the the z-axis? Be sure to include your domain, range, derivative, and asymptotes, should any apply. Your possibilities are positively and negatively unbounded.

So there you go...care to share what you are?

Student615

A few years back, Chicago had a few great ones. One was something to the extent of "What are your thoughts on Wednesday?" and another was something about how some things (Dennis Rodman included) obviously come from outer space, so choose your own extraterrestrial item and defend your choice.

My sister had one this year for Emerson that told students to imagine that they had full, unlimited access to the Boston Commons for one whole day. The question was what, given no constraints whatsoever, they would choose to use the Commons for.

I liked one of Stanford's a few years ago: take (and include) a photo of something important to you and tell us what it is and why you picked it.

I LOVED Rice's empty box!

glucose101

UChicago's essay:

Absolute-value equation...because I'm sharp/smart ;-)

I'd be boundless.

juggieburger

By far, tufts's essay "Self-identity and personal expression take many forms. Music, food, art and clothing can make a statement. Politics, religion, nationality and ethnicity often act as defining attributes. Colored wristbands and blogs express opinions and viewpoints while the minutia that adorns a refrigerator or a notebook can be clues to someone's passions. Are you an oldest child? Do you surf? Are you a vegetarian? Did you wear flip flops to the prom? Do you have a tattoo? Who are you?"

I had the most fun writing about this...I talked about spongebob squarepants, HIV/AIDS, war, and practically everything you can think of!

issymom

Best- "What is your favorite food and why?"

Worst- (Washington State University) "What will your co-workers have to say about you on the occasion of your retirement?"

Silver_and_Jade

I showed UChicago's question to my precalc teacher and he got a kick out of it. I'm sure that since then he's thought about what he would be.

Weasel8488

Yeah, Chicago's cartesian coordinates essay pwn3d all other topics.

hemingwayisdead

Even though I never directly answered the Penn Autobiography prompt, that is still by far my favourite. I modified it for my Common App essay (I applied to Brandeis) and it was a very long, arduous process but I loved the freedom and creativity I could put into such a simple prompt.

And I looooooove Chicago's old Giant Mustard prompt. And the Mind That Won't Stick.

TheGFG

My s had great fun with the Penn autobiography essay too, though he was afraid his ended up sounding either unoriginal or presumptuous since he really does envision himself as a future President of the United States!

Wonky-Faint

i loved the Rice Box. it didnt involve any writing and was just a good break from all the other essays.

TheOneCurlyFry

I like the Colgate one:

What would you pursue, design, or accomplish if money were no object?