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The University of Chicago or UChicago is a dream of high school graduates who want to complete their undergraduate studies in a challenging and nurturing environment. It is one of the most selective colleges in the US when it comes to the college admissions process and is often ranked among the top colleges in the world.
UChicago employs different methods to determine the candidature of the applicants. Apart from assessing academic records, proof of extracurricular endeavors, and community service, the college asks applicants to write supplement essays. They are also called “Why UChicago” essay prompts and they help the admissions committee at The University of Chicago to see how excited and invested an aspirant is in the college.
In this article, we’ll go through the do’s and don’ts of the UChicago supplemental essays and then discuss an example based on its merits.
The “Why UChicago” Essay Prompt
Following is one of the Uchicago essay examples that applicants must submit with their applications:
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 wishes and how they relate to UChicago.
This is a standard version of one of the “Why UChicago” essay examples.
It is noted that many aspirants do not read and understand the statement put forth by the University before they start writing the answer. For every essay question, especially for admission supplement essays, applicants must know and understand the requirements and then address them in their essays.
In this case, the admissions officers at UChicago want to know what drives aspirants to apply and come to the college and learn from the faculty. They can research and explore different departments, laboratories, professors, alumni, etc of the college and how they inspired them and moved them to prefer UChicago over any other institution in the country.
The simple answer to ace college admissions is honing exceptional writing skills and research abilities.
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What Makes A “Why UChicago” Essay Admission Worthy
The beauty of writing is in its subjectivity. The same word or sentence can carry varying meanings for different readers. Fortunately, in the case of an admission essay prompt, we know what is required to put down and what should be left out.
Since UChicago is one of the most sought-after colleges in the country with great campus and campus life, the admission officers only want those applicants who can appreciate all that. This is where the supplemental essay comes into the picture.
By incorporating raw emotions and ambitions in highly structured essays, applicants can show that they are invested in getting admission to this college. There is no denying that many aspirants apply to multiple colleges to secure their chances of getting accepted in some of them and then choose later on. Still, they must show the necessary enthusiasm and zeal while writing supplement essays.
The Do’s of An Admission Worthy “Why UChicago” Essay
Before we explore the don’ts that aspirants must avoid in their UChicago essay examples, it is ideal to discuss the best practices.
The essay prompt asks for specific details about The University of Chicago and the applicants and how, when they combine, will yield great results.
The best way to do so is by handpicking one or two unique aspects of the college and then integrating that with goals and ambitions that an applicant could have.
Here are some great pointers that can serve them well:
- Specific schools, departments, and laboratories at UChicago offer great learning and research facilities. For instance, if someone wants to pursue Computer Science, one can write extensively about the relevant department at The University of Chicago
- Renowned professors and instructors and their workshops, classes, and seminars can help students in connecting with the academia at large
- Plenty of lucrative career opportunities for the students and alumni of UChicago which can be a driver in applying and studying at the college
- A rich and vibrant campus life in the heart of Chicago with people from around the world. This is a great way for young scholars to connect and innovate with others, not to mention an open and conducive environment for broad undergraduate education
- A past visit to the university or meetings with alumni started a spark to come and learn and UChicago
Any of these can work great when incorporated with a personal story in the why UChicago essay examples. So, any aspirant can pick one or many of the aspects of the college and come up with an original story to become an admitted student.
The Don’ts You Must Avoid In Your “Why UChicago” Essay
No matter what the word count for the essay is, the space for writing and making a point across is always limited. That’s why aspirants must be vigilant and vigorous in their writing and the ideas they decide to explore in their essays.
Following are some of the things that make rejection-worthy why UChicago supplemental essay examples. Applicants must make a note of this and avoid them at all costs:
- Discussing the size, location, and weather of the vicinity where the college is located is a bad idea. The admissions officers and potentially everyone in the area already know that. It bears no significance on why an aspirant wants to get admission and study there
- Using unchecked emotional language in the supplement essay does not result in favorable results. Raw emotions should be bridled with cold logic and reasoning.
- Describing UChicago’s mascot, traditions, stadium, team colors, etc without direct reference to an essay is bad practice. If there is a direct connection, make sure that the given information is correct
- The “Why UChicago” supplemental essays are as much about the college as they are about the applicants. So, the theme of the essay should always be “Why us[College+Applicant]” not “Why them”
A “Why UChicago” Essay Example & Why It Is Admission Worthy
For a better understanding of the nuances of how to write why UChicago essay, here is an example. This will help aspirants in tackling all the issues who might be struggling with their UChicago application essays:
I remember coming to Hyde Park with my family on weekends. We would sit in a circle to chat and eat and then all the kids, including myself, would get up from the mat and start playing.
During that time, I saw young people in Hyde Park from The University of Chicago. They were writing and painting and talking and singing and dancing. They were more like kids than adults. They laughed a lot. And when they did, they would throw their neck back and let it all out.
Those images stayed in my memory all along. After visiting Hyde Park many times and completing my high school, I faced a big decision: where am I going to study?
My first and only choice was UChicago!
As I am penning down this essay, I still remember the life and youth on their faces. Simply put, I want in. I want to be one of them.
During my stay at UChicago as an admitted student, I would want to take permanent residence in one of the many excellent libraries that the college has to offer. Jokes aside, I want to devour all the knowledge and then assimilate it and then spit it out with my own twist and stories.
I want to pursue Classical Studies including Greek and Roman Cultures. I want to dive deep into the histories and stories of these civilizations and reimagine the most famous pieces of literature. You can say that I want to humanize their gods and godify (if that was not a term before, it is now) their underdogs. I want to see what could happen if the Odyssey ceases to be an odyssey.
I also want to pick up a minor subject in Language and Literature. I have always been fascinated by the nuances of language and how it induces images in our minds when we make certain noises. I think now is the time to know for sure!
My second major subject will be Creative Writing. I want to learn the art and science of putting words on a paper where they become more than just marks. During my childhood and later during high school, I was moved by the works of fiction. Even though I knew that the hero was fictional and the tragedy that he faced and the people he lost, all were fake, still I couldn’t help connecting with the story. I was moved by it and I was inspired by it. In addition to this, I want to explore Computer Science and other emerging technology subjects. Just a different combination to quench my thirst for knowledge!
I want to get the fuel for my pen at UChicago where I could write songs and stories without worrying about writer’s block.
The current UChicago student playing and wandering and painting in Hyde Park will be my brethren. There is no limit to what we could all achieve working together.
That’s why I chose UChicago. That’s why UChicago should choose me!
Why It Checks All The Boxes
- The emotional content of the essay was perfectly balanced with the rationality of pursuing specific majors and minors
- The prose is moving and impressive with clarity of the goal
- There is no mincing of words or masking of ambitions
- The element of “why us” is clear as the day in the essay
