<p>I have a lot of reasons why I chose to apply to Uchi but are there any limits? I very much love the city and the crazyness and well it’s not really a major point but should I mention for example that one of my favorite artists is from Chicago? I mean isn’t it all too irrelevant? Or should we be really honest and just write what we want to rather than stating academic interests?</p>
<p>Be honest… this is Chicago. Don’t make it seem like the sole reason for your love of Chicago is the artist, but include it if that’s showing who you are.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s irrelevant, it shows you have some interest in the city too (which, to me, isn’t bad). Of course, it comes down to how you write it.</p>
<p>IMO you can’t be too honest unless you’re writing about how UChicago’s co-ed (or single-sex, depending on how you swing) housing is perfect for…yeah…</p>
<p>At the end of my “Why Chicago?” essay, after I made all of my career, academic and personality oriented points, I definitely mentioned Carl Sandburg and how, if the admissions officers were really really nice people, they wouldn’t keep me away from the landscape that inspired him. I think I added a “pretty pretty please, he’s my hero” too, but regardless, I was accepted EA. As long as you have substantial reasons to attend UChicago I don’t see why adding a bit about more seemingly-superficial reasons would be a bad idea. (I also agree with estrat1.)</p>