Mr. Doug

I've been browsing the Chicago website, and read a few of the prompts from years past on the application essays. Needless to say, they were...unlike other essay prompts i've seen. Obviously, there's a potential to be very silly with them, and I don't think that's a good idea, but there's also the potential to play it totally straight, which may not be totally right either. Can anyone help me with what kind of mood or tone, along with type of response they're looking for?

Captain Doubtful

You can be cleverly silly and write an awesome essay, or you can be straight to the point and write an equally brilliant essay. There's no such thing as the "type of response they're looking for". The best advice I can give you is to be yourself, write however you would write an ordinary essay except maybe put more effort into it. I'm sure that's exactly what the Admissions Office wants as well.

enderkin

One of my essays was a recipe detailing the 'ingredients' which composed the University of Chicago (these ingredients were, of course, perfect). It was cheeky, honest, and differently formatted. It was also a real homemade recipe for one of my mother's homemade dishes.
Another was just a bizarre rant about Terry Pratchett. I just answered the question there.
The third was a sad story about an elderly man and his fading wife. It's on this forum in the post-your-essay thread.

As you can tell, these essays were all very different in style and content. I was accepted RD this year.

I'd say write whatever makes you go, "Yea, that's badass."
But that's just me.

Good luck!

AuroraInTheShade

I'd say write whatever makes you go, "Yea, that's badass."

Thank you enderkin. That's exactly how I like writing essays like this. You put it into words perfectly.

(z)

This thread should help:

Post Your essay