<p>“My point was that students who didn’t receive proper training all throughout high school would probably not be as capable of writing these “uncommon essays” and will therefore be disadvantaged in the process. No amount of sample essays sent at the last minute will help much.”</p>
<p>I agree that students in weak high schools who have unsophisticated parents, teachers, are very disadvantaged in the admissions process. Sample essays, however, might help them a little even though they would continue to be disadvantaged compared to students from more educated/sophisticated backgrounds.</p>
<p>I thought the upper-middle-class crowd would be content going to good but not ultra-selective universities and LACs because those-in-the-know would know they’re good schools and they are the only people who matter anyway?</p>
<p>Nychomie… Chicago really, strongly emphasizes the essays in its admissions process. They make a HUGE point that the essays are more important than, say, standardized test scores, and they they always try to provide quirky essay prompts, clearly intended to be thought provoking.</p>
<p>A student who is “not capable” of writing an “uncommon” essay probably does not belong at Chicago, which I would expect to be an unforgiving academic atmosphere for students who are not comfortable expressing themselves in writing.</p>
<p>I’d note that Chicago’s emphasis on the intellectual side of academics, as opposed to pre-professional, means that it is unlikely to attract the sort of students who view their educations as the necessary entry point to upward mobility. </p>
<p>I also think Chicago WANTS to be seen as a place for quirky intellectuals. They really don’t want the sort of kid who is worried about whether their GPA is good enough for medical school, but rather the kind of students who want to delve in and revel in Chicago’s notoriously demanding workload.</p>
<p>I guess that’s a choice UChicago has made. I do think it’s trying to bridge the gap somewhat through pre-college students for poorer students so they will be ready to hit the ground running once they begin college.</p>
<p>I’d also add that some of the best essays I’ve ever read come from students with a lower-income or disadvantaged background, or from immigrant families. My kids went to public schools and became good writers, but their schools had little or nothing to do with it. </p>
<p>Most people who write well are avid readers – they writing skills are not taught to them but integrated through exposure to dozens or hundreds of authors. I remember being introduced to the public library at age 6 or so… my first question was whether I was allowed to use my library card to check out books from the adult sections as well as the children’s section. That library card seems like the most miraculous thing in the world to me. It was free. I am sure that I would have appreciated my library card even more if my parents didn’t also have the resources to buy me books at my favorite local bookstore. (My first ambition in life had been to grow up and own a bookstore).</p>
<p>“Most people who write well are avid readers”</p>
<p>Very true. What’s really sad is that many poor kids don’t know that public libraries are free, and also may not be able to access public libraries due to transportation problems and the closure and shortening of hours of many public libraries due to the economy.</p>
<p>"Nationwide more people applied for library cards last year than anytime since they started keeping records in 1990. Just as library funding is being drastically reduced. </p>
<p>Cities just don’t have the money to spare with shrinking budgets and more urgent needs. </p>
<p>Peter Persic, the Los Angeles public library spokesmen, warns that, “At a time when people need libraries most, some aren’t able to meet that demand and in fact are even being cut back or closed.”</p>
<p>In Philadelphia, protestors fought a plan to close 11 libraries. Still, hours will be reduced.</p>
<p>Rare is a student who can become an extraordinary thinker by himself. The vast majority need inspiration from external sources to grow. I think many schools also realistic and understand that kids in deprived environments will be less academically prepared and adjust their expectations accordingly. There are some exceptions, but they are just that-- exceptions (probably the ones who are fought over).</p>
<p>(MofWC and oldfort, I think). Epiphany to the rescue, guys. ;)</p>
<p>I happened to read another post by diana, which read almost identical to the one posted on this thread. The other was a class-heavy response to the controversial “Mom U’s daughter” [from evil Westchester County] essay which got prominent billing in the NYT Education session and prompted a number of anti-classist replies in the Comments section which followed that essay.</p>
<p>Class is clearly an issue, to say the least, on the mind of diana.</p>
<p>What on earth are those type of dumb essays have anything to do with what I posted? Are you suggesting that only the type of prompts suggested by the University of Chicago preclude the horrendous essays you listed? Are you suggesting that only the University of Chicago has been capable to offer its candidates essays that trigger highly intellectual responses? </p>
<p>Obviously, liking or disliking the past choices of prompts is an entirely subjective and individual matter. Pretending that Chicago’s past prompts were smarter and more intellectually challenging is simply … pretentious. </p>
<p>In addition, I maintain that it is hard to deny the correlation between the decision by the leadership of the University of Chicago to depart from the “Uncommon” past, to make changes such as adopting the Common Application, to play the US News ranking game and … their RECENT success in attracting a larger AND more selective group of applicants in the past years.</p>
<p>So xiggi, don’t apply there or don’t send your kids there. Why does UChicago’s approach bother you so? Btw, I think it’s a bit odd you brought in “chicago’s politicians” when this thread has nothing to do with politics. Careful, your agenda is showing. Why does UChicago have to be like everyone else just to please you?</p>
<p>I think some people are intimidated by Chicago’s prompts because there is no clear “right” answer. The Common App questions are pretty transparent and if a student looks at the college admission process as requiring them to produce whatever the ad com wants to see, the Chicago prompts are baffling. But obviously they can be very stimulating to the type of student who likes to play around with ideas.</p>