Chicago, Michigan, Georgia Tech and Chapel Hill release 2015-16 essay questions

Georgia Tech has an October 15 Early Action deadline

The 2015-16 application season is officially underway with the release of essay questions from four powerhouse universities: Chicago, Michigan, Georgia Tech and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, along with the UVa prompts posted earlier this week.

Note that these “supplemental” essays will be required in addition to whatever personal statements must be provided along with a completed application.  

And as always, the University of Chicago doesn’t disappoint.  Known for quirky questions devised by current undergrads in an annual contest sponsored by the Chicago admissions office, the University takes great pride in making applicants think.  Here are the seven options for 2015-16:

Option 1:  Orange is the new black, fifty’s the new thirty, comedy is the new rock ‘n’ roll, ____ is the new ____. What’s in, what’s out, and why is it being replaced?

Option 2:  “I learned to make my mind large, as the universe is large, so that there is room for paradoxes.” –Maxine Hong Kingston. What paradoxes do you live with?

Option 3:  Joan of Arkansas. Queen Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Babe Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Mash up a historical figure with a new time period, environment, location, or occupation, and tell us their story.

Option 4:  “Art is either plagiarism or revolution.” –Paul Gauguin. What is your “art”? Is it plagiarism or revolution?

Option 5: Rerhceseras say it’s siltl plisbsoe to raed txet wtih olny the frist and lsat ltteres in palce. This is beaucse the hamun mnid can fnid oderr in dorsdier. Give us your best example of finding order in disorder. (For your reader’s sake, please use full sentences with conventional spelling).

Option 6:  In the spirit of adventurous inquiry, pose a question of your own. If your prompt is original and thoughtful, then you should have little trouble writing a great essay. Draw on your best qualities as a writer, thinker, visionary, social critic, sage, citizen of the world, or future citizen of the University of Chicago; take a little risk, and have fun.

Option 7:  In the spirit of historically adventurous inquiry, to celebrate the University of Chicago’s 125th anniversary, please feel free to select from any of our past essay questions.

The University of Michigan, on the other hand, is much more straightforward:

Essay 1 (Required for all applicants; approximately 250 words.):  Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it.

Essay 2 (Required for all freshman applicants; maximum 500 words.):  Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests?

After a contest conducted by the University of North Carolina admissions office, the following prompts were selected (choose one and write an essay of 400-500 words):

Option 1:  Teen activist and 2014 Nobel Peace prize winner Malala Yousafzai said, “I raise up my voice-not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard”. For whom have you raised your voice?

Option 2:  Students learn both inside and outside the classroom. What would other members of the Carolina community learn from you?

Option 3:  You get one do-over of any moment in your life. What would you do over, and why?

Option 4:  You’ve been invited to give a TEDtalk. What is yours about?

Option 5:  There are 27 amendments to the Constitution of the US. What should be the 28th?

And with an October 15 Early Action deadline looming on the horizon, Georgia Tech is looking for three short answers in addition to the personal statement:

Question 1:  Beyond rankings, location, and athletics, why are you interested in attending Georgia Tech? (maximum 150 words)

Question 2:  A Georgia Tech experience and education provides you an unbound future. What will yours be? (maximum 150 words)

Question 3:  Georgia Tech's motto is Progress & Service. In 25 words or less, what is your personal motto?

These are just the first of many essay prompts that will come rolling out of the minds of admissions staff hoping to read something a little more engaging from applicants over the coming months. 

While a great deal of attention is traditionally directed to the “personal statement,” keep in mind that these are the questions over which admissions has most control and in which they tend to be very invested. And they usually play a huge role in admissions decisions.

Just sayin’.