How to Get Into UChicago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G69BckBLHC4

Imagine yourself as a phoenix, rising from the ashes with the brilliance it takes to become part of this world renowned university. If you clicked here because you’re applying to (and want to get into) UChicago - you’ve come to the right place.

Let’s start with those one of a kind UChicago essays! Here are a few prompts from prior years: 

• 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. 

• Invent a new unit of measurement. How is it derived? How is it used? What are its equivalents?

• 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?

• And then there’s this one: Find X. 

Why use these strange prompts? The answer is simple: more than anything else, UChicago is looking for authenticity and curiosity. 

Don’t believe me? Well look no further than UChicago’s own Admissions Site: 

They specifically wrote: “We care about you and who you really are, not what you think we want to see in an application.”

Now in order to show this authenticity, we’re going to need to use lots and lots of this. You guessed it! Voice! But this begs another question: how do I showcase voice? What are the elements of good voice? 

VOICE

Well, it honestly all boils down to diction. If you usually write less formally, go for it! Use clever punctuation? Yes, use clever punctuation! And incomplete sentences, too. Feel to write the way you talk in real life - some students go for a much more conversational tone, while still others go for a more humorous, erudite one. 

The goal is to make your essay sound fundamentally unique - something that no one else could have come up with, both in terms of content and style. 

Now, nailing down voice is pretty tricky, so to help you guys out, here’s an example of a paragraph from one of our students we worked with in the past who got into UChicago:

This was the prompt: 

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. 

And this was what our marvelous student wrote: 

“A Santa lived as a devil at NASA”

The fabled story of Santa Claus has long been ingrained in the tradition and spirit of Christmas. But many doubt his existence, dismissing his expression of generosity as a collective effort made by dedicated parents across the globe. 

As you can see, this student chose to begin with a more intellectual tone, but then used italics for humor. The possibilities are endless, but an important tip is that you should treat these essays like a creative writing assignment – NOT a typical college application essay. 

Onto curiosity!

Similar to Columbia, UChicago really prizes all kinds of curiosity. Both schools are actually kind of similar in that they both offer Core Curriculums. Why? Because they want you to explore different fields of interest, rather than specialize like a bug. 

But Kev, how do we showcase this intellectual curiosity? Well, by talking about how you’d take advantage of unique UChicago offerings, like this Art to Live With program! 

Have you ever wanted to check out the works of Picasso, Eleanor Coen, or Marc Chagall? Well, with Art to Live With, UChicago students can borrow works of art from the University’s Smart Museum of Art during the school year. Now, I don’t know about you, but I know exactly which painting I would borrow. 

Not only that, but UChicago boasts some pretty funny traditions as well. If you’ve ever wanted to bike backwards or find the statue of King Kong in Oklahoma, you’re in luck. Scav, the College’s beloved 30-year-old annual scavenger hunt, is a 72-hour search for hundreds of encrypted clues, riddles, and seemingly impossible items on campus, in Chicago, and even across the country.

But back to showcasing curiosity. Let’s take this made-up student, Nadia, for example. Since she was a middle schooler, Nadia has been interested in Komodo dragons, which are native to her home in Indonesia. While meditating on a local beach, Nadia started to wonder: why are they endangered? How can scientists improve conservation strategies to protect these majestic creatures? Nadia started to pursue research with a mentor from her local laboratory, and eventually co-authored a paper on Komodo dragons’ life spans. 

If Nadia were applying to UChicago, you can bet she should elaborate on her work with this endangered species in her essays. In fact, she specifically applied for the “Environment, Geography, and Urbanization” major because it pertained to her passion for biodiversity and wildlife conservation! She could also contribute to the scavenger hunt by 3D printing a komodo dragon, then hiding it somewhere for underclassmen to find! 

What can we take away from Nadia’s story? In order to really showcase and prove your curiosity in your application, connect how what you will do at UChicago is an extension of what you’ve already done. 

In the first required UChicago essay, you can mention very specific courses or clubs at UChicago that relate to your academic interests, extracurriculars or passion projects in high school. It’s pretty straightforward, but something I have to stress is the importance of research here. A great place to talk about all this would actually be in the following required UChicago 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.

Look into unique, one of a kind programs only offered at UChicago. For instance, Did you know they offer a Norwegian Studies minor? Or a Big Problems program, which asks the real questions such as “Are we doomed?” and “Is drinking alcohol a social problem?” 

Calling all non-STEM people: there’s finally a STEM major for you. The History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Science and Medicine major, or HIPS for short, is a program that dives into the scientific advancements we’ve already made. If you’re going into science policy, law, or public health, definitely mention how this major can help prepare you for your dream job!

Two College Application Hacks

It’s no secret that most UChicago students are known for being extremely hardworking. But there are also many unique traditions where students can let loose after tough exams. 

Kuvia, named after both the Inuit word for ‘pursuit of happiness’ and the Japanese tradition of winter training, is a weeklong festival where students wake up at dawn and participate in yoga, s’mores, and dance classes. From sun salutations along the lakefront to an exciting race across the quads, this tradition is not one to miss. 

Going back to our made-up example, Nadia. You might have heard of therapy dogs, but what about therapy reptiles? For someone like Nadia, this would be the perfect creative initiative - she could mention how she’d rehabilitate local lizards, then show them off to classmates who could use some cheering up to take their mind off the finals stress. 

Remember: admissions officers aren’t just evaluating your profile, but imagining how you can contribute to the student body. Tell them how you’ll fit in by showing where you’ve demonstrated a positive impact on your community in quirky, fun and unconventional ways. 

Final Tip: Connect with outer Chicago 

Our last tip is to connect your application to outer Chicago. Just like other colleges, UChicago doesn’t exist in isolation — it integrates itself into the community through various initiatives. Before you start writing, dig deep into the culture and roots of Chicago, from its flourishing improv comedy scene to its colors, music, art, and spirit. I mean, for a city with a Broadway musical named after it, there’s a lot you can work with here! 

In your essays, mention your research on these initiatives and what you can contribute to them if accepted there. For example, if you’re an English major, maybe you want to start after-school poetry workshops for students from the south side where they can write about what it’s like being a Chicago native. 

See the pattern here? It’s all about demonstrating what you’ve done, what UChicago has that you want, and what you can bring to UChicago. 

As always, I hoped this helped – don’t forget to like and subscribe for more college content! 

Best,

Kevin

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