Demystifying University of Chicago's 2023-2024 Supplemental Essays

The University of Chicago is renowned for its intellectually rigorous environment and its unique, creative essay prompts. This blog post will walk you through each of this year's prompts, provide strategic advice, and share examples from successful past applications.

Prompt 1: 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)

This prompt invites you to express why UChicago is the ideal place for you. A striking response from a 2022 applicant reads:

"Ever since I first read about the UChicago Scav Hunt, I realized that UChicago is a place that celebrates intellectual curiosity while embracing a spirit of fun and eccentricity. The idea of participating in a wild goose chase for knowledge and absurdity encapsulates my approach towards learning: serious, but never too serious to neglect the joy of discovery.

From UChicago's Core Curriculum, I anticipate a rigorous academic journey that covers a broad spectrum of subjects. I look forward to the quantum physics discussions in my Natural Sciences course, drawing connections to societal issues in the Social Sciences, and applying economic models in the Chicago School of Economics.

I'm drawn to the distinctive House system that forms close-knit communities within the larger university and creates a supportive environment. I can already envision myself in a late-night study group with House friends, tackling problem sets while enjoying the famed UChicago Scav pizza.

Looking ahead, I'm excited about the UChicago Careers in Journalism, Arts, and Media (UCIJAM) program. As an aspiring journalist, the opportunity to intern at media companies, network with UChicago alumni in the industry, and attend exclusive career treks would be invaluable for my future.

UChicago's unique blend of rigorous academics, whimsical traditions, supportive community, and excellent career preparation make it the ideal place for me to both explore my intellectual curiosity and prepare for my future career."

Prompt 2: UChicago has long been renowned for our provocative essay questions. We think of them as an opportunity for students to tell us about themselves, their tastes, and their ambitions. Here is one of this year's question: Cats have nine lives, peaches are native to China, and the Iliad is the epic of two men quarreling about a woman. ‘Fact’ is a word that covers a universe. What concept or phenomenon or sentiment or position or ritual or set of events covers the same expanse in your mind? (250-500 words)

This creative prompt allows for innovative thinking and personal revelation. Here's an impressive response from a 2021 applicant:

"‘Play’ is my universe-covering concept. From the organized chaos of team sports to the intellectual puzzle of chess, from the imaginative world of a child’s game to the competitive edge in a corporate simulation, play is a universal language.

In my life, play took the form of soccer matches in the dusty fields back home, with goals marked by four strategically placed rocks. It meant epic Monopoly board game nights, the stakes high as properties exchanged hands and loyalties were tested. It became a bridge to new friendships when I moved halfway across the world, bonding over video games, despite the language barrier.

Play holds the capacity for joy and camaraderie, for competitiveness and personal challenge, for imagination and problem-solving. It is an avenue for creativity and innovation, and a model for real-world scenarios. Through play, I have learned teamwork, leadership, strategy, and perseverance. For me, it encapsulates the expanse of human experience."

As you approach the University of Chicago's supplemental essays, remember to be authentic and showcase your unique story. Emphasize your academic interests, personal experiences, and the unique perspective you bring to the UChicago community.

The admissions committee is eager to learn about you. Let them do that through your essays.

Good luck, and happy writing!