UChicago Extended Essay

• Let’s start with the UChicago Why Essay first.

  • It will probably increase my desire to go to UChicago.
  • On the other hand, it might make me lose motivation for UChicago.

• Overall approach:

  • Since most of the prompts are likely to be humorous, I want to bring a more logical atmosphere to them.
    • I think I am more comfortable writing in that style.
  • Also, since many of the prompts seem to involve everyday objects, it might be better to approach them in a more abstract way.
    • Or rather, I tend to naturally lean towards that approach, but that seems fine.

• Interesting prompts:

  • What if the moon were made of cheese? Or Neptune made of soap? Pick a celestial object, reimagine its material composition, and explore the implications. Feel free to explore the realms of physics, philosophy, fantasy…the sky is the limit!

    • I really like this prompt.
    • It’s interesting to imagine things that emerge from setting rules
    • Let’s consider time as the material.
    • I think this approach is better (blu3mo).
      • It’s like the one we talked about the other day.
    • This could be like a research report.
    • It would be nice to show some knowledge of physics.
      • Can I also talk about computer science in the application?
    • Maybe focus on the surface as a material.

  • In Homer’s Iliad, Helen had a “face that launched a thousand ships.” A millihelen, then, measures the beauty needed to launch one ship. The Sagan unit is used to denote any large quantity (in place of “billions and billions”). A New York Minute measures the period of time between a traffic light turning green and the cab behind you honking. Invent a new unit of measurement. How is it derived? How is it used? What are its equivalents?

    • This one also seems interesting, It’s interesting to imagine things that emerge from setting rules
    • I might like this one the most, including the STEM aspect.
    • It could be a good approach to extend seconds in a Virtual Time-like way.
      • It could also show my uniqueness.
      • Dealing with space and time together.
    • Defining a unit is similar to defining a measurement axis.
    • This could be more like a research paper.

  • Essay Option 5

  • It’s said that history repeats itself. But what about other disciplines? Choose another field (chemistry, philosophy, etc.) and explain how it repeats itself. Explain how it repeats itself.

    • This is also like TOK~~~
    • Oh, but this one seems interesting too.
      • Self-Reference?
        • But that seems like it might overlap with the Common App 650, so maybe not.
      • Circular Time

  • Essay Option 6

  • In the spirit of adventurous inquiry (and with the encouragement of one of our current students!) 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!

    • Basically, this is what they are looking for in Options 1-5, right?
    • Past prompts:

      • Subway maps, evolutionary trees, Lewis diagrams. Each of these schematics tells the relationships and stories of their component parts. Reimagine a map, diagram, or chart. If your work is largely or exclusively visual, please include a cartographer’s key of at least 300 words to help us best understand your creation.

    • It might be possible to delve into Discussion on Immersive Virtual Spacetime Axis or Delusion of a Virtual Timeline.

• Not very interesting prompts:

  • What’s so easy about pie?

    • I don’t know.
      • (Not very inspired by this prompt, meaning)
    • On the other hand, maybe this prompt isn’t about pie at all. Or, if it is, perhaps you don’t think there’s anything easy about pie. This prompt can be interpreted in a hundred different ways. The extent to which you can push this open-ended question is virtually limitless. Admissions is looking to see how you think, process, and approach. So, flex your imaginative muscles and take the metaphor off a cliff (in a good way).

  • “There is no such thing as a new idea” - Mark Twain. Are any pieces of art, literature, philosophy, or technology truly original, or just a different combination of old ideas? Pick something, anything (besides yourself), and explain why it is, or is not, original.

    • TOK~~~
    • Well, it seems somewhat enjoyable.