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Last updated March 28, 2023

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How to Write the UChicago Supplemental Essays

Admissions officer reviewed by Ben Bousquet, M.Ed Former Vanderbilt University

Written by Alex McNeil, MA Admissions Consultant

Key Takeaway

The University of Chicago requires you to write two supplemental essays. For both, you’ll upload a separate document instead of pasting your essay into a textbox.

In this post, we’ll address the elephant in the room (those pesky, infamous UChicago prompts), and we’ll go over the best strategy for answering them.

Let’s dive in.

Prompt #1: The Quirky Prompt

First, some logistics. You’re required to choose from one of the following six prompts, and your answer should be one to two pages in length. Make sure you put your prompt choice at the top of the page!

Now for the strategy. Perhaps some of the most famous prompts in college admissions, the University of Chicago questions are well-known for being quite odd. But their quirky and intellectual spirit perfectly lines up with the learning culture at UChicago.

To show that you belong at the University of Chicago, you’ll need to choose the best prompt for you and answer it in a way that aligns with what UChicago admissions officer are looking for. It should also align with your cohesive application narrative .

Since Chicago is known for its robust intellectual culture, these essays are your opportunity to show that you belong in that culture. No matter the prompt you choose, your approach should be intellectual, creative, and even interrogative. You should show a passion for the life of the mind and a natural ability to pose and answer questions. Your unique perspective and original thought should be clear. In short, you want to show that you can hold your own in a UChicago classroom.

Let’s take a look at the prompts.

1. Was it a cat I saw? Yo-no-na-ka, ho-ka-ho-ka na-no-yo (Japanese for “the world is a warm place”). Moze jutro ta dama da tortu jezom (Polish for “maybe tomorrow that lady will give a cake to the hedgehogs”). Share a palindrome in any language, and give it a backstory.

—Inspired by Leah Beach, Class of 2026, Lib Gray SB ’12, and Agnes Mazur AB ‘09

Here, you can pick any of your favorite palindromes. You might pick one in English, or, if another language is important to you, you could find one in another language, too. Your backstory could be funny or serious. But it should definitely be thoughtful and creative. Write about the person who invented it, the situation that led to its first utterance, or even a mytholgy behind it.

2. What advice would a wisdom tooth have?

—Inspired by Melody Dias, Class of 2025

Avoid. Cliches. If you pick this one, please don’t write about a truism your admissions officer will have read a thousand times. You’ve got to have a real piece of wisdom. It can still be fun or humorous or creative, if that’s who you are. But don’t let it be generic.

3. You are on an expedition to found a colony on Mars, when from a nearby crater, a group of Martians suddenly emerges. They seem eager to communicate, but they’re the impatient kind and demand you represent the human race in one song, image, memory, proof, or other idea. What do you share with them to show that humanity is worth their time?

—Inspired by Alexander Hastings, Class of 2023, and Olivia Okun-Dubitsky, Class of 2026

You can take this essay in so many different directions. You can take a more intellectual approach and choose something about which you are an expert. You could use the prompt as an opportunity to exhibit a particular passion for art, music, math, or more. Or you could take a more creative approach and choose something a bit unconventional. As you’re deciding how to answer the prompt, you can think about which areas of your application need bolstering. Is your application STEM heavy so you want to show a bit of your humanities background? Are you missing a little personality, so you want to say a bit about your interest in art? Figuring out where gaps are can help give you direction.

4. UChicago has been affiliated with over 90 Nobel laureates. But, why should economics, physics, and peace get all the glory? You are tasked with creating a new category for the Nobel Prize. Explain what it would be, why you chose your specific category, and the criteria necessary to achieve this accomplishment.

—Inspired by Isabel Alvarez, Class of 2026

This prompt is maybe the tamest of the six options. Your answer could be more straightforward, too. Maybe you genuinely believe that there should be a Nobel Prize in the study of history or sociology. If you can make your case, great! Your answer doesn’t have to be quirky. It can simply be genuine and thoughtful. Of course, you can still have fun with the question, if you want. Answers like “babysitting” or “pizza making” will probably catch your UChicago admissions officer’s attention. You’ll just have to be careful to actually answer the prompt: include your explanation, the “why” behind it, and the necessary criteria. Remember that the goal of your essay is to show that you’re a good cultural fit for UChicago, so be mindful of what your answer contributes to your overall application narrative.

5. Genghis Khan with an F1 racecar. George Washington with a SuperSoaker. Emperor Nero with a toaster. Leonardo da Vinci with a Furby. If you could give any historical figure any piece of technology, who and what would it be, and why do you think they’d work so well together?

—Inspired by Braden Hajer, Class of 2025

What do you notice about the examples at the beginning of the prompt? They’re all funny and totally out of left field. They’re pairings of famous people with some of the most random objects you can think of. If you want, you can take that formula and run with it: pick your favorite historical figure, then pick a random object that is memorable and humorous but that you can also make a good argument for. Alternatively, you can take the opposite approach. Pick a piece of technology you want to write about, and then match it up with a historical figure that makes for an interesting story. Your essay can show creativity, humor, ingenuity, critical thought, and more.

6. In the spirit of adventurous inquiry, pose your own question or choose one of our past prompts. Be original, creative, thought provoking. 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 option is the most bold. If it’s good enough, you may even inspire future prompts. But if you’re going to take the risk, you’ve got to go big. Your prompt should be one that’s truly thought provoking and original. Study current and past prompts to get the tone right. You’ll want to write several drafts of the prompt to get the wording just right. Run it by your friends, loved ones, and teachers to get feedback. And once you have the prompt, your essay will have to match it in quality and level of thought. Good luck!

Prompt #2: Why UChicago

After answering your odd prompt, you’ll quickly shift back into a standard “why us” essay with this next prompt.

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.

As with any “why us” essay, you’ll want to start with some research. Look into academic and campus life. Reflect on UChicago’s values, mission, and motto. Do in-person or virtual information sessions or campus tours, and go down any rabbit holes that call to you. In particular, spend time looking at courses, faculty, student research, clubs and organizations, communities you align with, educational atmospheres that are appealing, and interesting research or internship opportunities.

Once you’ve figured out what you like about UChicago, return to the question at the center of the prompt: how does it “satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future?”

One part of this prompt that students often neglect is the “your own wishes” detail. Your essay shouldn’t just be about UChicago—it should be about why UChicago and you are a good mutual fit!

So in your essay, lay out your own wishes—your goals, hopes, and plans—and describe the specific parts of the University of Chicago experience that will help you fulfill those wishes. It’s all about showing fit.

And you’re off! It’s time to start your UChicago essays. I know these are some of the most daunting ones, but relax and have some fun with them. If you haven't already, be sure to check out our post on the University of Chicago Common Data Set and our How to Get into University of Chicago guide. And if you find yourself needing more essay support, you can always look to the Essay Academy, our digital college essay course that covers everything you could ever want to know about college essays.

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How to Write the University of Chicago Essays 2019-2020

The University of Chicago, located in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, is known for the rigorous academic experience it offers its students. In 2019, the University of Chicago tied for 3rd on US News’ Best Colleges Rankings . This high ranking reflects UChicago’s excellent academic programs, faculty, resources, and reputation—but these factors also make admission to UChicago highly competitive. In the 2018-2019 cycle, UChicago accepted only 5.9% of applicants. UChicago admissions also stands out for another reason: the UChicago supplement is known for its quirky and challenging prompts. Read on to learn how to tackle these essays! Want to know your chances at UChicago? Calculate your chances for free right now.

Want to learn what University of Chicago will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take? Here’s what every student considering University of Chicago needs to know.

An Overview of the Prompts 

In total, you’ll need to answer two essay prompts on your UChicago supplement. 

• The first prompt, which all applicants must answer, asks how the University of Chicago fits your academic and community needs, as well as your future plans. The “suggested” length for this response is 500 words.
• The second essay that you’ll need to write is far more open-ended. The “suggested” length is 650 words, and you can choose from six prompts, all of which are highly unconventional. Each prompt is inspired by current UChicago students or recent graduates. You can also choose to answer any of UChicago’s old prompts instead.  

1) Required: 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 (500 words suggested).

Like most schools, UChicago’s “ Why School ” essay serves as a way of separating the applicants who are genuinely attracted to the school and its resources from those who have interests elsewhere.

The prompt does not provide a word limit, so in this case we recommend that your essay ranges from 650-750 words. This may sound like a lot to write, but it actually provides you more space to really dig into the reasons for why you are applying. Unlike schools with a shorter word requirement, you can use the space to touch on all aspects of the university (e.g. from its academics to research opportunities to student life) instead of writing only about the top one or two things that draw you.

Use this opportunity to reveal all of your different interests—both academic and non-academic—as the university really supports the idea of students who are diverse in their passions and have the drive to incorporate them into their college career. It’s not a surprise to find a break dancer who is also doing research in infinitesimal calculus or a chemistry major working on an independent journalism project.

One way you can approach this essay is by dividing your “reasons” into four categories: academics, research/internship opportunities, extracurriculars, and campus life. For each of these categories, find one or two points to talk about. Make sure to be as specific as you can, and always connect each point you mention back to how it relates to you.

For example, saying something like “UChicago has great academic programs” is not as effective as saying “The spirit of innovative problem solving which led to the world’s first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction matches my own desire to make great strides in the field of physics.”

While topics pertaining to academics and research opportunities can be easily found through a comprehensive search on the university’s website, it may be helpful to speak to students of the university pertaining to the latter two categories. To get you started, we have talked with CollegeVine consultants who are currently attending UChicago and compiled a few reasons why they love the student life on campus. This is not a comprehensive list, so if you have another reason that resonates more with you, definitely use it!

Reason 1: UChicago has many long-standing traditions such as Scav (which previously held the world record for being the largest scavenger hunt in the world up until 2017), Humans v. Zombies , and Kuvia (a week-long event where houses on campus participate in early morning exercises) all of which are hosted by its many clubs. This means that students can not only participate in traditions that have spanned across generations of students, but also be part of the planning process from their first day on campus.

Reason 2: Clubs get a lot of support from the school, and new clubs are given platforms to grow. This means that you will always be able to find people who share similar interests as you.

Reason 3: UChicago’s social activism clubs are very involved with the issues affecting the South Side of Chicago. They are helping to shed light and turn the narrative on a neighborhood that is often misunderstood and misrepresented in the broader eyes of the nation. This means that students are committed not only to their studies, but also to utilizing what they have learned in order to make an impact on the world.

Reason 4: The housing system on campus is very detailed and clearly has the intention of forming smaller communities and helping first years assimilate into college life. Rather than having students randomly assigned to a dorm, the college takes great care in matching each student to a specific dorm on campus that would reflect their personality and interests. Additionally, the RH and RAs are all trained to create a warm, family-like environment.

2) Required: One of 6 options (650 words suggested):

We’ve now arrived at UChicago’s well-known and off-the-wall essay prompts. So what’s the deal with these prompts? First and foremost, remember that UChicago’s goal is to challenge applicants and gain unique insight into how they think–and into their personalities and senses of humor! These prompts are designed to discourage formulaic or generic responses; the only way to ace these prompts is to think creatively.

Though all of the prompts UChicago puts out each year (and the ones from previous years, which are also options for you to answer) are unique, there are a few features that many of the prompts share. The prompts often ask applicants to reflect on, explain, add to, or elaborate on a phrase or idea. Often, this idea or phrase can seem silly on the surface, but these superficially absurd themes link to deeper questions and values. Indeed, the most compelling responses to these prompts often strike a balance between seriousness and playfulness, showing off both an applicant’s lighter and more reflective sides.  

These prompts can seem intimidating. But remember, this challenge is also an opportunity! UChicago gives its applicants a chance to let their whimsical sides shine through. Embrace this essay as a rare opportunity to have some fun while you show who you are and how you think.  

UChicago’s “seventh prompt” also offers insight into the motivation behind their infamous essay questions. This note, which invites students to make up their own question or to respond to previous years’ prompts, reads: 

“In the spirit of adventurous inquiry (and with the encouragement of one of our current students!) choose one of our past prompts (or create a question of your own). Be original, creative, thought provoking. 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!” 

Here, the UChicago admissions committee is basically telling you what they are looking for from applicants in these essays. As you consider which prompt to answer, you should also ask yourself which of these prompts will best enable you to embody the “adventurous inquiry” that UChicago encourages. 

Choosing a Prompt 

The first step to take advantage of this opportunity is to pick a prompt to answer. For some applicants, one of UChicago’s zany prompts will immediately stand out as exciting and intriguing. If one of the prompts has really caught your attention, you’re in luck! However, other applicants struggle to choose a prompt that best fits their unique perspective and experiences. If this sounds like you, ask yourself these questions:

• Which prompt would I most enjoy writing a response to? Which prompt would I most enjoy reading a response to? 
• Which prompt will allow me to incorporate and display my knowledge or passion in my response? 
• Which prompt provides the best opportunity for me to show my values and way of thinking? 
• What dimensions of my personality are missing from, or underrepresented, in my application? Which prompt might allow me to showcase these traits? 

Even after mulling over these questions, you might still be unsure which prompt to answer. That’s OK! Read on to hear our breakdown of each of this year’s six prompts; reading the ins and outs of these options will help you to further assess which prompt is the best vehicle to convey your character, values, and perspective. 

Essay Option 1

Cats have nine lives, pac-man has 3 lives, and radioactive isotopes have half-lives. how many lives does something else—conceptual or actual—have, and why, —inspired by kedrick shin, class of 2019.

Understanding the prompt

The first sentence of the prompt plays on different sayings and facts about lives. By listing an old saying, a fact about a video game, and physics property, this prompt invites you to think creatively about the concept of “lives.” The prompt’s first sentence combines disparate statements about lives using the same format: “X has Y lives”; the second sentence of the prompt invites you to add your own item to this list. 

Though coming up with a “something else” is one of the major challenges of this prompt, the challenge won’t be over once you’ve picked your topic. In an essay like this, the “why” is almost as important as the “what.” You’ll likely be able to explain how many lives “something else” has in one or two hundred words; this will leave you with almost a whole essay to explain “why” your item of choice has a certain number of lives. 

This setup — a fairly simple, though creative question, and then a lot of space to explain your response — is perfect for writers and thinkers who want to display both the wittiness and depth of their thought. Effectively explaining why something has a certain number of lives will require well-structured thinking and writing, as well as careful reasoning. 

Conceptualizing your answer 

Your first step in answering this prompt will likely be to pick “something else” that has lives to focus on. Before you begin in-depth brainstorming, consider these guidelines:

• Do not pick several things to focus on–this prompt asks about “something else,” which indicates that you should build your essay around one particular concept or item and its lives. 
• Avoid writing about something identical or very similar to the items already listed in the prompt; if you write about another video game or about a specific radioactive isotope, your essay will likely seem unoriginal to the admissions committee. 
• Consider how the “something else” that you choose to write about fits in with the rest of your application. You don’t have to choose something that is obviously connected to your interests or activities (for example, if you play tennis, you don’t have to write about the half life of a tennis racquet). However, you should think about how your topic of choice will fit into the larger picture of who you are.

With this in mind, let’s consider examples of stronger and weaker approaches:

Example 1: A student who has struggled with her faith might write an essay about how “humans have only one life.” The student might describe in detail how she grappled with her religious upbringing and with the question of whether or not there is an afterlife. Drawing on theology, as well as on her own experiences and moral views, the writer might argue that she now believes that it is important to live her life in the present, as if it is her only life. 

This topic’s strength is its obvious personal resonance and depth; its weakness is that it could easily become very heavy or philosophical. To balance this out, a strong execution of a prompt like this would include some lighter or more humorous examples, as well as vivid, detailed memories from the applicant’s life. 

Example 2: A student who is a long-time runner and artist could write an essay about how running shoes have four lives. The writer could explain how they wear their running shoes for track practices and meets first; then, when the support begins to wear out, they wear those same shoes for gym workouts and day-to-day walking; when the shoes get more worn out, they wear them for their part-time job mowing lawns, where the shoes quickly get even dirtier and more beat-up; finally, the student repurposes the rubber from the shoe’s soles for art projects.  

This response could be strong because of its highly personal nature; it uses a single object’s “lives” to also paint a picture of the applicant’s different interests and experiences. Moreover, the applicant could also create a powerful illustration about their belief in creatively reusing and repurposing objects. At the same time, this kind of approach is a good fit for UChicago’s unconventional and slightly irreverent essay philosophy. 

Example 3: An applicant who is really into cultural commentary and sociology could write an essay on a certain clothing style that has come back into fashion three times. This essay could weave together pop culture knowledge, insightful social critique, and funny personal anecdotes to explain why certain styles have so many lives and what this says about our society.

This approach could turn this prompt into a great vehicle for an applicant to display their knowledge of the social sciences and their ability to offer insightful analysis of seemingly superficial phenomena. The ability to thoroughly and engagingly contemplate even mundane phenomena is an impressive one, and an essay the demonstrates this skill could land well with the admissions committee. 

Example 4: A student who has worked for three summers at a forest ecological reserve could write their essay about the four lives of butterflies (egg, larva, pupa, butterfly). This essay would go beyond a mere factual description of the butterfly life cycle, and could instead explain what this life cycle has taught them about human life, our ecosystems, and processes of transformation.   

A topic like this one, like the previous example, offers an opportunity for the applicant to display their specific knowledge of a particular subject area. Nature-writing is a storied sub-discipline of creative writing, and if the applicant is able to create compelling, vivid descriptions of nature — interspersed with insightful personal reflections — this essay could effectively communicate the applicant’s passion for biology, writing skills, and broader worldview.

As you brainstorm topics for your own essay, ask yourself these questions:

• What things or people seem to return in different forms throughout my life?
• What elements of our culture seem to recur or transform over time? 
• What other objects or beings do people talk about colloquially as having multiple “lives”? 
• Have you ever felt that you or someone you know is starting a new life? 
• How do you define “life,” or differentiate one life from the next? 

Essay Option 2

If there’s a limited amount of matter in the universe, how can olive garden (along with other restaurants and their concepts of food infinity) offer truly unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks explain this using any method of analysis you wish—physics, biology, economics, history, theology… the options, as you can tell, are endless., —inspired by yoonseo lee, class of 2023.

This prompt’s absurd yet logical premise — the physical impossibility of Olive Garden’s unlimited breadsticks — invites applicants to throw away traditional reasoning and truly take this prompt wherever they desire. Despite this freedom, the prompt’s setup is also a constraint; your essay will ultimately need to have something to do with finitude, infinity, and breadsticks. 

By asking applicants to use a “method of analysis,” the prompt hints that students should take a scientific, or pseudo-scientific, approach to answering this question. At the same time, the vast range of disciplines that the prompt lists (and their further note that the options are “endless!”) leaves plenty of space for applicants to answer this question from their own perspectives. 

Before writing, take a step back from the prompt itself and remember that this is, like the first prompt, an opportunity. In this case, though, it’s an opportunity to either show off your knowledge of a given area, or show off your off-the-wall creative thinking. No matter what, this prompt offers you a unique chance to demonstrate how you think — and, potentially, to show your sense of humor. 

As you dive into planning your response, keep these points in mind: 

• This prompt asks you to “explain” how Olive Garden offers “truly unlimited” items. This means that it is not asking you whether or not Olive Garden really offers unlimited items; the prompt stipulates that unlimited items are offered, then asks you to explain how this can be. 
• Note that the prompt asks you to use a “method of analysis.” This language invites you to bring an academic spirit of thoroughness and rigour to your essay. Though non-systematic approaches could work, this prompt is inviting you to marshall the tools of research to respond to this question, so keep this in mind as you draft your response. 
• Don’t take this prompt too seriously; this question has an inherently absurd and ironic edge to it. Even if you decide to offer a very technical and “serious” response, keep in mind that your response will likely be read by the admissions committee as at least partly ironic. 

With this in mind, let’s consider how you can approach this prompt. Though there are obviously many (if not infinite!) ways to respond, most approaches that you could consider will fall into one of two categories. 

One approach is to focus on using your existing knowledge to answer this prompt in a fairly serious, fact-based way. If you have deep knowledge of any of the disciplines mentioned in the prompt (or of other disciplines that you think are relevant), you can construct a compelling response that demonstrates that proficiency. 

What would this look like? Consider these examples: 

Example 1: A student who has knowledge of world food systems and of mathematics might do some research into the location and typical business volume of Olive Gardens across the US. Then this student could write up a few equations to demonstrate that it is virtually impossible for Olive Garden to run out of soup, salad, or breadsticks on a given night. They could conclude that Olive Garden is able to promise unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks based on the practical reality, not on a theoretical one. 

This response’s efficacy would hinge on careful research and clear, impressive mathematics; it would work well for a student who seeks to demonstrate their systematic, rational, and thorough approach to answering questions, big and small. 

Example 2: A student who is knowledgeable about business and psychology could approach this prompt through the lens of those fields. This applicant could dive into the history of “free” or “unlimited” marketing schemes, explaining how these sorts of offers developed as a business strategy, and how customers respond to this kind of marketing. Ultimately, the writer might conclude that Olive Garden’s breadsticks, salad, and soup are not unlimited, but because of the fallibility of human intelligence and the expertise of advertising and manipulation, Olive Garden can make whatever claims they want.

This response could be effective and engaging because it would blend dry, witty cultural commentary and genuinely impressive academic knowledge. This approach could tie strongly into the application of a student whose other application materials demonstrate an interest in psychology, politics, economics, cultural criticism, or even humor or satire. 

If you do not have knowledge of relevant disciplines, you can embrace the absurdity and take a more creative approach to this prompt. This could mean:

• Re-telling the story of the big bang to explain why the laws of physics that apply to the rest of the universe do not apply to Olive Garden.
• Analyzing Olive Garden’s cooking process to explain how they circumnavigate the laws of physics. 
• Creating a short fairytale or myth that explains how Olive Garden’s staff can be sure that they will never run out of these resources.

Essay Option 3

A hot dog might be a sandwich, and cereal might be a soup, but is a __ a __, —inspired by arya muralidharan, class of 2021 (and dozens of others who, this year and in past years, have submitted the question “is a hot dog a sandwich,” to which we reply, “maybe”).

This prompt offers you a blank slate to consider how one thing relates to another. Perhaps you have overheard — or been part of! — a discussion about whether a hotdog is a sandwich during a family barbecue or during a summer afternoon with friends. During these kinds of debates, people on both sides often have very strong intuitions about what should or should not be classified in a given category. This prompt gives you the chance to leverage the never-fading debatability of these kinds of questions to show what kind of classification debates interest you. 

The beauty of this prompt is that a strong writer and thinker could turn almost any response into a compelling essay. Even two obviously related terms (“Is water wet?”) could delight or inspire the admissions committee if handled in the right way. Like all the UChicago prompts, the key here is not only what you write about, but what you do with the 650 words you’re given.

With that said, it’s a good idea not to make this essay more challenging than it needs to be. To avoid sabotaging yourself, consider these tips as you choose a topic; these will help you pick a topic that has strong potential to demonstrate who you are and how you think. 

Because of the fill-in-the-blank structure of the prompt, your brainstorming should aim to come up with two items, one for each blank. The words in the prompt’s examples have the following conceptual relationship: the first word is a specific object (a food) and the second item is a more general kind of food. The relationship between the two words is that the first one “might be” classifiable as something that fits into the second category. As you think about what words to pick, keep in mind this template for how the two words relate.

Before you start brainstorming or writing, remember this:

• This prompt is not asking to answer the questions: “Is a hot dog a sandwich?” or “Is cereal a soup?” The prompt has already answered these questions (“maybe!”). Like most of UChicago’s prompts, this prompt wants you to take a basic kind of question and go beyond it . This essay should be about two things that you want to discuss, compare, or relate to one another — not either of the examples given in the first two clauses of the prompt.
• Avoid picking a topic that you think is “impressive” but that doesn’t really connect clearly with your interests, personality, or passions. 
• At the same time, don’t be afraid to go outside your comfort zone; if you’re a social sciences nerd who hasn’t had space to include your love of particle physics in your application, this might be a great place to showcase that under-represented side of your interests. 

With these tips in mind, let’s consider different approaches you could take that maintain the basic conceptual structure of the prompt. To do so, let’s go through some examples:

Example 1: “Is a tomato a fruit?” This essay could open with vivid descriptions of the role that tomatoes play in the writer’s family’s cuisine — and around the world. Then, the writer could shift to describe how science views tomatoes (which are, indeed, technically a fruit). Using this contrast, the applicant could discuss the gap between cultural norms around how a food is consumed (savory versus sweet uses, for example) and the scientific definition of “fruit.” 

This example has strong potential. This is because it is similar to the other two items in the original prompt; it is (1) also about food and (2) taps into a popular debate. However, it offers a twist on the structure of the prompt’s first two clauses because there is a “scientific answer” to the question. This response would not be interesting if the writer simply answered: “Yes, a tomato is a fruit because scientific categorization says so.” However, by highlighting personal experiences and cultural practices — and how they diverge from science’s definitions — the writer could create a strong essay that demonstrates how they think about food, culture, science, and social norms. 

Example 2: Another student could ask: “Is a human being an animal?” Using their knowledge of the relationships between different species and ecosystems, this writer could first offer witty comparisons between the lifestyle of human beings and other animals. Then the writer could transition to focus on the vast ecosystem impact that human beings have in comparison to the minimal impact of animals. The writer could conclude in the same way that the admissions committee does: with “maybe” as the answer. 

This approach has good potential because it could allow the applicant to demonstrate their knowledge of environmental and ecosystem dynamics while maintaining a witty and engaging tone. Furthermore, because of the focus on how human beings impact the world around them, the applicant could also demonstrate their broader views and values.

The two examples above follow the same structure as the prompt’s first two items: they involve asking whether one thing fits into a broader category. Because we’re dealing with UChicago’s prompts, which are famous for pushing applicants toward unexpected and creative answers, you might be wondering whether you can — or should — consider throwing away this basic conceptual structure. The short answer is yes. A really clever or interesting idea that doesn’t fit into the “is a hot dog a sandwich” conceptual relationship could be effective, though perhaps a bit risky.

However, a poorly executed response that picks two random words and inserts them into the “is a _ a _” schema will likely fall flat for the admissions committee. If you are tempted to take this prompt in a totally unexpected direction, read these words of caution before you begin writing:

• Generally speaking, using this structure to ask a seemingly random question (for example “is red an angry color?”) is a risky strategy. UChicago wants its applicants to take risks, but they also want thoughtful, well-written responses; if it seems like you’ve chosen a topic just to be “different,” your essay might come across as impersonal and pandering, rather than as a deep and powerful reflection of who you are and how you think. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule; an applicant could successfully execute the “Is red an angry color?” example by writing an amazing essay about optics and how the human brain processes color.
• Using this structure to write about a topic that you’re passionate about — but that doesn’t really fit the structure — might also not be the best idea. Questions like “Is a peaceful world an achievable goal?” or “Is a gun an item that should be regulated?” could set your application back. Why? Well, these examples push the boundaries of the original prompt, both stylistically and conceptually; to some admissions officers, it might seem obvious that the applicant is heavy-handedly using the prompt to fit their own agenda, rather than finding an elegant and clever way to respond within the “Is a _ a _?” structure.

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Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographic, and other holistic details. We’ll let you know what your chances are at your dream schools — and how to improve your chances!

Essay Option 4

“fiction reveals truth that reality obscures.” – jessamyn west, —inspired by elizabeth mansfield, class of 2020.

This is a classic minimalist prompt; the admissions committee gives you a six-word quote from Jessamyn West, an American novelist and short story writer, along with 650 words to respond to or reflect on the quote. If you’re a literature or film enthusiast, future English major, or creative writer, this prompt might be a natural fit for you; it provides an opportunity to discuss what creative or fictional art means to you. 

So, what does this quote actually mean? Essentially, West’s quote is saying that fiction has value because it can expose truths that are hidden in everyday life. This could mean basic or practical truths (for example, truths about people’s living conditions or even about scientific facts) or it could mean more conceptual truths (for example, truths about right and wrong). 

There is no one way to respond to a prompt like this, but below we’ll go through some basic strategies for approaching this prompt and organizing your thoughts. First, though, let’s discuss some basic parameters:

• Make sure that your response addresses the relationship between fiction, truth and reality — these ideas are at the core of the quote, so they should be at the core of your essay, too! 
• Make sure that your response reveals something about you; this is not the place to write a short academic essay on the life and work of Jessamyn West or to write a purely philosophical treatise about the nature of reality. 
• Think about the role your response will play in your application as a whole. Ideally, this essay should add depth and complexity to the admissions committee’s understanding of you. Avoid conveying information about your passions, motivations, or worldview that is already clear from other essays; if your Common App essay is about what writing fiction means to you, avoid just reiterating the points you made there. At the same time, avoid giving a response that seems totally discontinuous with the rest of your application; If you describe yourself as a fact-obsessed scientist elsewhere, it might not be a good idea to do a 180 here and claim that you think fiction contains more truth than science.
• Remember that you don’t have to agree with the quote; you can also respond with an argument or examples that qualify (“This is true of good fiction, but not of all fiction…”) or critique West’s quote (“I disagree with her quote because…”). 

If you’ve picked this prompt, you likely have something to say about fiction, reality, and truth — but you might not begin with a carefully-reasoned argument to defend your opinion. To effectively answer this prompt, you’ll need to come up with a creative, clear, compelling strategy to argue for, or illustrate your own view, on West’s quote. 

How can you do this? Here are a few ideas for broad strategies that you can consider:

A personal approach. Does this question speak to your life and experience? If so, don’t be afraid to answer this question through the lens of your own experience. 

Example 1: A student could write about how Harry Potter, though fiction, exposes universal truths about power, discrimination, and the efficacy of collective action that are often hard to see in day-to-day life. This applicant could briefly describe a few specific moments or scenarios from the books, explaining how these correspond to specific real-world situations where the “truth” might be hard to see. The writer could also focus on how this scenario influenced their own actions or view of the world. 

A historical approach. If you’re a history buff, you might be aware of historical examples of art that revealed truth. Another strong, focused strategy could be to pick one particular example from history and discuss what it shows (in your opinion) about West’s quote; to ensure that this essay is personal, you could also describe how this example inspires or informs your view of fiction, truth, and reality.

Example 2: A student could write about a specific artist who used their work to subvert an oppressive regime. After briefly describing this artist and their work, the applicant could shift to explaining what truth this art exposed, and how or why “reality” obscured this truth. To make the essay more personal, the writer could write about their personal link to this art. 

A creative approach. If you yourself are a creative writer, this prompt could become a canvas for you to display your own abilities. This could mean incorporating poetry or prose into your response, or even creating a whole short story in response to the prompt.

Example 3: Rather than writing an expository piece about why this quote is or is not true, you could use your own creative writing to show how fiction can expose truths that reality conceals. One way to do this might be to write a short piece of fiction that depicts something that is not often seen in reality. This can be a risky strategy, since your essay will likely not include a clear statement of your position on West’s quote; if you choose this approach, be sure to have trusted teachers, advisors, or peers read your essay to ensure that it is compelling and fits the prompt.

Writing your essay 

The ideas above are intended to help jumpstart your brainstorming for this prompt. However, the potential directions that your essay could take are almost infinite! 

As you write, remember that the prompt does not define “fiction,” “truth,” or “reality.” It’s up to you to decide how to interpret these terms. What matters most is showing the admissions committee that you have thought deeply and carefully about this quote — and, more broadly, about fiction, truth, and reality. 

Furthermore, be sure that you are consistent in your term usage throughout your essay. If you define truth at the start of your essay as “verifiable scientific facts,” and then later you write about truth more abstractly (for example, about moral or religious truths), your essay may feel inconsistent or confusing. 

Essay Option 5

Uchicago has international campus centers around the world, but we don’t have any interplanetary, interstellar, or interdimensional campuses… yet propose a spot in time or space, in this or any universe, for a new uchicago campus. what types of courses would be taught at this site what cultural experiences await students who study there, —inspired by peter jasperse, class of 2022.

This prompt is quite different from the others in that it is far more specific and directive; it invites you to imagine and propose a very specific “alternative reality.” If you’re a student who is passionate about being part of a certain kind of learning community or who is excited by utopian ideas that push the limits of human ingenuity, this prompt might be a good fit for you. 

Let’s take a moment now to list the different parts of the prompt that you need to address in your essay:

• Propose a spot in time or space, in this or any universe, for a new UChicago campus.

The first step of an effective response will be picking a time or space for your imaginary UChicago campus. Don’t be afraid to get specific. Strong, creative writing requires imaginative scene-setting; this will likely be true of this essay, too!

• What types of courses would be taught at this site?

This part of the prompt implies that UChicago’s academic curriculum might vary based on the school’s new campus location. Essentially, this prompt is inviting you to consider how the location of a school might influence not only its culture and atmosphere, but also its academic curriculum. 

• What cultural experiences await students who study there?

This question might be easier for many students than the previous question; high schoolers often think about how a college’s setting will influence their experience on its campus; now, you just need to apply your imagination to your proposed new UChicago campus!  

First, let’s start with a word of caution. When you’re invited to imagine an alternative reality, it can be tempting to go overboard and throw in every ideal characteristic that you can imagine. 

Example 1: Imagine an essay that proposes that UChicago establish a new campus on the moon, with a full spa and swimming pool facility, inter-galactic exchange students and amazing, space-inspired cuisine. The essay could go into immense detail about these resources and all the different space-oriented courses that the campus will offer.

Why this approach is weak: Though writing an essay on this moon campus could be a lot of fun, it might not convey that much information about you, since you’ll likely get caught up in describing the out-of-this-world, over-the-top campus. A response like this is more likely to read like a description of your dream vacation than as an insightful discussion of your dream education.

To avoid this kind of less-than-insightful response, take a step back and think about your educational and community values and priorities. Consider these questions:

• What is it that attracts me to UChicago in the first place? How could these values grow in a different setting?
• What do I believe is the purpose of college education? How does a school’s setting interact with or contribute to this purpose?
• What connections or insights do I think humanity needs to gain? How could a strategically-oriented UChicago campus help us gain these insights?

Once you’ve thought through these questions, pick a location that will allow you to highlight how your proposed UChicago 2.0 campus would realize your vision for higher education. In the end, this could turn out to be moon campus after all! Consider this tweaked version of Example 1:

Example 2: A student who cares deeply about climate change and who thinks that human beings need to carefully and ethically explore the possibility of living on planets or moons beyond earth could write a compelling essay proposing a moon campus. They could explain how this campus could both help humanity adjust to and learn about life beyond earth, and also give students a deeper appreciation for life on earth. This essay could even play with the fantastical possibility of alien exchange students , in the context of promoting cross-cultural understanding and sensitivity as human beings expand to new intergalactic territory.

This response would have some clearly science-fictional elements, but would not read as a purely superficial and fun proposal to have a dream vacation campus on the moon. By grounding the essay in the applicant’s beliefs about planetary destruction and the need for an ethical approach to space colonization, the applicant could successfully blend fantastical space speculation and meaningful, cohesive insight into their views on the matter. 

Strong responses can also be more practical — don’t let the prompt’s focus on “interplanetary, interstellar, or interdimensional campuses” force you towards a completely fantastical response. If there is a place on earth that you’re excited about, feel free to keep your essay firmly grounded on earth. Or, if you’re fascinated by a particular period in history, you could situate your proposed campus somewhere in the past. Consider these examples:

Example 3: Imagine an applicant who is passionate about international relations and cross-cultural understanding as well as marine biology. This applicant could write an essay proposing that UChicago build a floating campus that can move around the world. This campus could aim to provide students with an intercultural education, offering courses specific to the locations where the campus will dock each semester. The writer could also propose that the new campus’s STEM programs can offer research courses that involve diving and collecting specimens from specific ocean regions that the campus passes through. This sort of response could be highly creative, but also relatively realistic.

Example 4: An applicant who believes that many contemporary problems arise because human beings have not studied and learned from society’s past mistakes could use this premise as the motivation for an interdimensional campus. This proposed campus could essentially exist in limbo, offering courses across time and space to allow students to study history in real-time. The campus could also offer extracurricular and cultural activities across time and space, to expose students to the past foundations of modern cultures and beliefs. This essay could be centered around a few specific examples of courses or extracurriculars that the campus would offer, which would keep it from being too abstract. 

As you brainstorm and begin drafting your essay, your overall goal should be to balance creativity with deeper insight into your own values. The intentionally absurd and fantastical wording of the prompt is an invitation to create a proposal that bends — or goes beyond — the laws of physics or logic. However, no matter what laws you’re bending, be sure that your own educational dreams and priorities shine through. 

Essay Option 6

“don’t be afraid to pick past prompts i liked some of the ones from previous years more than those made newly available for my year. also, don’t worry about the ‘correct’ way to interpret a question. if there exists a correct way to interpret the prompt i chose, it certainly was not my answer.”, —matthew lohrs, class of 2023.

This prompt is, essentially, not a prompt — like the “seventh prompt” that we discussed in our general overview of this essay, this prompt serves as a reminder of the spirit and philosophy behind UChicago’s famously unconventional supplemental essay.

This prompt’s reminder that there is no one “correct: interpretation is also a timely reminder for us, as we near the end of this post. This post should get your creative juices flowing; it can help you see prompts from different angles, and also can help you relate your own knowledge, experiences, and beliefs to these prompts. However, aside from writing a response that might be taken as xenophobic, racist, sexist, or otherwise bigoted or insensitive, there is no “wrong answer” to these prompts. The only way to give an “incorrect” response is to create an essay that is poorly written, not carefully thought-out, or that does not offer an insightful peak at who you are or what you stand for. 

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University of Chicago (UChicago) Supplemental Essays Guide: 2021-2022

Not sure how to approach the UChicago essay prompts? With tips from one of our Admissions Experts, CollegeAdvisor.com’s UChicago supplement essay guide will show you exactly how to write engaging UChicago essay responses and maximize your chances for admission. If you need help answering the UChicago essay prompts, create your  free account  or  schedule a free consultation  by calling (844) 576-0968.

UChicago  Essay Guide Quick Facts:

• UChicago’s acceptance rate is 7%— U.S. News  ranks the University of Chicago (otherwise known as UChicago) as a “ most selective ” school.
• To maximize your admissions odds, we recommend answering all UChicago essay prompts thoroughly and thoughtfully.

Does UChicago have Supplemental Essays?

Yes! In addition to the main essay prompt that you’ll encounter in the  Common App  or  Coalition App , you’ll also have to answer several UChicago essay prompts. The UChicago essay prompts are notorious for their unique nature and play a major role in admissions.

Need some help writing your Common App essay? Get excellent tips from our  Common App essay guide .

What are UChicago’s Supplemental Essays?

The UChicago supplement essay prompts for 2021-2022 are on the  Common App site , but you can also visit the  main UChicago site  for a full list of application requirements, including the UChicago essay prompts. Be sure to pay attention to the UChicago essay word limit, which we’ll address for each prompt below.

How Many Essays Are Required for UChicago?

There are  two  school-specific UChicago supplemental essay prompts in the 2021-2022 Common App. Both of the UChicago essay prompts are required for all applicants.

How Do You Write UChicago Essays?

We have provided the UChicago essay prompts for 2021-2022 below. You’ll find a breakdown of how to approach each of the UChicago essays as well as tips for creating an application narrative that will stand out in admissions.

The UChicago essay prompts are famously unique. If you’re wondering how to approach them, check out our UChicago supplemental essay examples on the CollegeAdvisor Blog. Our UChicago essay examples will help you approach these strange prompts with confidence.

Let’s hop in!

UChicago Essay Prompts – Question 1 (Required):

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. (no word limit)

This UChicago supplement essay prompt falls in line with many of the “Why this school?” supplemental essays you’ll likely encounter. To cultivate a class of students who embody UChicago’s goals and values, Admissions Officers want to make sure that you have thought through the reasons why UChicago is the best place for you. To give you the space to answer this question as best you can, there’s no UChicago essay word limit for this prompt. Your answers to the UChicago essay prompts should showcase the specific academic and extracurricular reasons why you belong at UChicago.

Set your goals

First, ask yourself what your goals are for college, both academically and personally.

In terms of academics, why do you want to pursue your specific major? What classes, research opportunities, and other academic resources can UChicago provide you that will fulfill your academic desires? Then, think about what you want to accomplish after you graduate. Do you have other areas of academic interest that UChicago is able to support? How do you want to combine your academic interests to create a cohesive and unique educational experience? All of these questions can help you craft a strong UChicago essay.

In relation to your personal goals, what kind of communities do you want to join as a college student? Are there certain extracurriculars or types of activities in which you’d like to participate? What do you want to accomplish in your extracurriculars or through other communities that UChicago will offer? How do you want to use your college experience to grow as an individual?

Be specific

Then, conduct some research using the UChicago website and any other resources available to you. This way, you will be able to make your UChicago essay as specific and personal as possible.

The operative word in this UChicago supplement essay prompt is  specificity ! As you research and write, consider the specific resources and opportunities that UChicago can offer you in helping you to create your college experience. If you can substitute “UChicago” with any other college and the essay still makes sense, then it is not specific enough for a UChicago essay!

Let’s revisit the UChicago supplemental essay examples for this particular prompt. In the first of the UChicago essay examples, the author begins the essay with a reference to a campus visit, which shows demonstrated interest in the university, and sets the tone by recounting a classroom conversation that made an impression on them.

When I visited UChicago, a friend invited me to step into her Comparative Literature class: Monstrosity and the Monstrous.

In this piece, notice the specificity. The best UChicago essay examples, like this one, don’t just mention a class but tell you  which  class they visited, and/or are excited about. In fact, successful UChicago essay examples like this one read like a highlight reel of the university—the student is showcasing all of the research and first-hand experience they’ve had with the university’s classes, professors, and traditions.

Now, it’s surreal to imagine taking “The Economics of Crime” from someone as renowned as Professor Levitt (I’ve been a fan since reading Freakonomics) and staying after class to clarify the finer points of the latest Freakonomics podcast (I particularly enjoyed “Speak Softly and Carry Big Data,” on using data analysis to perfect foreign policy decisions).

In the second of the UChicago essay examples for this prompt, the author doesn’t specifically mention any classes, like in the first of the referenced UChicago supplemental essay examples. Instead, the author uses a random conversation had while visiting UChicago’s campus to draw a bigger point about interdisciplinary studies and how they hope to find community at UChicago.

A few days ago, I had the pleasure of visiting UChicago’s campus. What I found was exactly what I’d hoped for: an absurdly specific and drawn-out debate over which poem was better, The Iliad, or The Odyssey.

In both of the UChicago supplemental essay examples, the authors demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the campus and are able to list specific places, classes, and traditions that they’re interested in. Also, both UChicago supplemental essay examples avoid mentioning things like the prestige and reputation of the university.

Fortunately, we have two examples for this UChicago essay prompt. Make sure to read both UChicago supplemental essay examples. These UChicago supplemental essay examples are unique and yet each captures the essence of what the prompt is asking.  You’ll also find insight from our experts on what made these UChicago supplemental essay examples truly great.

UChicago Essay Prompts Key Questions:

• First, does your draft clearly communicate your academic and personal goals?
• Next, do your goals relate to the learning, community, and future you’d like to use your college experience to find?
• Finally, have you shown how you can take advantage of specific UChicago resources to reach those goals?

UChicago Essay Prompts – Question 2 (Required):

While the first UChicago essay is fairly traditional, the second UChicago supplement essay—the “extended essay”— is a bit stranger. As far as college essays go, this UChicago essay is famous in the world of college applications for perhaps being the most creative prompt that students will encounter. Here are the UChicago essay prompts:

Choose one of the six extended essay options and upload a one- or two-page response. Please include the prompt at the top of the page.

1. What if the moon were made of cheese? Or Neptune made of soap? Pick a celestial object, reimagine its material composition, and explore the implications. Feel free to explore the realms of physics, philosophy, fantasy…the sky is the limit! (Inspired by Tate Flicker, Class of 2025)

2. What’s so easy about pie? (Inspired by Arjun Kalia, Class of 2025)

3. In Homer’s Iliad, Helen had a “face that launched a thousand ships.” A millihelen, then, measures the beauty needed to launch one ship. The Sagan unit is used to denote any large quantity (in place of “billions and billions”). A New York Minute measures the period of time between a traffic light turning green and the cab behind you honking. Invent a new unit of measurement. How is it derived? How is it used? What are its equivalents? (Inspired by Carina Kane, Class of 2024, and Ishaan Goel, Class of 2025)

4. “There is no such thing as a new idea” -Mark Twain. Are any pieces of art, literature, philosophy, or technology truly original, or just a different combination of old ideas? Pick something, anything (besides yourself), and explain why it is, or is not, original. (Inspired by Haina Lu, Class of 2022)

5. It’s said that history repeats itself. But what about other disciplines? Choose another field (chemistry, philosophy, etc.) and explain how it repeats itself. (Inspired by Ori Brian, AB’19)

6. In the spirit of adventurous inquiry, pose your own question or choose one of our past prompts. Be original, creative, thought provoking. 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. Please upload your response here. (no word limit)

To begin, you’ll notice that there is no UChicago essay word limit. Instead, you’ll answer each prompt with a one or two page response. With this in mind, you can write without fear of a UChicago essay word limit. In other words, take as much time and space as you need. Now, it’s time to think a little bit outside of the box!

These UChicago essay prompts might leave you feeling uncertain—and that’s okay! Once again, if you’re looking for inspiration, check out our UChicago supplemental essay examples. These UChicago essay examples can help you better understand what admissions officers look for in evaluating students. However, there is no magic formula. On the contrary, admissions officers are looking for genuine/unique answers that get at the spirit of these prompts.

In other words, admissions officers want to use this UChicago supplement essay to determine whether you can think creatively. Consider this, they’re giving you a unique opportunity to demonstrate a side of you that few schools attempt to see. In addition to the first five suggestions, UChicago gives you the option of posing your own mind-bending riddle to respond to or using one of their own from the past. For a list of past UChicago essay examples, you can head to their  website .

Having difficulty deciding where to start with this UChicago supplemental essay? You might begin with a  writing exercise ! To begin, pick three or four of the UChicago essay prompts that you connect with most and set a timer. Then, write about each topic for no more than 10-15 minutes. When you finished, did you find yourself wanting to keep writing about one of the UChicago essay prompts? If so, that’s your prompt!

For inspiration, check out some of the UChicago supplemental essay examples for prior prompts. While these UChicago essay examples won’t match the prompts above, you can get an idea of how students approached odd essay prompts. You’ll also notice that without a UChicago essay word limit, one author’s essay is only approx. 700 while the other essay is a little over 1000. This goes back to the word of caution on the UChicago essay word limit—don’t feel the need to fill your essay with superfluous language to hit a specific word count. Instead, make sure your draft is complete and that your ideas are fully fleshed out. For reference, see how the authors did this in the UChicago supplemental essay examples provided.

No matter what UChicago essay prompt you select, the most important thing is that you reveal something personal about yourself, your interests, or your accomplishments.

When reimagining the material composition of a celestial object, a student might explore what would happen if the Milky Way was made up of actual milk and how that might support, and/or disrupt the movement of the objects in our galaxy. On the other hand, a student athlete might consider how the delicious dairy product has shaped their experiences as an athlete looking to maximize the amount of calcium in their bones.

Thinking about the “What’s so easy about pie” UChicago essay prompt? Consider whether you want to an answer this literally or figuratively. For example, you can write about your love of baking and experimenting with different flavors of pie other types of pastries. Then, use your baking knowledge to delve into how chemistry and biology affect the food we eat and vice versa.

For the UChicago essay prompt about a subject that repeats itself, maybe an applicant who really loves music could explore the finite number of notes on the scale and how they repeat continuously in different octaves. That might lead that student to write about how they explore different keys, tones, and genres when writing original songs.

As the UChicago essay prompt implies, the possibilities are quite literally endless! If you haven’t already, read over some of our UChicago supplemental essay examples for more inspiration.

• Have you selected a prompt and a topic that you feel you can identify with?
• Do you answer the question at hand in a creative, yet logically coherent, way, revealing something about your thinking?
• Does your response reveal something about you, your personality, or values, or your accomplishments?

How Long are the UChicago Essay Prompts?

Technically, there is no UChicago essay word limit. The Common App requests that applicants upload files with their responses to the UChicago essay prompts. So, while all essays (no matter the school) should be drafted outside of the Common App, the UChicago supplement essay responses must be written, revised, edited, and finalized in an outside document.

Without a UChicago essay word limit, your UChicago essays could theoretically be as long as you want. However, admissions officers don’t have the time, energy, or motivation to read essays ranging several pages when they have to evaluate thousands of applications! Therefore, you’ll want to keep each UChicago essay short-ish and sweet. While there’s no formal UChicago essay word limit, we recommend that your responses range from about 500–750 words (or about 1–2 double-spaced pages) each. This unofficial UChicago essay word limit will make your UChicago essays a similar length to your Common App essay. That way, you have the room to infuse your personality and creativity into each without going overboard.

What Does UChicago Look for in its Essays?

The UChicago essay prompts are meant to reveal who you are as a student, a thinker, and ultimately a person. In fact, UChicago is know for their creative essay prompts. Take a look at some UChicago supplemental essay examples with commentary from a former admissions officer on why they  worked !

Admissions Officers want to know who you are and how you can contribute to their academic and extracurricular community. They want to know that you have the motivation, skills, and ingenuity to thrive in a rigorous, yet extremely rewarding, academic environment. As you saw in the UChicago essay examples, the school is looking for students who are interested in attending for reasons beyond prestige and ranking.  Moreover, the best UChicago supplemental essay examples show specificity in their knowledge of the school. For example, our UChicago prompt author not only wanted to study economics, but they wanted to take “The Economics of Crime” from Professor Levitt. Leveraging your knowledge of the university is very impressive to admissions officers.

The UChicago essay prompts ask you who you are at your core; they urge you to “simply be yourself and write in your own voice.” For a greater understanding of what this looks like and how it relates to the UChicago essay prompts, visit their main application  page .

Does UChicago Care About Essays?

Absolutely! In fact, UChicago cares a lot! In recent years, UChicago has received more than  30,000 applications  and generally accepts just over 2,500. Because UChicago is a top-tier school, the vast majority of applicants will have stellar GPAs, standardized testing scores, and extracurricular activities. Therefore, Admissions Officers use the UChicago supplement essay responses to understand who their applicants are and how they will fit into the UChicago community. This means that the UChicago essays form a key part of your application!

UChicago Essay Prompts – Final Thoughts

Crafting your answers to the UChicago essay prompts can seem difficult, but don’t let them stop you from applying! Instead, use your UChicago supplement essay answers as a way to demonstrate to Admissions Officers all you have to offer. Essays have great power; even if your academics aren’t exactly where you’d like them to be, an incredibly well-written UChicago supplement essay can push your application through. Use this guide to create a strategy to write solid UChicago essay prompts, and remember to check out our UChicago essay examples if you need more  assistance . Happy writing!

This 2021-2022 essay guide on UChicago was written by Senior Advisor  Michael Miller . For more CollegeAdvisor.com resources on UChicago,  click here . Want help crafting your UChicago supplement essay answers? Create your  free account  or  schedule a free consultation  by calling (844) 576-0968.

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How to write the university of chicago supplemental essays, updated for 2023-2024, question 1 (required).

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. (250-500 words)

Explanation:

UChicago’s first supplemental essay is a classic “why this college” prompt that can be separated into three components: learning, future, and community.

Responding to the “learning” question requires laying out your intended major (or couple of majors) that you hope to pursue, along with specific class offerings, research opportunities, immersion experiences, internships, etc. for that major or related program.

The “community” component can be addressed by discussing an extracurricular or club offered at the college (called RSOs at UChicago) that you would like to get involved in. This can also add depth to your “learning” response if the organization is related to your intended major. Additionally, discussing UChicago’s size, location, history, and/or educational philosophy—the unofficial motto “Life of the Mind” emphasizes intellectual inquiry simply for the sake of learning—can be an excellent way to showcase how you picture yourself as a member of the UChicago community.

For the final “future” component of this essay, clearly lay out your current plan for your future pursuits and how you hope to achieve your goals by the time you graduate from the University of Chicago. How will the opportunities you pursue and the community you build impact your plan for post-college life?

I’ve stared up at the night sky through my prized Orion Spaceprobe Reflector telescope all over the United States—from the deserts of Arizona to the highest points of California’s many national parks. I’ve captured detailed photographs of Saturn’s rings and carefully coordinated, award-winning time lapse shots. I’ve gone on journeys through dense forests and down unmarked dirt roads to achieve the ultimate stargazing experience. But standing in my school’s parking lot, reveling in observing the Harvest Moon with my classmates, I realized there’s nothing I want more than to share my passion with my peers.  

The University of Chicago offers unparalleled astronomy and astrophysics opportunities—but just as importantly, it presents an incredible community possible to share in that experience. I’ll be the first in line to take hands-on classes like “Observational Techniques in Astrophysics” and the two-part “Field Course in Astronomy and Astrophysics” that will provide the rare chance to use the university’s array of powerful research telescopes and publish scientific papers in collaboration with my classmates. Meanwhile, classes focused on the theoretical side of astronomy and astrophysics like “From Fossils to Fermi’s Paradox” will allow me to geek out over the universe’s greatest questions with fellow self-proclaimed hardcore space nerds. I’m equally interested in connecting with professors, and (if possible) I’d be eager to assist in any way with Professor Jacob Bean’s work identifying potentially habitable exoplanets.

Perhaps most exciting of all, the Paris Astronomy Program offers the opportunity to combine astrophysics with my other academic passion—French. Communication between international labs and scientists from different countries is a major component of modern science, and this program offers an immersive component to my intended minor in French. Envisioning the conversations I’ll have seated at Parisian cafes and touring through famous labs and museums ignites my imagination and excitement. While I understand that the Paris Astronomy Program is generally oriented towards astrophysics minors, I believe taking advantage of this opportunity as early as possible in my college experience will build a foundation for my specific education in both astrophysics and French in the same way that the Core creates the a structural baseline for my general education at UChicago. 

While much of the UChicago community and opportunities I’ve pointed to take place inside the classroom, I’m equally looking forward to everything that happens outside of the campus’ gothic buildings. Visiting my friend currently living in the “South” dorm has made me especially excited for the experience of living on campus and forming relationships with other residents in my dorm. From the house-specific dining table with Harry Potter-esque banners hanging over them to the inter-house broomball battle, I was able to witness firsthand the O Week scavenger hunt throughout the dorm—the experience provided me with a built in community that will be waiting for me the moment I step on campus. However, I don’t plan to let this community make me complacent in my social life. Joining RSOs like the Outdoor Adventure Club and Ryerson Astronomical Society will allow me to continue my passions for intense hiking and casual stargazing while connecting me with other students on campus who are equally excited about those activities! 

From my perspective, there’s no desire for learning, community, or my future that UChicago does not satisfy. While others might make claims about the school where “Fun Goes to Die,” I can hardly wait to get started! 

Question 2: Extended Essay (Required; Choose one). 650 words max

UChicago’s “extended essay” is also occasionally referred to by its old name: “The Uncommon Essay.” When writing this essay, you should aim to break away from traditional essay formats and take creative control to showcase both your writing ability and unique perspective. Get creative with your responses: humor, interesting structuring, and unique writing motifs will go a long way towards impressing the admissions officers.

Each of the prompts may seem almost nonsensical at first, but start by writing down your initial ideas for approaching each of the options. If you’re brainstorming for any one of these prompts and one idea jumps out at you—go with it!

The trick to these essays is responding in a way that feels natural to you, don’t try to get too smart and outthink yourself. Try crafting the direction of your essay as it goes rather than trying to plan your essay perfectly before you start writing, as this method will allow you to better showcase your thought process. If none of the essay prompts inspire you, take advantage of Option 7 and look over past prompts until you find one that speaks to you. Don’t write off any idea as stupid, and try to keep your phone or a notepad near you as you think over the prompts—inspiration can strike at the strangest of times!

Finally, stick with the obvious theme of the essay, but don’t try to overdo it. Make sure you find a creative way to fully answer any questions posed by the prompt while also including some insight into yourself or your background. For instance, a unique response to Essay Option #3 might reflect on how portmanteaus are part of a larger trend to characterize new ideas by combining them with something familiar—but trying to combine two separate essays and calling that a portmanteau could result in a confusing and ideologically diluted essay. Likewise, Essay Option #6 requires coming up with an unwritten rule you disagree with, but your argument should also reveal something about you or your way of thinking (e.g. if you’re deeply passionate about human and animal rights, discussing your opposition to the practice of documentary staff not helping those they film—and perhaps how you break this rule when filming content for a conservationist group you volunteer with—would both answer the prompt and tell admissions officers a bit about one of your activities and how your mind works).

As an example to offer a bit of guidance: for the classic prompt “Find x,” the admissions officers do not want to see a sheet filled with math problems. However, if you use math as a writing motif by which you compare using substitution to find x with comparing activities to find what you’re passionate about… you might just have a perfect essay idea on your hands!

Essay Option 5 Despite their origins in the Gupta Empire of India or Ancient Egypt, games like chess or bowling remain widely enjoyed today. What modern game do you believe will withstand the test of time, and why? – Inspired by Adam Heiba, Class of 2027

Humans might be the dominant species on our planet, but we’re rarely the best athletes from a physical perspective. Famed Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt would be left in the dust by a cheetah. The legendary Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor would be bowled over if an NFL team suddenly employed a silverback gorilla as a running back. Even Michael Phelps, the winner of twenty-three Olympic medals for his swimming prowess, was left floundering when he raced against a shark—or at least a CGI projection of one! 

However, mankind did not come to rule the planet through our intellect and endurance alone. We had a secret weapon no other species has mastered—throwing projectiles. Sure, a chimpanzee can manage a halfhearted toss, but it wasn’t until Homo Erectus came to walk this Earth that any creature had the combination of unique anatomical traits necessary to truly master the art of the throw. Over millennia, we Homo Sapiens have developed countless modern sports that rely heavily on this ability: baseball, football, and basketball just to name a few. Of the many activities humans have created to show off the pinpoint accuracy of our throws, one game truly represents the culmination of millions of years of human evolution: darts. 

I believe that darts will be played for centuries to come. There are countless ways to play darts: Cricket, 301, Legs—but the specific game mode is irrelevant to the longevity of the activity. Simply put, the game of darts offers the best blend of compactness and complexity required to light up the neurons in our brain that have been pre-wired with a desire to throw objects accurately. Carnivals and theme parks have taken countless dollars by understanding this aspect of human nature, but darts offers a way to scratch that itch without the high cost and space requirements of classic carnival games like Ring Toss, Can Knock Down, or Balloon Darts. Not to mention, the odds aren’t stacked against us in darts! 

I can accept that not everyone might believe that darts is a “modern” game, as the game was officially created with the invention of the dart board all the way back in 1896. However, in the face of games that have existed for thousands of years, like chess, a game that’s not even as old as the first car is modern in my book. Additionally, for anyone who’d like to argue that the game of darts was created in medieval times when soldiers started throwing knives at tree trunk cross sections, I’d posit that a game is only as old as its rules. If hunting wooly mammoths with spears isn’t playing darts, neither is chucking knives at trees. Every human throw leading up to the creation of darts was simply the creative process, but the game of darts itself is the final masterpiece!

Though it will undoubtedly stand the test of time, darts will not look the same forever. Modern boards offer magnetic darts and electronic boards to prevent the potential collateral damage darts entail. Perhaps in the future, game designers will advance the game of darts through virtual reality or haptic feedback gloves so people can walk right in front of the game without fear. But wherever space is limited and people want to be entertained, darts will follow. Even if the next century’s version of darts is unrecognizable in everything but the dartboard (which could be a hologram or a projection at that point), the spread of darts through future bars and basements is as certain as its initial proliferation through English pubs.

Admittedly, even the most patient parents might want to put a stop to the next generation of dart throwers when they inevitably find the small holes in the basement wall made by errant darts from their kids’ attempts to improve their accuracy. However, they can rest assured that millions of years of evolution have led up to us all throwing those darts at that dartboard. With that kind of history on our side, we should all be able to hit that bullseye consistently before too long… right?   

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How to Write the UChicago Supplemental Essays 2020-2021

Padya Paramita

July 8, 2019

A Guide to the UChicago Supplemental Essays 2020-2021

You probably already know that admission into the University of Chicago, with its acceptance rate of only 7.9%, is far from guaranteed. But as you gear up to apply, you might get further thrown off by the essays you have to write. Alongside the required classic “why UChicago” question, this highly selective school also presents you with some rather unusual prompts in the UChicago supplemental essays 2020-2021 .  

You don’t expect to see references to Costco or Harry Potter when you’re getting into the mindset for convincing admissions officers why you’re a good fit for a school, and yet these have been part of past UChicago prompts. It goes without saying that UChicago’s quirky prompts aren’t your typical supplemental essay questions. But despite their unique nature, the goal of the university is the same as any other school -  to understand your perspective, to get a sense of your goals, and determine whether your values align with those that UChicago looks for in its students. To guide you through each of the prompts, I have outlined the questions, how to go about tackling them, and more tips to help you write the UChicago supplemental essays 2020-2021 .

The UChicago Supplemental Essays 2020-2021

UChicago prides itself on its thought provoking supplemental essay prompts. Use these as an opportunity to introduce yourself, what you’re passionate about, and your ambitions and goals. Although there is no set word limit for any of the prompts, InGenius Prep counselor Natalia Ostrowski, who worked as the Assistant Director of Admissions at UChicago, recommends that you limit the first essay (“Why UChicago”) to a page (double spaced in 12 point font). The second essay - the more weird and unusual one of the two - should be about two pages, double spaced and in 12 point font. 

The voice in your essay can be serious, you can let your creativity completely loose, or you can find an in-between take on any issue you’re writing about. According to Natalia, “UChicago admissions officers want to see how you connect ideas and get a front-row view into your critical thinking, intellectual curiosity and excitement for knowledge.” 

So without further ado, let’s go through all of the prompts - including each of the odd ones - for the UChicago supplemental essays 2020-2021, and ways you should dissect and answer them:

Question 1 (Required)

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.

Although there is no strict word limit on this “why UChicago” essay, don’t go overboard with what you like about the university. Admissions officers already know it’s a great school. How do you narrow down what you love about the college? Well, look at the question for hints. The question asks that you elaborate on how UChicago can help meet your needs when it comes to the following:

When reading your response to this question, admissions officers are looking for whether you’ve done your homework on UChicago to determine how much you’d fit into the college. Below are a few questions that Natalia suggests you ask yourself to brainstorm for this essay:

• Why is the Core important to you? (And don’t just copy/paste what you wrote for Columbia and vice versa — they’ll know) 
• What specific majors are you interested in and why? 
• Has it always been your dream to work with [ insert professor here ] or study abroad in [ insert location here ]? Why? 
• Which activities are you excited to contribute to? Why do you want to be a Maroon (yes, UChicago has sports!)?

Emphasize the community aspect - how do you hope to find your people on campus? Is it 

the opportunity to participate in student organizations such as Humor Magazine or the intramural wiffleball team that call out to you? Or are you keen to explore Chicago’s Revival Community Improv Theater within walking distance of the college? You might want to continue your community involvement work from high school by participating in the Neighborhood Schools Program, The Civic Knowledge Project, or one of the college’s several organizations that help give back to the greater Chicago community. 

Since you have space, you can provide context on who you are, your passions, and the kind of values you hope to bring to UChicago. Whatever you choose to write about, make sure you prioritize what you’re looking for from your college experience and how UChicago is the ideal place to explore these interests or goals. Show admissions officers that you have done your research and can convincingly argue for your place at the school, clearly outlining the parts of campus you wish to commit to.

Question 2: Extended Essay (Required; Choose One)

Now we get to the more peculiar essays. At first - and even second or third glance - these questions are out of the box in comparison to other schools’ supplemental essays. But where do you even start? Natalia affirms that, “Admissions officers want to see how your brain works. It doesn’t matter what you write about or which question you answer — your ideas and how you write about those ideas is what matters.” 

She also adds that from your essay, “Admissions officers will be able to have a glimpse of who you might be in the classroom, or when you’re deep in discussion in the dining halls or dorms, or walking through the snowy Harper Quad on your way to get some hot chocolate at Hallowed Grounds.” 

The takeaway for admissions officers reading your UChicago supplemental essays 2020-2021 should be to understand what makes you tick and how you are going to contribute to the community. This is the goal you should keep in mind throughout your writing process.

Essay Option 1

Who does Sally sell her seashells to? How much wood can a woodchuck really chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Pick a favorite tongue twister (either originally in English or translated from another language) and consider a resolution to its conundrum using the method of your choice. Math, philosophy, linguistics... it's all up to you (or your woodchuck).

—Inspired by Blessing Nnate, Class of 2024

This is one of the most open-ended questions among the UChicago supplemental essays 2020-2021 , because with a convincing enough argument, you might just be able to sway admissions officers to believe - or not - that a certain tongue twister has an answer that we might not have thought about before. Here are some tongue twisters — with questions ingrained in them — to help get you started on your brainstorm:

• Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. How many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?
• Can you can a can as a canner can can a can?
• She saw Sharif's shoes on the sofa. But was she so sure those were Sharif's shoes she saw?
• Which witch switched the Swiss wristwatches?
• To begin to toboggan first buy a toboggan, but don't buy too big a toboggan. Too big a toboggan is too big a toboggan to buy to begin to toboggan.

Don’t get so caught up in the tongue twister that you miss the second half of the question: “method of your choice.” Use this question to discuss your potential major or interest, because after all these are your supplemental essays. How can a certain law in physics explain if you can “can a canner?” Does the law of demand and supply in economics help answer the question of “How many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?” This is a great question to combine both your imagination and creativity alongside your curiosity within your academic interest.

Essay Option 2

What can actually be divided by zero?

—Inspired by Mai Vu, Class of 2024

This is another open-ended prompt. Since, unlike the last question, the college hasn’t specified that you should use an academic subject to explain your answer, your options are truly unlimited in how you choose to answer the question. This prompt isn’t one where you should bring up your academic interests unless they flow in organically. But it is a great opportunity to show your humorous side and make the admissions officers laugh.

You can reflect on a real-life incident that occurred that helped you have a certain realization, or you can be more hypothetical and come up with your own math problem. Whatever you choose, it’s crucial that you explain why you’ve drawn a certain conclusion. What does “being divided by zero” mean to you? Why do you believe X object cannot actually be divided by zero? Since there are no specifications, you can use a concrete object such as chairs, or a more abstract example, such as happiness or grief.

Download Every Supplemental Prompt Here!

Essay option 3.

The seven liberal arts in antiquity consisted of the Quadrivium — astronomy, mathematics, geometry, and music — and the Trivium — rhetoric, grammar, and logic. Describe your own take on the Quadrivium or the Trivium. What do you think is essential for everyone to know?

—Inspired by Peter Wang, Class of 2022

This prompt from the UChicago supplemental essays 2020-2021 is a great place to show the school that you’re not afraid to tie everyday mundane things to academic areas. Think about how you use topics such as astronomy or grammar in daily life. To tackle this prompt, you could talk about a particular mathematical formula that you believe everyone should know. Or you could take the Trivium route and explore how grammar has evolved over time.

Remember though, that you are encouraged to get as creative as you want with these, so if you want to use examples from a language that originated in a fantasy novel or film that you enjoy, you could take that risk. This question, like prompt 1, leans in a more academic direction than the others - since it explicitly brings up fields that you’d study in school and/or college. So if you’re not a fan of creative writing, this question might be more approachable for you since the answer can be framed with a scholarly angle. Whichever approach you choose, make sure to not emphasize the question, “what is essential for everyone to know?” but rather why you believe it’s important for every single person.

Essay Option 4

Subway maps, evolutionary trees, Lewis diagrams. Each of these schematics tells the relationships and stories of their component parts. Reimagine a map, diagram, or chart. If your work is largely or exclusively visual, please include a cartographer's key of at least 300 words to help us best understand your creation.

—Inspired by Maximilian Site, Class of 2020

If you’re an artist, or a visual thinker, this could be a great prompt to attempt. Since the question doesn’t specify whether the map you create can be from a real or fictional place, you can go all out and pursue anything you like. It can be on a smaller scale — such as your neighborhood growing up, or far bigger such as the entire continent of Asia.

One factor to keep in mind is to make sure that the subject has relevance to you. Since these essays help admissions understand what makes you unique and helps them make their decision, think about how you can use your choice of map to convey an interest or goal. If you want to be a computer scientist for example, you can reimagine the map for Silicon Valley to your convenience and explain why you’ve done so.

Essay Option 5

"Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?" - Eleanor Roosevelt. Misattribute a famous quote and explore the implications of doing so.

—Inspired by Chris Davey, AB’13

This is definitely a more lighthearted prompt among the UChicago supplemental essays 2020-2021, that allows space both for creativity as well as a chance to demonstrate your interest in a particular topic. You could, for example, take a quote from The Office or a well known internet meme and assign it to someone such as Albert Einstein or Abraham Lincoln. The more important aspect of this prompt is the second half of the question: the implications of misattributing a quote. How is an industry — or even the world — impacted if someone who is reputable has their viewpoint misunderstood? 

This can be a particularly interesting topic to explore if you’re keen on English or journalism, as students applying to UChicago often are. What are the consequences of misquoting someone? Take the quote and persona you’ve chosen and imagine how the world — or a community — would be shifted if people start believing that they used an uncharacteristic statement. Analyze how such an incident can shift dynamics, through a lens that you’re passionate about, such as sociology, politics, or literature. 

Essay Option 6

Engineer George de Mestral got frustrated with burrs stuck to his dog’s fur and applied the same mechanic to create Velcro. Scientist Percy Lebaron Spencer found a melted chocolate bar in his magnetron lab and discovered microwave cooking. Dye-works owner Jean Baptiste Jolly found his tablecloth clean after a kerosene lamp was knocked over on it, consequently shaping the future of dry cleaning. Describe a creative or interesting solution, and then find the problem that it solves.

—Inspired by Steve Berkowitz, AB’19, and Neeharika Venuturupalli, Class of 2024

UChicago appreciates students who “ dig deeper, push further, and ask bigger questions ” — and this question is an effective way to demonstrate that you have the traits that the school looks for in its students. Think carefully about what you wish to cover here — there really are no limits on your topic as the prompt suggests that your solution can be creative. Don’t be afraid to think out of the box. For example, you might find the perfect answer to the question of “milk first or cereal first?” by discovering a solution that explains exactly why one is more efficient than the other. 

By explaining what the solution is — and its subsequent problem — you not only get to apply your knowledge and understanding of a topic, you get to kill two birds with one stone and convey your area of interest to the admissions officer as well. For this prompt, I’d recommend having a third party read the essay to see if the logic you’ve used in solving the problem does indeed make sense. You don’t have to be scientific at all in your explanation - you just have to convince the reader.

Essay Option 7

In the spirit of adventurous inquiry (and with the encouragement of one of our current students!) choose one of our past prompts (or create a question of your own). Be original, creative, thought provoking. 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!

If you don’t like any of the other options, why not look at 30 of the previous years’ questions that UChicago has provided to inspire you. The question “How are apples and oranges supposed to be compared? Possible answers involve, but are not limited to, statistics, chemistry, physics, linguistics, and philosophy” might appeal to you more than any of the new prompts for UChicago supplemental essays 2020-2021 . And that is okay. 

Note that UChicago is giving you an incredible amount of choice here by providing access to their past prompts. If you decide to go the alternative route and come up with your own question, it HAS to be good enough. It wouldn’t be the wisest decision to go with your own lame prompt with the plethora of options in your arsenal. 

While UChicago doesn’t prefer that you answer questions 1-6 rather than 7, carefully weigh your options before you decide to pick number 7. Is there nothing you might have to say for the first 6 essay questions? If that is indeed the case, and you’re willing to take the risk (and UChicago appreciates risk-takers) put your unique spin on a previous - or completely original - question!

Additional Tips for Writing the UChicago Supplemental Essays 2020-2021

Now that you’ve taken a look at the prompts for the UChicago supplemental essays 2020-2021 , here are a few tips to help your brainstorming process: 

• Standout essays for standout prompts - The prompts for the UChicago supplemental essays 2020-2021 are without a doubt, highly unique. It’s okay to feel intimidated, and you might choose a prompt which asks for a more academic-leaning response if you’re not a creative writer. While it’sfine to find an option that’s tailored towards your assets, note that other applicants will be writing all sorts of weird and highly imaginative essays. So you need to come up with something memorable and original to stand out among the competition.
• Consider multiple approaches - Each of the questions for the UChicago supplemental essays 2020-2021 have different routes you can choose. For some, such as the “misattribute a famous quote” prompt or the topic of your choice questions, you can write about anything. So don’t restrict yourself into thinking there is a right answer. While it might feel like the college may want you to answer a certain way, UChicago wants to understand your personality and background. Stay true to yourself and authentically convey who you are and the way you view the world.
• Don’t let the prompts discourage you from applying to the school - While the prompts set by the University of Chicago are definitely unusual and undoubtedly tricky, they are not impossible to answer. The school has set a standard for similarly quirky questions and hundreds of students still get in every year. So the minute you see these on the Common App, don’t be tempted to run away and remove UChicago from your school list. It’s a great school, and if you have a strong application to compete with other top students, don’t miss out on the chance just because the supplemental essays seem a little intimidating!

The UChicago supplemental essays 2020-2021 can add depth to your application and help admissions officers understand who you are and what you’re looking for from your college experience. The “why UChicago” prompt is your chance to convey how you would be a good fit at UChicago and vice versa. On the other hand, the essay question is a great component to capitalize on so that admissions officers understand your interests, creativity, and how you view the world. The task at hand might seem like a tough uphill battle, but it’s definitely not impossible. Good luck!

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, uchicago supplemental essays—need advice.

Hey everyone! I've heard that UChicago's supplement essays are quite 'uncommon'—challenging, yet fun. For those who've already been through the process: do you have any tips or advice on how to tackle these prompts? Would love to hear your experiences and thoughts!

Hello! UChicago's supplement essays are known for their unique and offbeat nature, which allows applicants to showcase their creativity. Here are a few tips for approaching these prompts:

1. Embrace your individuality: UChicago is looking for students who can think outside the box and express themselves. Use this opportunity to let your creativity and personality shine.

2. Take a risk: Unusual prompts, like UChicago's, call for unconventional thinking. Don't be afraid to take a risk with your response, as long as it's thoughtful and genuine.

3. Focus on quality over quantity: It's better to write a few well-thought-out, engaging paragraphs rather than trying to cover too much ground with superficial ideas.

4. Do your research: Demonstrating an understanding of the UChicago community and culture can be a great way to connect your response to the University.

Also check out CollegeVine's guide to writing the UChicago supplemental essays: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-uchicago-essays-2023-2024

Lastly, have fun with it! Cherish this chance to break free from traditional essay tropes and let your genuine voice shine through. Good luck!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

At UChicago, you are more than your GPA or test score.

UChicago welcomes students from all backgrounds, and each application at UChicago goes through the same contextual review process. There’s no one piece of information—academic and extracurricular records, essays, letters of recommendation, or SAT/ACT scores—that alone determines whether or not you would be a good fit for the College. Instead, we want you to, through your application, show us who you are in your own voice. What is your story? Why did you choose to pursue certain opportunities? What activities are most meaningful to you? The very best way to approach your UChicago application is to simply be yourself and write in your own voice. We care about you and who you really are, not what you think we want to see in an application.

Required Application Materials

The application materials below are those required for all first-year and transfer applicants, including international applicants , first-generation applicants ,  rural & small-town applicants , QuestBridge applicants , home-schooled applicants , and veterans . With the exception of prospective students-at-large , applicants may apply for entrance in the Autumn Quarter only.

Required Materials

Application for admission and supplement essays.

Applicants should submit their choice of  Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir  or the  Common Application *, both of which include the University of Chicago Supplement . Applicants will also be prompted to create a  UChicago Account , where they can submit information and view their admissions decision.

Select One of Two Applications

There are several online application platforms accepted by many colleges and universities. Through the online application platform, you submit basic information about your background, academic profile, and extracurricular activities, as well as a brief personal statement; all of this information can be easily shared with multiple colleges you decide to apply to. If you apply to the University of Chicago, you will also submit two supplemental essays, which will not be seen by other institutions.

UChicago accepts  Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir  or the  Common Application  for both first-year and transfer applicants. We treat both equally in the admissions process. You'll want to pick a single application platform to use, whichever you feel works best for you. Transfer applicants should use Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir.

Questions about technical matters related to using one of the consortium applications should be directed, respectively, to the folks at  Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir  or the  Common Application . Questions about our own requirements should be  directed to us.

Extracurricular Activities

We recognize that, in these unprecedented times, many extracurricular events and activities have been disrupted. We will still recognize all the hard work you have put into extracurricular activities leading up to the pandemic and any of your efforts to stay involved with your community moving forward.

In your list of extracurricular activities, you should include whatever it is that you spend your time doing outside of class. This could be an official club, team, or competition; a hobby you pursue on your own; a part-time job; a family responsibility; or anything else you do with your time outside of class. Colleges ask for this information not because they have any specific expectation or preference for how you spend your time, but to see what's meaningful, worthwhile, or interesting to you. We do not require certificates proving participation in activities. If the space provided on Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir or the Common Application to list all extracurricular and work experiences is not sufficient, you may share further details in the Additional Information section of the application or through your UChicago Account.

Personal Statement

Your personal statement is your chance to present yourself and your ideas in your own words. Through Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir or the Common Application, your personal statement will be sent to all of the schools you are applying to. As a result, it should not be specific to any one school. Your personal statement should be appropriate for a wide array of audiences and should put your best foot forward. Be sure to proofread and edit your essay, and have someone you trust, like a friend, family member, or counselor, read it over before submitting it.

UChicago Supplement

The University of Chicago Supplement  requires one extended essay of your choice from our list of several prompts and one short essay on why you would like to attend the University of Chicago. The Supplement is available through  Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir  or the  Common Application . 

Your UChicago Account

Students may create a UChicago Account before or after beginning the Common Application or Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir. To create a UChicago Account before you begin working on either application, please visit  getstarted.uchicago.edu . If you submit your application through the Common Application or Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir, you will receive an email with instructions on how to set up your UChicago Account. When you  sign in to your UChicago Account , you will be able to complete and update your profile, apply for financial aid, upload supplementary materials, and view your admissions decision.

Application Fee or Automatic Fee Waiver

The University of Chicago does not charge an application fee for students applying for need-based financial aid, veterans, and veteran dependents. For students not applying for need-based financial aid, our application fee is $75 and can be submitted through Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir or the Common Application .

Credit Card

Please follow the instructions on Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir or the Common Application for submitting the application fee online.

Check or Money Order

Please include a note with the check or money order with the applicant's full name and address, and mail it to the College Admissions Office by the appropriate application deadline. Checks should be made payable to the University of Chicago.

The Office of College Admissions Attn. Matt Cowell 1101 E. 58th St. Rosenwald 005 Chicago, IL 60637

Secondary School Report and Transcript

We understand that, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many schools have experienced disruptions and implemented changes to grading structures or practices. UChicago always reviews applicants in the context of their school's environment and grading practices, and will continue to give full consideration to all applicants regardless of the method of grading or assessment your school has selected during this time. If you wish to provide any additional explanations or context for elements included in your application, please provide that in the "Additional Information" section of your application.

Ask your secondary school counselor to complete the Secondary School Report and submit it along with an official transcript. If you do not have a secondary school counselor, a teacher or school administrator may submit the Secondary School Report and transcript instead. If you attend high school in the U.S., you may choose to self-submit your transcript.

Secondary School Report

The Secondary School Report provides us with an overview of your high school academic record. All secondary school counselors have the option of submitting letters of recommendation and school forms online via Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir or the Common Application . High school counselors should follow the instructions on the Coalition or Common Application  for submitting these forms. Counselors may print out and submit these forms on paper even if you submit your application online.

High School Transcript

An official transcript detailing your coursework and grades over your entire high school career should be sent from your high school. In reading your application, your transcript will serve as a roadmap of your academic path in high school. We will be looking at your academic record across all four years of high school, primarily to see that you have challenged yourself productively in your course selection and done well in those courses. 

Your transcript is considered in the context of your high school. Course offerings and opportunities can look very different from one high school to the next, and we want to see how you took advantage of what was available to you at your high school. You would never be at a disadvantage in the admissions process for not having pursued an opportunity that was not available to you. A School Profile is usually included with your transcript that tells us about the environment at your school, course offerings, curriculum, and educational outcomes. We do not require complete syllabi.

If you have taken courses at a school other than your current high school, such as a previous high school or a local college, please be sure to have those grades sent as well. They may be reported either on your current high school transcript or in a separate transcript from the original institution.

Transcripts written in a language other than English should be accompanied by a certified translation and a grading scale.

Self-Submitted Transcripts

UChicago will review the applications of students using either self-submitted or official transcripts and midyear transcripts. We realize that there can be costs associated with ordering transcripts. If students have a hard copy or digital copy of their transcript, they may fax, mail, or upload through their UChicago Account. Students will not be required to submit official transcripts unless they are admitted and choose to enroll.

Two Teacher Evaluations

We require two recommendations from teachers who have taught you in an academic subject: high school teachers for first-year applicants and college instructors for transfer applicants. Academic subjects, as defined for the purposes of letters of recommendation, include mathematics, social studies, history, science, English or literature, foreign language, and other courses in which you are doing substantial amounts of reading, writing, or class discussion. If you have questions about whether a particular course is a good choice, feel free to  contact your regional Admissions Counselor .

Ask for recommendations from teachers who know you well and can speak specifically and positively about your contributions in the classroom, academic interest, and interactions with classmates. This does not necessarily need to be the teacher who gave you the best grades, but instead someone who best knows your academic personality and thinks highly of you. Plan to have a brief conversation with your recommender to give them context on your educational plans, as this can be helpful in writing a more detailed letter.

As teachers are often writing letters of recommendation on their own time and are therefore not getting paid to do it, we also strongly encourage students to write their recommenders a thank you note.

Submitting Letters of Recommendation

All school counselors and teachers have the option of submitting letters of recommendation and school forms online via  Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir  or the  Common Application . They should follow the instructions on the relevant application for submitting these forms. Teachers and counselors may print out and submit these forms on paper even if you submit your application online. Letters of recommendation must come directly from the recommender and should not be sent by the applicant. Letters of recommendation can be added to your application after the application deadline, so you do not need to ask your recommender to submit their letter before or at the same time as you have submitted your application.

If your recommenders are most comfortable writing in a language other than English, they may do so. Have them submit the original letter accompanied by a translation.

Supplemental Recommendations

If you feel that we won't be able get a full picture of who you are without a third letter of recommendation from another teacher, an employer, role model, youth leader, or friend, you may submit one additional letter. Submitting a supplemental letter of recommendation is not an expectation, and please be considerate of the significant time commitment writing a good letter of recommendation takes before asking a potential recommender.

Transfer Students

If you are a transfer applicant and feel that you have not had satisfactory contact with professors at your college or university, you may ask a teaching assistant or lab instructor who may have had more experience working with you to provide a recommendation. 

No Harm Testing Policy

Submitting an SAT or ACT is optional and not required for admission. In addition to being test-optional, UChicago practices a “No Harm” policy for application review when considering SAT or ACT scores. Any SAT or ACT score submitted will only be used in review if it will positively affect an applicant’s chance of admission. Test scores that may negatively impact an admission decision will not be considered in review. All applicants, including domestic students, international students, and transfer students will be reviewed under this policy.

Reporting Scores

Students submitting SAT or ACT scores may share either official or self-reported scores. Students sharing self-reported scores will not be required to submit official score reports unless they are admitted and choose to enroll. You are able to self-report test scores through Coalition, Powered by Scoir or the Common Application . You will not need to superscore your own results or recalculate your scores in any way; send your scores exactly as you receive them. To be considered official, scores can be sent by a school official, listed on a transcript, or sent to the University of Chicago directly from the testing agency. UChicago’s SAT code is 1832; the ACT code is 1152.

Testing Deadlines

While we would, if possible, like to receive your scores before the appropriate deadline, we will accept October ACT and November SAT scores for Early Action and Early Decision I, December SAT and ACT scores for Early Decision II, and January SAT and February ACT scores for Regular Decision. For transfer applicants, we will accept scores from the February ACT or March SAT.

College Reports and Transcript (transfer students only)

College reports.

The College/Transfer Report should be completed by a dean, registrar, or academic adviser who has access to your disciplinary and academic records and sent directly to the Office of College Admissions. Current college coursework should be included in the Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir application, or submitted separately in a Mid-Term Report for students using the Common Application. If you are not currently enrolled in courses, you do not need to submit current college coursework or a Mid-Term report.

College Transcripts 

Transfer students are required to submit both a final high school transcript and college transcripts for every post-secondary school attended. You are encouraged to upload unofficial copies of your transcripts when you apply. These can be uploaded in the documents section of the Common Application, or in the Coalition Application Supplement if applying through Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir. If you prefer, you can arrange for official copies of your transcripts to be sent instead, but official copies are only required for admitted students who choose to enroll at UChicago.

English Language Proficiency Test Scores (international applicants only)

The University of Chicago only admits students who have demonstrated a superior level of English language competence. Students are invited to submit scores from any English proficiency examination they believe represents their English language ability. If you feel as though mastery of the English language is already represented throughout your application, you are not required to submit formal exam scores. 

Students who choose to submit English proficiency scores may share either official or self-reported scores. Students sharing self-reported scores will not be required to submit official score reports unless they are admitted and choose to enroll.

UChicago does not offer an ESL program for admitted students.

Midyear Report (first-year applicants only)

Please have your high school counselor submit a midyear report with grades or a transcript for your first semester or first trimester by February 1 of the year you have applied, or as soon as possible thereafter. We are aware that schools may issue midyear grades at a later time, and students will not be penalized for submitting the report after this date. Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir and the Common Application provide a Midyear Grade Report form, or you may use your own school’s midyear report. You are also welcome to make updates to your application by logging into your  UChicago Account  and clicking “Update Your Application." Students may choose to self-submit their midyear transcript.

Optional Components

Financial aid application, u.s. citizens and permanent residents.

Applicants to the College are not required to submit an application for financial aid to be considered for admission. If you do intend to apply for need-based financial aid, however, you should do so at the same time you apply for admission so that you can factor your financial aid package into your college decision process. Learn more about  applying for financial aid .

Once a student is admitted, regardless of that student’s country of origin, the University of Chicago will meet 100% of their demonstrated financial need throughout their four years in the College with a grant-based financial aid package. UChicago financial aid packages do not include a loan expectation.

Domestic Financial Aid Application Materials

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Prior-prior year's tax returns (including all schedules and W-2 forms)
• UChicago-Specific Financial Aid Worksheet (can substitute College Board's CSS Profile)

International Applicants 

UChicago will meet 100% of international students’ demonstrated need. International applicants go through the same contextual review process as domestic applicants, with the only difference being that international students are required to submit a financial aid application prior to admission if they think they may require need-based aid at any time while enrolled at UChicago. Learn more about applying for financial aid as an international applicant.

International Financial Aid Application Materials

• The International Financial Aid Worksheet
• Supporting documentation of family’s income and asset information

Transfer Applicants 

Based on the nature of financial aid funds for transfer students, the admissions process is need-aware for transfer applicants. Transfer applications go through the same holistic review process as first-year applicants, and an application for need-based financial aid will be taken into consideration at the end of that process. International transfer applicants are not eligible to apply for need-based financial aid. Learn more about applying for financial aid as a Transfer student.

Recommended Video Profile

You have two options to submit a video introduction if you would like to add your voice to your application. You may upload a two-minute video directly through your UChicago Account or create a 60-90 second video using Glimpse by InitialView . You may submit your video at any time, but we recommend doing so by November 6 for Early Action and Early Decision I or January 8 for Regular Decision and Early Decision II. Your recording does not need to be extensively rehearsed or polished, and the video does not need to be edited.

You are encouraged to film in a quiet space that limits outside distractions (background noise, music, pet or sibling interference, etc). While it’s ok to rehearse your message a bit so that you feel confident and ready, it’s helpful for us to hear these spoken in your normal, conversational voice. If there is any important information relevant to your candidacy you were unable to address elsewhere in the application, please share that information here.

Supplemental Materials: Optional Art, Creative, Research, or Other Supplements

Students may submit supplemental material representing a significant talent, passion, or achievement by self-upload through their UChicago Account. These materials include, but are not limited to, creative writing projects, highlights from music/dance/visual art/theater performance, school capstone projects such as AP Capstone or the equivalent, research projects, business plans, or other work of note.

Students may also elect to submit results of AP exams on an optional and self-reported basis.

Schoolhouse.world Statistics or Calculus Mastery Certification

Students are welcome to submit schoolhouse.world certification to their application. Once you’ve completed certification in a specific subject area, you’ll be able to download a PDF document verifying your completion. You can upload this PDF to your UChicago Account. Learn more and view FAQs at  schoolhouse.world/certification/about .

Submitting Documents

UChicago accepts Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir and the Common Application for both first-year and transfer applicants and Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir for transfer applicants. In order to expedite the assembly of your application (and save trees!), the Office of College Admissions prefers electronic submission of all documents through Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir or the Common Application. Any additional materials you would like to be added to your application file should be sent to us through the methods outlined below:

• Direct Upload to your UChicago Account: This is the fastest and most efficient method to submit documents to your application.
• Fax to 773.702.0661: This is the preferred fax line for submission of any additional documents that you would like added to your application. If this line is busy due to high volume, you may use our secondary fax line, 773.834.5297.
• Mail documents to: The Office of College Admissions 1101 E. 58th St. Rosenwald 129 Chicago, IL 60637
• We discourage sending sensitive documents via email and believe that one of the two methods listed above should be sufficient to ensure that your documents arrive to our office safely and securely.
• If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at any time.

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August 9, 2023

2023-2024 University of Chicago Supplemental Essay Prompts

Previously Published on July 10, 2015:

The University of Chicago has released its supplemental essay prompts for the 2023-2024 college admissions cycles . Applicants to UChicago’s Class of 2028 will be asked to answer two essays in addition to The Common Application’s Personal Statement. Each essay should be one to two pages in length and, as is tradition at the University of Chicago, the essay options for one of the two prompts are as weird as can be. So what are this year’s UChicago essay prompts? Let’s check them out!

2023-2024 UChicago Essay Topics and Questions

The weird essay prompt.

For the first essay prompt, which applicants should address in one to two pages, applicants are asked to choose one of the seven essay options, which are as follows:

1. Exponents and square roots, pencils and erasers, beta decay and electron capture. Name two things that undo each other and explain why both are necessary.

— Inspired by Emmett Cho, Class of 2027

2. “Where have all the flowers gone?” – Pete Seeger. Pick a question from a song title or lyric and give it your best answer. 

— Inspired by Ryan Murphy, AB’21

3. “Vlog,” “Labradoodle,” and “Fauxmage.” Language is filled with portmanteaus. Create a new portmanteau and explain why those two things are a “patch” (perfect match). 

— Inspired by Garrett Chalfin, Class of 2027

4. A jellyfish is not a fish. Cat burglars don’t burgle cats. Rhode Island is not an island. Write an essay about some other misnomer, and either come up with and defend a new name for it or explain why its inaccurate name should be kept. 

— Inspired by Sonia Chang, Class of 2025, and Mirabella Blair, Class of 2027

5. Despite their origins in the Gupta Empire of India or Ancient Egypt, games like chess or bowling remain widely enjoyed today. What modern game do you believe will withstand the test of time, and why?

— Inspired by Adam Heiba, Class of 2027

6. There are unwritten rules that everyone follows or has heard at least once in their life. But of course, some rules should be broken or updated. What is an unwritten rule that you wish didn’t exist? (Our custom is to have five new prompts each year, but this year we decided to break with tradition. Enjoy!) 

— Inspired by Maryam Abdella, Class of 2026

7. And, as always… the classic choose your own adventure option! In the spirit of adventurous inquiry, choose one of our past prompts (or create a question of your own). Be original, creative, thought provoking. 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!

How to Approach the Weird Essay Prompt at UChicago

Irrespective of which essay prompt an applicant chooses among the first six, they should strive to showcase how they think and aim to be memorable. Not every essay in college admissions offers students such a unique opportunity to stand out, but this essay prompt gives students that opening.

As such, while all of Ivy Coach ’s students’ essays are always weird, this prompt typically allows our students to showcase their weird sides more than any other. But their answers are not just weird for weird’s sake. Through their compelling narratives, they showcase — through their singular hook rather than well-roundedness — how they’re going to change the world in one super specific way.

Oh, and notice we didn’t suggest a student answer the “choose your own adventure prompt.” It’s because we would always prefer a student demonstrate that they wrote the essay just for UChicago. The other six prompts are so specific that it’s doubtful an applicant could repurpose the essay for another school, whereas a “choose your own adventure” answer can easily be used for other institutions. Thus, the act of choosing one of the first six prompts is itself a way of demonstrating interest to UChicago.

The Why Chicago Essay Prompt

UChicago’s second required essay should also be answered in one to two pages. For this prompt, students must answer the following question:

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.

This prompt is a straight-up-the-middle Why College essay that should be filled with specific reference after specific reference of how a student will contribute their singular hook to the school’s enduring programs and institutes, traditions, and activities. Notice we didn’t mention professors or classes. Professors leave and classes change. Besides, UChicago’s admissions officers weren’t born yesterday. They know students can cut and paste the names of professors and class names from one school to the next like a game of Mad Libs. They want to see a student wrote this essay just for them. They want to feel special!

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with UChicago Essays

If you need assistance optimizing your case for admission to the University of Chicago by submitting wonderfully weird essays that wow admissions officers, fill out our free consultation form , and we’ll be in touch to outline Ivy Coach ‘s college admissions counseling services for seniors.

You are permitted to use www.ivycoach.com (including the content of the Blog) for your personal, non-commercial use only. You must not copy, download, print, or otherwise distribute the content on our site without the prior written consent of Ivy Coach, Inc.

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University of Chicago 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 2

You Have: 

University of Chicago 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 2 essays of 1-2 pages each

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why , Oddball

This is it, the infamous U Chicago supplemental application. These quirky prompts have been a rite of passage for generations of applicants, so before you dive in, just remember: if they could do it, so can you! Your goal in writing your Chicago extended essay should be the same as ever: to reveal something new to admissions. It might even help to have a few ideas in mind before reading through your options. These prompts are so specific and strange that, in the end, the key is just to follow your instincts. What speaks to you right away? What inspires you?

Question 1 ( Required )

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..

Think of this run-of-the-mill why essay as the overture to your magnum opus (i.e. the Extended Essay). Chicago wants you to cover all the bases – “learning, community, and future” – so as with any why essay, you’d best buckle down and do your homework. The more specific details you can incorporate into your essay, the more sincere and personal it will feel (and be!). Explore both academic and extracurricular opportunities. How will you pursue your interest in oceanography? With a major in biology and a semester in Australia? What research opportunities will you pursue? Will joining the club crew team help you feel more connected to aquatic life despite your midwest location? One thing you won’t find on the school website, though, is that third piece, that “future” thing. Think about where you’d like to be five or ten years from now – your career or the impact you’d like to have or even just a geographic location. How will a U Chicago education help you get there? How will your scholarly and social pursuits help you grow? Show admissions how U Chicago is the bridge between the person you are and the person you hope to be.

Question 2: Extended Essay ( Required; Choose one )

Essay option 1, exponents and square roots, pencils and erasers, beta decay and electron capture. name two things that undo each other and explain why both are necessary., – inspired by emmett cho, class of 2027.

Ah, an essay about balance. Typos and autocorrect come to our mind immediately, and not just because our brains often think faster than our fingers can type! The examples admissions have provided do a great job of showing how you can take this idea in multiple directions and apply it to any discipline. What about pasta sauce and our Tide To Go pens? Not a day goes by that we’re not dreaming of penne alla vodka or pappardelle with arrabbiata and the resulting stains we’ll be wearing for the rest of the night! (Just us?) Use this prompt as a way to go deeper into one (or more) aspects of your life, and remember that the prompt is merely a springboard, a jumping off point. Don’t be afraid to write and see what comes of it—you can always backspace later to undo it!

Essay Option 2

“where have all the flowers gone” – pete seeger. pick a question from a song title or lyric and give it your best answer..

– Inspired by Ryan Murphy, AB’21

Well, well, well, if this isn’t a fabulous prompt for art lovers and philosophers, alike. “What would you do?” (a thoughtful question asked by members of City High). “Are we out of the woods yet?” (a question repeated over and over by Taylor Swift).. “What’s love got to do with it?” (an evergreen inquiry from the great late Tina Turner). Think through some of your favorite tunes and select a question that strikes a chord within you (music puns!), then start writing. This is one of those prompts where your final product can vary greatly from your initial plan—or not! The important thing is not to rush the process; explore the question posed by an artist who has touched you, then leave yourself plenty of time to shape and finetune your writing into a polished essay worthy of submission to the University of Chicago. If you’re lucky, you can finish your draft weeks before it’s due. “Wouldn’t it be nice?” – The Beach Boys.

Essay Option 3

“vlog,” “labradoodle,” and “fauxmage.” language is filled with portmanteaus. create a new portmanteau and explain why those two things are a “patch” (perfect match)..

– Inspired by Garrett Chalfin, Class of 2027

This might just be our favorite prompt of this admissions season, since you can take it in just about any direction you like. If nothing comes immediately to mind, try taking a piece of paper and writing down a list of things you like to do or aspects of your identity that are important to you. This prompt is fantastic because you can use it to write an essay about two areas of your life that may not otherwise intersect in an obvious way and give admissions a chance to better understand who you are in the process! Maybe the two words you choose are “introvert” and “performer,” because the stage allows you to express yourself in ways you never would in day-to-day life, giving you “introformer”! (Which sounds like a really cool robot, just saying.) Or perhaps you are chomping at the bit to write an essay about your experience in the Atlanta ballroom dance community as a proud Latina. “Lattrot?” Whatever two aspects of your identity, personality, or background you choose to write about, remember to have fun with it – and UChicissions (UChicago admissions) will too!

Essay Option 4

A jellyfish is not a fish. cat burglars don’t burgle cats. rhode island is not an island. write an essay about some other misnomer, and either come up with and defend a new name for it or explain why its inaccurate name should be kept..

– Inspired by Sonia Chang, Class of 2025, and Mirabella Blair, Class of 2027

This playful, creative prompt will likely call to those who can think of a few examples off the top of their heads. Maybe you think of fireflies, which aren’t flies (or fire for that matter) at all, but beetles. Do you think they should be renamed accordingly, since words and categorization matter? Or do you think “fireflies” should be kept, since the name has become something bigger than the bug itself, and no one will think fondly of summers at their grandmother’s house catching “luminescent beetles”? Ultimately, your argument will (hopefully) show admissions how your brain works and pepper in a few insights as to the kinds of things you hold dear along the way.

Essay Option 5

Despite their origins in the gupta empire of india or ancient egypt, games like chess or bowling remain widely enjoyed today. what modern game do you believe will withstand the test of time, and why.

– Inspired by Adam Heiba, Class of 2027

Calling all game-fanatics: this is the perfect opportunity to wax poetic about your favorite pastime! Whether you’re convinced that Dungeons and Dragons is here to stay or that cyborgs will be playing Uno in space station community halls in 2123, this is the opportunity for you to make your case. Now, there are some pitfalls that come with this prompt, so beware. Although admissions is asking about games, they really want to get to know the player behind the game (i.e. YOU). Use this prompt to offer admissions more insight into who you are and what makes you tick. Don’t slip down the slope of dedicating too many words to explaining rules and intricacies; instead, reflect on why you love the games you do and why you think gameplay is important to humanity or what is required to withstand the test of time. 

Essay Option 6

There are unwritten rules that everyone follows or has heard at least once in their life. but of course, some rules should be broken or updated. what is an unwritten rule that you wish didn’t exist (our custom is to have five new prompts each year, but this year we decided to break with tradition. enjoy).

– Inspired by Maryam Abdella, Class of 2026

This prompt option will likely jump out to those who have been questioning the silly little things humans do since they were toddlers. Well, here’s your chance to call us out. Maybe you’ve always been an incredibly direct person and consistently puz zled by the way the people in your community communicate between the lines. Or, perhaps there is just one unwritten rule that you’d like to strike down for the rest of eternity (NO MORE TALKING TO STRANGERS ON HIKING TRAILS!). See how you can finesse your response to reveal more information about your interests, goals, and character through an unsavory unspoken cultural agreement.

Essay Option 7

And, as always… the classic choose your own adventure option in the spirit of adventurous inquiry, choose one of our past prompts (or create a question of your own). be original, creative, thought provoking. 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.

We love all the prompts from the past —there are so many quirky ones! If this year’s questions aren’t inspiring you, don’t be afraid to peruse the archives to find one that stands out to you. If you belong at UChicago, there is no doubt you will find a prompt that sparks a story within you. 

We’d also like to note that this is a great opportunity for recycling essays. If you wrote a strong longform essay for another school, see if any of the old prompts work in your favor, or make up your own question custom-built for your essay. Good luck! 😊

About Kat Stubing

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