<p>Omg… I posted a screenshot on tumblr about the clamfart thread and its getting notes lol. But that aside, I’m really paranoid that I’ll finally submit my app in december and then remember that I forgot to include a really important achievement or whatever.</p>
<p>Maybe if I pray hard enough, I can get into NYU Stern WITH a reasonable financial aid package. LOL DREAMS.</p>
<p>lol tinny i don’t even believe in god but i’m hoping that divine inspiration happens on my essays :)</p>
<p>Class of '16 here, just like to encourage you guys on!</p>
<p>You made it! Just a few more months! </p>
<p>As for the dreaded essay, I highly recommend you check out a couple of college essay books, they seem really helpful based on what I’ve read</p>
<p>Those books never seem to address my concerns, though. They’re usually mostly about how to find a topic. I already know exactly what I want to say, but the problem is that I don’t articulate things well. I don’t think in words.</p>
<p>That, and they’re usually about the Common App essay. I already wrote that…now it’s just those awful supplements.</p>
<p>I read a book called “50 Successful Stanford Application Essays” which gave ideas [yes, I know the irony] on the mechanics of the essay.</p>
<p>However, you don’t really need something crazy for an essay. I saw an essay about a babysitting job and how working with a child made the writer more patient, but more focused</p>
<p>@heather exactly! the uchicago essay is gonna kill me, it’s so hard being articulate</p>
<p>What’s the topic this year? I really liked last year’s of “Where’s Waldo”. I am obviously not a senior, but I would have loved writing that topic using stochastic analysis and history, showing the balance between humanities and STEM that I crave, which is done well at UChicago</p>
<p>well, i think the popular one this year is “compare apples and oranges” but I’m drafting the prompt about telling a joke and explaining it without ruining it, for now. I also like the history one.</p>
<p>I wanted the list of essays so I didn’t have to google it, but I decided just to post the essay topics for future reference:</p>
<p>ESSAY OPTION 1.
Winston Churchill believed “a joke is a very serious thing.” From Off-Off Campus’s improvisations to the Shady Dealer humor magazine to the renowned Latke-Hamantash debate, we take humor very seriously here at The University of Chicago (and we have since 1959, when our alums helped found the renowned comedy theater The Second City).</p>
<p>Tell us your favorite joke and try to explain the joke without ruining it.</p>
<p>Inspired by Chelsea Fine, Class of 2016</p>
<p>ESSAY OPTION 2.
In a famous quote by Jos</p>
<p>I love the history one. I like the joke one. The mantis shrimp one is weird. I don’t even understand #2 and I’m not sure on what they want for the apples/oranges one</p>
<p>I think Essay #2 is about a prized possession or whatever reflects who you are.</p>
<p>For example, I am me and my sound [I’d then write about my love of music and how it ties me all together]</p>
<p>Ok well I still don’t get apples/oranges. Care to explain?
Also, Q on the CA. For the activities section it asks if I intend to participate while in college. If I intend to do something similar, but not exactly the same do I check Yes or No. Like I intend to do theatre again in college, but not with the same organization. I also intend to join a religious youth group in college, but not the same one I did in HS.</p>
<p>Oh and thanks @Apollo11. You gave me an idea for prompt 2 for UChicago</p>
<p>I think you check yes, because you’re planning to continue along the same EC path as before and your interest extends beyond high school. Obviously you’d have to change organizations because you’re moving.</p>
<p>I hate collegeboard too, but I’m grateful for commonapp’s existence. Otherwise I would probably only apply to 4-5 schools.</p>
<p>@superstarlala</p>
<p>When people say you can’t compare apples to oranges they’re saying you can’t compare two things that are very different from each other. So, the question is how would you compare the worth/usefulness/meaningfulness/purpose of two very different fields/ideas? Science versus humanities comes to mind.</p>
<p>I want to apply to UChicago now because I love their essay prompts.</p>
<p>Those prompts are great. The apples and oranges one is fantastic.</p>
<p>Harvard’s supplement is so scary:
Write about “something.” Go.</p>
<p>Apparently the social scene at Chicago is pretty ****ty…and their essay prompts are ridiculous…</p>