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Colleges & Universities University of Chicago
1201

How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago.

Lately, I’ve been getting a lot promotional materials from colleges. I’ve gotten letters, postcards, brochures, pamphlets, packets, magazines, posters, and even a set of cards, but none of them ever really stuck with me. Then the University of Chicago sent me a book.

Admittedly, The Life of the Mind came with a letter that expressed some uncertainty as to what sort of publication it actually was. But I knew it was a book. It had a title. It had words and chapters and stories between its covers. It even had an author written on the spine: “The University of Chicago.”

I had already attended several UChicago informational sessions, so I knew the facts about UChicago. But The Life of the Mind told me the story. I knew that UChicago had core curriculum with various required classes. But I didn’t realize that the Core fostered such interesting conversation and collaboration among students. I’ve always been excited by intelligent discussion, and as a student with a wide breadth of interests, the Core would give me the opportunity to continue exploring a variety of subjects while also helping me decide on a focus.

I had heard briefly of the housing system at UChicago, but hadn’t given it significant thought. After reading the first chapter of The Life of the Mind, however, I could already picture myself in one of these 38 communities. I’d appreciate the chance to enter college already sharing a bond with others in one of these Houses.

I had read in countless other publications that UChicago offered a unique academic experience, but after reading The Life of the Mind, I finally knew what that meant. I’ve never had an interest in paleontology, but the story of Paul Sereno’s Dinosaur Science class captivated me. At a university with such unique courses and dedicated faculty I would have ample opportunity to find excitement in my coursework.

And like any good book, The Life of the Mind inspired further thought and study. I explored various other University courses online. (I would love to take a class with Steven Levitt.) I discovered the “UChicago Careers In” program, which seems perfect for me as I could potentially pursue a career somewhat removed from my field of study. I looked into student life and various student groups on campus. I read the online edition of The Chicago Maroon, which I’d like to contribute to. Each new thing I learn about UChicago affirms what I first learned from The Life of the Mind: this is a school with a unique story that I want to be a part of.

1202

Q: Most colleges and universities ask incoming students about their habits in order to find an appropriate roommate. At U of C, we believe it is more important to find an intellectual match – someone who shares an interest or passion of yours. If you could write a letter to your future roommate in which you introduce yourself in the context of one of your passions, what would you say? Be sure your essay displays both your intellect and your personality.

A: Dear roommate,

 Consider me a bilingual thinker. I will communicate with you in whichever “language” - right-brain or left-brain - you prefer. Here’s a playful chemistry metaphor to introduce you to both halves of my brain.

I resemble a Beryllium atom. I have a small atomic mass (weight), but I am surprisingly strong for my size. I am as attached to my values as Beryllium is to its electrons, and I do not change my personality under social pressure, just as Beryllium maintains its structural stability even at high temperatures.

Like my atomic alter ego, I form genuine, long-lasting relationships (covalent bonds) rather than brief, self-serving ones (ionic bonds). Just as Beryllium is a strong conductor of heat, I channel warmth to others as energetic support and encouragement. Beryllium’s protons reside in its center, and my enthusiasm and positive outlook are central to my character. I become even more positively charged when I serve others, much like Beryllium when it bonds by sharing electrons. I hope to bond with you!

Beryllium is reflective, and so am I. If you come to me with a problem, I will reflect it back to you and enable you to find a solution. Unlike rigid Beryllium, I am flexible and relaxed (you’ll be especially glad during exams).
Alone, my properties are limited; but, when combined with other atoms, the compound’s potential is limitless. I can’t wait to meet you and discover what extraordinary compounds we can create.

This year will Be great! (I couldn’t resist)

Your future roommate

**Accepted yesterday to the Class of 2019""

1203

Very good!

1204

WHY ARE YOU HERE AND NOT SOMEWHERE ELSE?

I am “here” because Frank Abagnale, Jr. went to prison. And because Frank was a supreme check-forger… and a depraved soul… who impersonated a pilot… and a doctor… and a lawyer. And because Frank’s excursions made for a compelling movie. And because I enjoy compelling movies, like Catch Me If You Can, featuring (you guessed it) Frank Abagnale, Jr. However, Frank’s excursions did not compel me to be “here.” Their foundation did. Consequently, no visual has been more memorable or meaningful than the bewildered, petrified look on a teenaged Frank’s face as his father tells him, “Just write down a name and this will all be over.”

In this scene, to finalize his parents’ divorce, Frank is asked to choose custody, or—as he sees it—to declare his loyalty.  Unable to tolerate this reality, he runs off and begins his “career” of pilot/doctor/lawyer-impersonation and check-forgery.  This scene still deeply resonates with me as it literally changed the course of my life despite bearing absolutely no parallel to my life besides the divorce: my parents weren’t financially hard-pressed, nor was there any adultery or litigation, and I, unlike Frank, was never asked to determine custody because I didn’t officially know about the divorce until 10th grade, five years after it happened.

But no, I wasn't an oblivious dope.  Throughout my childhood, my dad continuously received promotions to positions in other cities, and what little time my parents did spend together was marred by acrimony.  Separation and disagreement—the cardinal attributes of discord—were pronounced normalities.  To me, the divorce was merely a legal formality as my parents’ marriage was never functional or congenial.  So, the supposed bombshell dropped in 10th grade did nothing more than confirm an open secret.

As for why my parents waited until 10th grade, Frank is to blame.  See, on the several occasions my mom had asked me what I’d do if my parents did divorce, I jokingly replied, “I’d run away, like Frank did.”  Given that 10-year-olds aren’t known to exercise their best judgement, my parents probably deemed it safer to withhold the information.  After all, they’d always behaved like a divorced couple anyway, so I’d be none the wiser.  But had I officially known, after returning to Beijing with my mom—which would have been a conscious declaration of my loyalty—I wouldn’t have then moved in with my dad.  I’d probably have lived these crucial high school years in Beijing, under the tutelage of my mom and the influence of Chinese culture.  My path—my tastes, my dogma, my values—would undoubtedly lead to a different “here,” but probably one with less debauchery than Frank’s.

Yet, if one subscribes to the “multiverse theory”—a popular movie trope—in some alternate timeline or parallel universe, I am a 17-year-old check-forger, about to deadhead for Pan American Airways.

WHY UCHICAGO

As I turned towards the Main Quadrangles after passing the distinctive Mansueto Library, UChicago’s scholarly, oasis-like campus in a bustling city revived in me a wistful feeling of belonging. From its quirky House traditions like DelGiorno’s snack culture to its emphasis on a broad-minded, interdisciplinary education, everything about UChicago matches my own visions and aspirations.

As an institution that encourages its students to explore the resources of its surrounding city, UChicago has some eery similarities to my agenda as I, too, always chose to immerse myself in the social, artistic, and cultural offerings of my surrounding environment, whether it be a suburb of New York or a boarding school in Beijing.  UChicago’s prime location in Hyde Park allows me to conveniently transition from, say, interning at Credit Suisse in the morning to perusing free exhibits at the Art Institute in the afternoon, courtesy of an ArtsPass.

At UChicago, the liberal arts mantra is storied and strong, enabling me to pursue a multitude of disciplines through the Core.  With courses like Classics of Social & Political Thought, I’ll be engaged and captivated trying to tackle the fundamental questions of society while refining my analytical thinking and articulation—marked attributes in successful businessmen.  Through UChicago’s flexible quarter system, I can feasibly partake in UCI Business treks to supplement my Economics major via networking with employers and advanced courses at Booth.  I may even get a chance to study under the tutelage of professors by the likes of Steven Levitt.

True to its namesake city, UChicago is a crucible of remarkably diverse cultures, philosophies, and passions, and is nothing short of the ideal place for me to cultivate a dynamic, interdisciplinary outlook and further my interest in economics.  But above all else, I most sincerely desire something I currently lack: a connection to others who also share my intellectual curiosity, my zest and dedication, and my diverse, multi-cultural/geographical experiences.  At UChicago, this camaraderie is alive and well, and these are the qualities I wish to contribute.
1205

My Why UChicago essay wasn’t really all that great, and, not gonna lie, I kind of re-used some lines from other “Why ______” essays, so I’m a little hesitant to post it here.

For the uncommon essay I did my own question. 99% of the reason was because I wanted to write about how much I love puns. Admittedly, I wrote the essay first and then wrote a prompt to fit it (I’d seriously recommend doing that if you wanted to write about something badly enough.)

What kind of humor appeals to you? Satire or slapstick? Black comedy or parody? What does this reveal about your personality?

I love puns.
The natural response to that statement would be to shake your head and wonder how many bad puns you'll have to endure throughout this essay. I get it! Puns suck. But they're completely underrated—just hear me out.
Puns don't take themselves too seriously. They know they make people roll their eyes and groan, "that was so lame!" But despite their bad reputation, they're probably the most clever form of comedy there is. The well-crafted pun requires a sharp wit and a strong grasp on the English language. The amount of intelligence required for such wordplay is underappreciated—even Shakespeare used puns, and just look at the influence he's had! I'd like to think that Shakespeare wasn't a tortured man lamenting over love and having existential crises, but a mad genius who decided to put a dirty pun into the title of Much Ado About Nothing for no other reason than mess with his audience. And he even made a dying man's last words a pun—Mercutio, indeed, was a "grave man." No one who takes themselves entirely seriously would write that into a tragedy. 
My friends would probably tell me that my love of puns just makes me super cheesy. I won't dispute that—I'm a musical-theatre-loving pickup-line enthusiast and proud of it. But that's not all. It's really the subtlety of wordplay, and the wit that they require, that draws me in. The kind of media that I like is subtle social commentary. The kind of conversations that I like to have are Shakespearean in nature, snappy repartee and sly jokes without breaking a sweat. But I try my hardest not to be too elitist or pompous. I'm inspired by the cleverness and modesty of puns, in how they can be so ingenious and yet be laughed off. 
I used to have that air of superiority associated with someone taking themselves far too seriously. That's what I get, I suppose, for letting my placement in advanced fifth-grade math go to my head. Quite honestly, it was just that— having been called "gifted" throughout elementary and middle school, I somehow internalized that mindset, started believing that I was better than everyone else. Unlearning that has been a long journey—not making judgments on others' intelligence, allowing myself to make mistakes and grow from them without feeling like a failure, learning how to actually study for tests instead of thinking that I'm above putting in effort.  I'm not going to say that puns are some kind of driving force behind my journey, but I definitely feel like my love of them is a reflection on how far I have come.
And look, it's the end of the essay and your fears of me shoehorning bad puns into this essay were completely unfounded. I haven't used any at all.
(See, here's the thing—I also love irony.)

And then I had a really long bullet point list for the optional q.

Books:
• “The Namesake” by Jhumpa Lahiri— The first book I’ve ever read for class that I could relate to in a meaningful way. It’s about the experience of a first-generation American from an immigrant family, and so many parts were extremely similar to my own experience.
• “A Song of Ice and Fire” series by George R. R. Martin—The magic of ASoIaF is Harry Potter-like with its fantasy and dragons and immense, complicated world, but also vivid and human in how it follows the development of each character, in how they connect with one another. As Ben from Parks and Recreation would say, “They’re telling human stories in a fantasy world.” And I, a sociology-major-to-be, love that.
• “The Magicians” series by Lev Grossman—Another magic series? Yeah, another magic series. This one subverts every single cliché about magic series, though, which is what I love about it.
• “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” series by Douglas Adams—Need I say more?
• “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley—Really interesting social commentary, if a bit racist.

Paintings:
• “Judith Beheading Holofernes” by Artemisia Gentileschi—Judith is portrayed as raw, powerful, and real. Not like the dainty, removed-from-violence Judith from other paintings (ahem—Caravaggio, I’m looking at you.) Artemisia was ahead of her time. I’d have liked to have been friends with her.
• “La Belle Dame Sans Merci” by Frank Dicksee (and the poem of the same name by Keats)—Seeing women portrayed with power in old paintings makes me happy, I guess.

Films:
• “Her” (2013)—So far removed from every “futuristic” world I’ve ever seen in movies that I didn’t recognize it as the future at first. They cut out every use of the color blue in order to make the future seem warm, inviting, human. Something about that is incredibly touching. I’d like to think that’s the most realistic and beautiful future there is. Again, the sociologist in me was amazed by the human connection present in a genre that’s usually so focused on plot and world-building.

Plays:
• Shakespeare, especially his comedies—Much Ado About Nothing is my all-time favorite, Twelfth Night a close second. That Romeo and Juliet movie with Leonardo DiCaprio was great, too— I love it when Shakespeare isn’t taken so seriously. (Touched on in my uncommon essay!)

Poems:
• Slam poetry of all kinds—especially from the “Brave New Voices” competition. I thought I didn’t like poetry until I discovered it. The poetry is all written by youth, uncensored and unrestricted, talking about everything from sex to racism to their grandmother’s cooking. The emotional impact of listening to slam poetry is breathtaking. I’ve never felt anything quite like it.

1206

@chicagoessays I love your pH essays! I tried writing that prompt but didn’t come up with anything half as original as yours, so I went with “why are you here.”

1207

This is my supplement essay to the prompt:

Why are you here and not somewhere else?

Life is beautiful and magnificent, albeit lived by struggles and plagued by issues
that truly derive from one’s inner self. The act of being is a gift, so great that its sheer
existence is refuted yet conceded as existence is a reality and so are its merits. I
indisputably define life as “Greatness waiting to be achieved, in your area of expertise,
may you know it now or not, you are here for a purpose and it will be revealed once you
realize not where you are now, but why you are here.”

Everything in the universe holds a common purpose to fulfill its mission,
however, some are incomplete or diverted from their original path. These unfortunately
forfeited missions are the truth and the light in the complexity of the modern world. They
have been replaced with inferior and despicable errands to counteract the sake of being.
These errands are not here, they are found over there on the other side of consciousness,
where progress meets stagnation. In the dim area where crossroads are common between
the two extremes of the spectrum, there is only one truth. That truth upheld as what is
here is righteous and clear in their intentions, for they are holistically precise.

My absolute mission in this world is to become a Pediatric Neurologist in order to
make sure those with lost missions in this world find their special interest, be it from
Classic Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome. They are unique, special, and loving individuals
that are disoriented from social norms and ideologies. They see everything but lack true
understanding of the world around them; they seek for answers but are restrained by the
limits of their capacities allotted to them since birth. They have an amiable potential,
which is easily disturbed, by word or action. They are the greatest philosophers,
mathematicians, and anything in their area of expertise, their isolated interest.

I am here on this Earth to fulfill my mission and create great progression in the
uncertain field of medical Neurology. I am here to unlock the greatest lock in existence,
the lock that restrains potential for future greatness, life is not as it comes, but rather how
you make it. I am here to change the lives of individuals with neurological disorders, so
they can truly understand the meaning of everything around them, life.

I got wait listed with a 26 on my ACT, I was honestly surprised!

1208

OPTION 6: In the spirit of adventurous inquiry, pose a question of your own. If your prompt is original and thoughtful, then you should have little trouble writing a great essay. Draw on your best qualities as a writer, thinker, visionary, social critic, sage, citizen of the world, or future citizen of the University of Chicago; take a little risk, and have fun.

This essay was inspired by numerous debates I have had over the past two years on this hypothetical solution to inequality.

Big or small, problems pervade our lives. Come up with a solution to a problem and explain why it would/would not work

Kids brought up in Bangkok tend to see income and opportunity inequality as the norm.

I was no exception. The view of slums placed next to high-rise condominiums worth millions was “business as usual” in the Thai capital. Then came the tumultuous month of May 2010: deep political unrest brought to the forefront of society the grotesque reality of income inequality, and more importantly, the prevalence of inequality in opportunity in Thailand. For the next three years, I educated myself through the Internet. I read relentlessly as I came to discover that this problem is globally pervasive. Indignation filled me with each day gone by. Then, one day, finally…I devised what I thought was the solution to this glaring problem. It was going to be revolutionary. Or so I thought.

Imagine an economy wherein inheritance tax is set at 100% and there is a state-funded, universal, free, standardized educational system. Would equality in opportunity exist?

After extensive pondering on my own and discussing with every authority on Economics I happen to meet, I arrived at a conclusion. As obvious as it may seem, such a system would never work in the real world. The more important question, however, is why?

Allow me to elaborate:

Firstly, a 100% inheritance tax would act as a huge disincentive to work. With such a tax in place, nobody would be able to leave items of value for other people. This means that people will be less productive because they do not have to work as hard to accumulate wealth for their children, as there would be no point in doing so. This argument, however, begs a refutation: people would still work hard to better their lives when they are still alive and when they die, their children would have to work to gain their own place in society independently. Consequently, society would truly be meritocratic. If a meritocracy is what we strive for then is this proposed system, perhaps, the key to Utopia?

Problematically, such a system would be incredibly hard to maintain and implement. An inheritance tax rate of 100% will encourage massive tax evasion. Although tax evasion can be kept in check (or at least minimized), the amount of resources required to do so may make it economically unfeasible. Furthermore, there may be problems pertaining to migration: with an absolute tax rate, individuals would most likely choose to migrate to an economy wherein tax rates are lower. However, one can, once again, argue that society as a whole could counter these actions by unionizing the world’s economy, amalgamating all nation-states into a colossal world state (peacefully, of course) wherein federal forces crack down on tax evaders. The resources required would also be cut down due to there being only one world government. If equality in opportunity is what we seek, is this not the solution?

As I reflect on this model, I recognize that it draws us to an increasingly controversial topic in society: where do we balance liberty and state intervention for the “common good”? The creation of a ‘One World State’ scares a vast amount of people because it could make way for an authoritarian, tyrannical government similar to those depicted in 1984 and V for Vendetta.

Okay, okay. Let’s ignore the fact that this will never happen. Even if citizens of the world accept a world dominated by Big Brother, there would still be a gaping hole in the aforementioned policy. If the aim of setting an absolute inheritance tax rate and forcing standardized education on people is to equalize opportunity, then wouldn’t children brought up in higher-income households still have more opportunities than their lower-income counterparts? Again, one could go a step further and suggest a central schooling system in which children are brought up in identical facilities but the idea of prying children away from their parents is wholly against human culture. To do so would be to destroy the most fundamental unit of society: family.

Don’t get me wrong, inequality in opportunity is definitely a problem. I personally believe that less income inequality and inequality in opportunity will lead to stability, innovation and higher long-term economic growth. I think we, as a society, should do something to tackle this issue. Enforcing an absolute inheritance tax rate and a universal educational system, however, is not the ideal choice. Let’s go with a moderate inheritance tax and progressive taxes on both capital and income (with a negative income tax for the lower brackets), maybe?

Accepted RD :smile:

1209

Accepted EA class of 2019

Here’s my why UChicago essay. Probably the main reason I got in.

I’m pacing around my pool table, looking for the perfect shot. Examining the different clusters of balls, I see an opening, a straight shoot into the pocket. I lean close to the table and line up my shot, adjusting my angle appropriately. As I force the cue forward, I notice a slight quivering in the corner of my eye. Retracting my cue, I wander over to the eight ball, which, for some reason, is violently shaking. I rub my eyes to make sure I’m seeing clearly. I am. Weird.
Slightly unnerved, I decide to walk back over to my shot, glancing at the shaking eight ball occasionally. Dismissing it as just another one of life’s mysteries, I strike with my cue. The balls scatter accordingly, and I hear several plops. Satisfied, I walk over to inspect the pockets.
There’s nothing in them.
Really unnerved, I begin to question my sleep patterns. Searching around the pool table, I see no sign of the balls. Suddenly, I hear an incessant rattling, The pool table itself had erupted into a vigorous trembling, stirring the balls on top of it like an overcharged pinball machine. As I step away in fear, I hear my doorbell. Eager to escape from the pool table, I sprint to answer it. It’s my neighbor, innocuous and concerned, holding several pool balls. “Are these yours?”
This story is true. It’s based on the inner machinations of the universe. If the quantum mechanical effects that apply to electrons and photons were enlarged to the scale of our daily lives, we would routinely experience the same strange phenomenon in this story. In the quantum world, everything is shaking and colliding in a perpetual blur. Particles can exist in two different places at once. It’s not uncommon for a photon to exist before our eyes and at the edge of our atmosphere at the same time. Things can pass through physical barriers. The pool balls that vanished into my neighbor’s house, for instance, can represent particles that had traveled through walls, through the ceiling of my house and through my neighbor’s door onto an unsuspecting lap.
Quantum mechanics may sound like a far-fetched sci-fi concept from an Arthur C. Clarke novel, but it’s backed up by numerous calculations, which makes it so interesting. Modern particle physics is essentially science-fiction coming to life. For me, quantum mechanics is something that I have to learn about, not because of its practical applications or the fact that there are Nobel Prizes reserved for its beholders, but because it’s just so weird. It’s a concept that warrants further investigation.
I want to attend the University of Chicago because I want to ask Professor Jonathan Simon how he explores the quantum frontier using ultracold atomic gases, and what exactly topologically insulating quantum circuits are. I want to dissect the nuances of particle dark-matter annihilation at the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics and to experience the leading accelerator technology at FermiLab, the country’s only laboratory dedicated to particle physics. I also want to be able to take a break from studying to discuss the impact the Giant Magellan Telescope will have on space exploration with leading expert, Professor Edward “Rocky” W. Kolb.
I see Chicago as a place where I can pursue my love for physics and science in general. But unlike any other university, I also see Chicago as a place where students regularly discuss Sartre and Plato, where debates often break out about the limits of state action, where it’s not uncommon to stay up all night comprehending general relativity. It’s a place almost as sophisticated as the quantum world, and just as enticing.

1210

I told myself if I finally got accepted I would post my essays, so here’s my optional favorites one, the only one I can post without cringing at the thought of strangers reading it.

Accepted RD for the class of 2019 after being deferred. There is hope, future deferrees!

We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.

The first time I stumbled upon this phrase, I was in middle school. I don’t remember what I was doing on the internet, but somehow I ended up coming across it. There was no citation, no context whatsoever that could lead me to the origin of the phrase. Nevertheless, it stuck with me. For weeks I would run it over and over again in my mind: We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams. It was beautiful and truthful, and I considered it my personal motto. I was vaguely curious about its origin, but not enough to delve further.

Recently, at my friend Lucy’s house, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory flickered on the old TV screen in her living room. One moment haughty Veruca Salt was demanding to know who had ever heard of a snozberry, and the next Willy Wonka held her face and said in an admonishing tone, “We are the music makers. And we are the dreamers of dreams.” I asked for Lucy to play it back again — yes, Willy Wonka had certainly said that. Huh, I thought. So that’s where it comes from.

My search, however, was not yet over. A quick Google query revealed that Willy Wonka wasn’t the writer of my phrase. It came from a poem by Arthur O’Shaughnessy called “Ode.” The first lines, the ones that had resonated with me for years, were followed by three stanzas of incredible poetry. Lucy was the one who found the full nine-stanza poem. The original had been abridged in a copy of The Golden Treasury in the late nineteenth century to its initial three stanzas, which is often assumed to be the entire poem. I printed out a copy of the full poem and taped it above my bed, where it remains today.

I can’t quantify why the poem rings so true for me — it acts as a reminder that we are all human, we are all capable of dreaming and imagining, and we are all equal. It is easy to forget that I am not the sole sufferer of stresses and injustice; every single person I’ve ever met has a story that I don’t know. When I’m afflicted by feelings of uselessness and frustrated with how small my influence is on the wider world, I turn to O’Shaughnessy’s words: “Yet we are the movers and shakers/ Of the world for ever, it seems.” I like how unashamedly self-important the poem seems in speaking for the entire race, lumping everyone into a vague “we.” It portrays humanity as a collaborative force that can accomplish anything, while reinforcing everyone’s individuality with the message that we are all dreamers. I see “Ode” in the moments of small happiness when the clouds are colored orange by the sun or my favorite song plays on the radio: “And therefore to-day is thrilling.” I see it in the moments colored dark by sadness or loneliness: “For we are afar with the dawning/And the suns that are not yet high,/ And out of the infinite morning/ Intrepid you hear us cry.” Most of all, “Ode” is my reminder that we are united by our commonalities rather than separated by our differences. The people I detest and I people I idolize, all of us human. For we are music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.

1211

All your essays are truly humbling. Incredible work.

1212

So I am a transfer student, and I am planning to write something like…real crazy. I will post the prompt first to see if people like it or not, then I will post my work up to get some feedback.
Essay Option 6.
In the spirit of adventurous inquiry, pose a question of your own. If your prompt is original and thoughtful, then you should have little trouble writing a great essay. Draw on your best qualities as a writer, thinker, visionary, social critic, sage, citizen of the world, or future citizen of the University of Chicago; take a little risk, and have fun.

My prompt: Imagine a conversation between you a higher being like gods. What will it be like ?

I will write about playing Russian Roulette with Fate. How do you think about that ?

1213

Guys, I need help with proofreading and I’d love to know what you guys think about this! :slight_smile:

Essay prompt: If you could balance on a tightrope, over what landscape would you walk?

I would walk over the landscape of Disneyland California. Why, you may ask? I have gone there once to celebrate my 18th birthday. It was captivating specially when the dark moon started to stay up in the sky. I remember this incident has happened to me about a couple of times since I was a young girl. Back then, girls my age would often talk about the Disney characters, particularly the Princesses. The first time it happened, I just looked at them, listened, and nodded. I was not sure which princess was which. It happened so many times, I started to ponder about it. One night, I realized that perhaps it was because I have never seen any disney fairytale movies with my parents. I grew up in a home environment where my parents would usually be watching dramas at night. Who was Pocahontas? Who was Mulan? What are the differences and similarities? All I knew was that they were all princess and they were all looked up to by most girls. I remember going to one of friends’ birthday party when I was around 9. We were gathered to sing the happy birthday song to her and as we were singing, I stared at the little icing figurines of various disney princesses. Then, the other girls beside me started chatting and arguing about the princesses. I was quiet until they asked for my opinion. My cheeks flushed as I shrugged my shoulders.

On my recent 18th birthday, walking around Disneyland with more mature eyes, I found it to be some sort of paradise. Through all the crowds of people, it definitely felt peaceful and alluring. I have a fear of heights yet I strongly feel the desire to gaze at it with an eagle’s eye view. I started watching Disney movies a couple of months ago and a mist of epiphany hit me. I thought the stories were unrealistic yet influencing. How could little girls aspire to look and be exactly like them? I guess liking dramas with real people gave me a more realistic view of the world around me. I am aware that the walk would be blood-curdling and nerve-wracking. The winds might come too strong but I would still try to make steps toward the other end of the rope while looking down at the beautiful castles of the paradise that is below me. A little flick of my toe and I might end up collapsing to the ground. Would that be really a tragedy if the cause for me dying was something such as that? I realized that every story’s ups and downs are essential parts of that spectrum. However, at the end of the day, it is us, who could interpret stories if either what happened was a happily ever after or a sad, unfortunate ending.
1214

The instructor said,
Go home and write
a page tonight.
And let that page come out of you—
Then, it will be true.
—“Theme for English B” by Langston Hughes

if someone could give me some tips on this topic, it would be much appreciated :slight_smile:

1215

Hmm. Maybe try like a James Joyce style stream of consciousness type of thing. That’s an interesting prompt!

1216

@xxaraaa: Hey, it looks like we’re doing the same essay topic! Are you doing EA?
Anyways, I think your essay is good but could be better. You picked a pretty unique place to balance over on a tightrope, but you didn’t really explain about your experience on the tightrope? How did it really feel to watch the wonders of Disneyland from below? Was there any connection you had between your childhood and Disneyland from where you were on top of the tightrope?

1217

To everyone who completed the UChicago optional section, did you guys just list and give a short description of each, or did you elaborate on certain topics that you thought were important to you?

1218

I’m a proponent of picking one topic and latching onto it like a dog with a bone. A list tells the reader you can put together a list of well-known (or not) works of literature. A more detailed exploration of one work gives you a chance to get your personality across.

Don’t be afraid to pick something obscure. If you write about how Homer’s Odyssey makes you feel, the reader may like it. He/she may also

a) tune out; or
b) disagree with your stance and be (unconsciously) biased against you. Subconscious bias happens to the best of us.

If there’s a topic you think none of the other 30,000+ applicants will write about, that can work very well. UChicago is one place where you aren’t liable to be judged for having eccentric passions.

1219

Hey guys, quick question here. I’ve written a draft of the creative essay, but I’m having some conflicts. Does the creative essay need to be about YOU? Or is it more of a way for admissions to see how you think? If I chose a topic like the mantis shrimp one, the apples vs. oranges, Waldo, etc. do those essays still somehow have to relate to me? Thanks!

1220

The extended essay is your chance to show how you can approach something in an unconventional way. You don’t need to feature in it, as long as your personality comes across through your writing.