2 different openings to my Why Chicago essay?

[mmmgirl]

<p>Hi, I don’t want to go to the trouble of PMing this short essay to someone and waiting for them to get back to me with the deadline so close, can someone please read these 2 openings and say which is better? I’m big on quotes as you can see.</p>

<p>

“Education: the path from cocky ignorance to miserable uncertainty.” --Mark Twain</p>

<p>Other universities try to eradicate uncertainty. The University of Chicago is the onlu one that appears to celebrate it. Although it attracts some of the brightest students in the country, it seems to take pride in showing them what they don’t know, whether it’s through the demanding Common Core or the quirky scavenger hunt. I don’t expect my college education to give me all the answers to the world, but hopefully, at Chicago, I would at least learn to ask the right questions.

</p>

<p>The second one:</p>

<p>

“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” --Plutarch</p>

<p>The goal of most universities these days is to fill the mind with just enough knowledge to earn a degree, get a job, and live a respectable life. The University of Chicago, on the other hand, seeks to enrich its students’ lives and force their minds to grow, to teach them to look for questions rather than answers, to bring them closer to knowing how to think, and understanding what it means to be human.

</p>

<p>Which opening is better? Or should I scrap them both?</p>

[franstar]

<p>I like them personally. You write better than I did and I was accepted EA. For some reason I like the first one a little more. I think the ending is more “punchy” and a little less generic. I would go with the first one, provided you correct the obvious typo haha…</p>

[duggan17]

<p>First one. The second one is pretty generic and is the kind of truism that all schools expect. The first one, on the other hand, is a more quirky (uchicago), insightful outlook that is probably more accurate as well. </p>

<p>p.s. my sister goes there and she loves it</p>

[mmmgirl]

<p>Thanks! I had a gut feeling that the first one was better but I wanted to be sure.</p>

[callz109]

<p>I like the first one better as well</p>

[catalyxmaster]

<p><3 your first opening. Absolutely go with it.</p>

[adscram14]

<p>First is great. Winner in my books.</p>

[stupiddorkyidiot]

<p>Absolutely the first. Just fix the typo!</p>

[lunariva]

<p>The first one was great, it really gets you interested</p>

[jwajwa]

<p>First one!</p>

[Burdened]

<p>I agree with the general consensus for the first one. Though, in my opinion, it panders just a bit too much on the “Some colleges do _____ but, UChicago, the brilliant university, does ____” It’s a sound tactic to use but, maybe muffle it slightly? o-o</p>