How to Write the University of Chicago Supplemental Essays

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” component 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. related to that major or program. The “community” element can be addressed by discussing a unique extracurricular or club (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 your enthusiasm and depth of knowledge about specific aspects of the UChicago experience. Finally, for the “future” component of this essay, clearly lay out your 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 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 Professor Jacob Bean’s work identifying potentially habitable exoplanets in any way.

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 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 education in both astrophysics and French in the same way that the Core will create a structural baseline for my general education at UChicago. 

While much of the UChicago experience and the opportunities I’ve highlighted take place inside the classroom, I’m equally looking forward to everything that happens outside of the campus’ gothic buildings. Visiting my friend who is currently living in the “South” dorm made me especially excited to experience living on campus and forming relationships with other dorm residents. From house-specific dining tables with Harry Potter-esque banners hanging over them to the inter-house broomball battle, I was able to witness the O Week scavenger hunt throughout the dorm firsthand The experience provided me with an appreciation for the 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 stargazing while connecting me with other students 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! 

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 embrace creativity. The goal is to showcase both your writing ability and unique perspective. Get creative with your responses: unique humor, an interesting structure, and out-of-the-box 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. Begin by freewriting rather than trying to plan your essay perfectly before you start drafting, as this method will allow you to better showcase your thought process and (hopefully) arrive at unexpected connections. 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. 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!

The penny is on its way out—too small to matter, too costly to keep. But not everything small should disappear. What’s one object the world is phasing out that you think we can’t afford to lose, and why?

Ella Somaiya, Class of 2028

It was a humiliating ritual: around 8 p.m. every evening, the landline would ring and I would rush to my bedroom to hear a friend’s voice on the other line. Some evenings, they called to chat, other times to review homework questions or coordinate outfits for the following school day. In either case, I sat at my desk where my landline was plugged into the wall, the hot plastic pressed to my ear.

While all of my other friends connected on Snapchat, Instagram, and group messages, my parents insisted that I was too young for the unbridled internet access that comes with a smartphone. So, instead of heading to the Verizon store on my fourteenth birthday to pick out a shiny new iPhone, I found myself at a thrift shop hunting through heaps of discarded landlines, the useless relics of the analog age. I chose a glossy bubblegum pink model, seemingly untouched since the 1980s.

Unlike the girls I saw in movies, sprawled across the bed twirling the phone cord between their fingers, I despised my landline. As the only teenager I knew who didn’t have an iPhone, I felt perpetually left out. My classmates organized group chats and exchanged Snapchats while I scribbled numbers on post-its and hoped someone would remember to call after dinner. I missed the invites that arrived by text. I stayed on the margins of conversations because I hadn’t seen the Instagram post.

Then, the day finally came. When I turned sixteen, my parents handed me a small rectangular box emblazoned with the Apple logo. I could finally ditch the landline and join my classmates in the digital age. In a frenzy, I downloaded all of the apps, took and edited photos, posted on social media, joined the group texts, and scrolled endlessly.

I soon found myself drowning in a sea of information and images and text chains and teenaged drama. It took only a few months for the fatigue to set in. Shockingly, I found myself missing my landline.

Today, few families have a landline; most Gen Zers barely know what a landline is. Calls have become texts. Conversations have become voice notes. Scrapbooks have become social media feeds. Although I used to resent the cord that tethered my landline to the bedroom wall, I came to appreciate the way that the phone tethered me to the moment, to a particular place, and made me block out the noise that so many around me are consumed by.

Perhaps the landline isn’t the most convenient technology. But I believe that we can’t afford to lose a sense of physical connection—to each other, to the spaces we inhabit, and to genuine connection.

Although I won’t be plugging a landline phone into my dorm room at UChicago, I look forward to being one of the few students in the Class of 2030 with a flip phone.