uchicago essay prompts are out!
Don’t fill this essay with the first response that comes to mind. Given the theme, many students are likely to have very similar responses. Review the other UChicago essay prompts and see if there’s one you think would invite a more interesting response before choosing this one.
Many of the extended essay questions ask something very unique and unconventional. This is part of UChicago’s style for supplemental prompts, but one of the key takeaways students should remember is that Admissions Officers at UChicago want to understand the way your mind works. These questions aren’t necessarily asking about your accomplishments or your personal experiences—they’re more about getting an understanding of your thought process.
If you don’t like any of the other options, take a look at 30 of the previous years’ questions that UChicago has provided to inspire you! The question “What can actually be divided by zero?” might appeal to you more than any of the new prompts for UChicago supplemental essays 2024-2025—and that is perfectly okay!
University of Chicago 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide
Supplemental essays are an essential part of any college application, but UChicago stands out among the top schools for its unique and sometimes mind-bending essay prompts. These prompts change each year and ask students to think in ways they likely haven’t for their college applications. Each of these essay prompts is designed to give Admissions Officers insight into an applicant’s mind, and the way one answers these questions can vastly affect their admissions outcomes. To give students the best chance of acceptance to their dream school, here’s InGenius Prep’s guide to the UChicago supplemental essays 2024-2025.
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 silly prompt with the plethora of options in your arsenal. Take the time to consider your topic and answer—but most importantly, Natalia adds, “Don’t use an essay you used for school!”
If your piece is largely or exclusively visual, please make sure to share a creator's accompanying statement of at least 300 words, which we will happily allow to be on its own, separate page.
PS: This is a creative thought experiment, and selecting this essay prompt does not guarantee your admission to UChicago.
-Inspired by Amandeep Singh Ahluwalia, Class of 2022Cats have nine lives, Pac-Man has three lives, and radioactive isotopes have half-lives.
• Standout essays for standout prompts: The prompts for the UChicago supplemental essays 2024-2025 are, without a doubt, highly unique. It’s okay to feel intimidated, and you might choose a prompt that asks for a more academic-leaning response if you’re not a creative writer. While it’s fine to find an option that’s tailored toward 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 from the competition.
The 7 UChicago Essay Prompts: How to Write Stellar Responses
The first thing that rising second-year Carina Kane, a pre-medical student and anthropology major, learned about UChicago as a prospective student was that it had unusual essay prompts. Because of this, she decided to apply.
What to write about fro UChicago essay Answered
• 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!
UChicago Extended Essays: An In-Depth Guide + Examples
By engaging current students and alumni in the process, the Extended Essay connects prospective students with the UChicago community. After receiving an average of nearly 1,000 essay prompt submissions each year, a small group of Admissions counselors then meet to review and finalize the year’s list.
UChicago Essay Prompts 2024-25
While UChicago’s supplemental essay questions deviate from the typical prompts seen at most schools, these essays are still a great opportunity for students to stand out from the crowd! The way you approach these questions will give Admissions Officers a peek into the way your mind operates. Don’t just highlight your experience or focus on your personality. These questions ask you to explore ideas, and a compelling response can show Admissions Officers that you’re a free-thinker and a good fit for the UChicago community.
If you need further guidance from an admissions expert, InGenius Prep is here to help! Our team of Former Admissions Officers from top schools like UChicago know how to approach these questions. We can help you craft the perfect application and get you one step closer to that acceptance letter. and get started on your admissions journey today!
UChicago Supplemental Essay Prompt
“When students come to the College, they will invariably be met with a situation or problem they have never encountered before, be it academics-related or otherwise” Wilson said. “This prompt gives Admissions counselors a way to evaluate how students will navigate those situations once they are at UChicago.”