University of Chicago Admissions Consultant

What Makes The University of Chicago So Special?

The University of Chicago (often called U of C, Chicago, or UChicago) is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1890, it holds top-ten positions in various national and international rankings.

University of Chicago scholars have played a major role in the development of many academic disciplines including the Chicago school of economics.

With an estimated completion date of 2020, the Barack Obama Presidential Center will be housed at the university and include both the Obama presidential library and offices of the Obama Foundation.

Although it is not an Ivy League school, it is a very prestigious university like Stanford, MIT, and Duke.

UChicago Quick Facts

  • Location: Chicago, Illinois
  • Year Founded: 1890
  • US News Ranking: 12
  • Application Deadline: January 2
  • 2023-2024 Acceptance Rate: 5%
  • 2023-2024 applications received: 38,800

Prompts for UChicago's 2023-24 Undergrad Supplemental Essays

Our [page_title] | Bentham Admissions

Question 1 (Required)

  • 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.

Question 2: Extended Essay (Required; Choose one)

Essay Option 1:

  • 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. – Inspired by Emmett Cho, Class of 2027

Essay Option 2:

  • “Where have all the flowers gone?” – Pete Seeger. Pick a question from a song title or lyric and give it your best answer. – Inspired by Ryan Murphy, AB’21

Essay Option 3:

  • “Vlog,” “Labradoodle,” and “Fauxmage.” Language is filled with portmanteaus. Create a new portmanteau and explain why those two things are a “patch” (perfect match). – Inspired by Garrett Chalfin, Class of 2027

Essay Option 4:

  • A jellyfish is not a fish. Cat burglars don’t burgle cats. Rhode Island is not an island. Write an essay about some other misnomer, and either come up with and defend a new name for it or explain why its inaccurate name should be kept. – Inspired by Sonia Chang, Class of 2025, and Mirabella Blair, Class of 2027

Essay Option 5:

  • Despite their origins in the Gupta Empire of India or Ancient Egypt, games like chess or bowling remain widely enjoyed today. What modern game do you believe will withstand the test of time, and why? – Inspired by Adam Heiba, Class of 2027
UChicago Admissions Guidance
UChicago Admissions Guidance

Essay Option 6:

  • 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? (Our custom is to have five new prompts each year, but this year we decided to break with tradition. Enjoy!) – Inspired by Maryam Abdella, Class of 2026

Essay Option 7:

  • And, as always… the classic choose your own adventure option! In the spirit of adventurous inquiry, choose one of our past prompts (or create a question of your own). Be original, creative, thought provoking. 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!

━ Chicago's Programs Ranked ━

Economics
#1 (USNews)
Psychology Programs
#11 (USNews)
Computer Science
#23 (USNews)
CompSci Theory
#17 (USNews)
MBA (Grad)
#1 (USNews)
LAW (Grad)
#3 (USNews)
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