What are some unique college essay prompts you've encountered while applying this year?
I'm starting to look at different colleges and realizing how different they can be from one another...like some of them are pretty straightforward, but a few schools seem to ask more creative or unusual questions.
Does anyone have examples of especially unique or interesting prompts that they've seen this application cycle? I'm trying to get a sense of what kinds of stories or angles colleges might want, especially for schools that are known for weird or open-ended prompts. Any advice or examples from current seniors or anyone who already applied would be super helpful!!
Does anyone have examples of especially unique or interesting prompts that they've seen this application cycle? I'm trying to get a sense of what kinds of stories or angles colleges might want, especially for schools that are known for weird or open-ended prompts. Any advice or examples from current seniors or anyone who already applied would be super helpful!!
2 weeks ago
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5 views
Anonymous
2 weeks ago
Great question! As you've noticed, some colleges really stand out for their creative or quirky essay prompts. These unusual prompts can feel intimidating at first, but they're a chance to showcase your personality and originality beyond standard application questions.
One famous example comes from the University of Chicago, which is known for its offbeat questions. This year, one of their prompts was: “Was it a cat I saw?” (Yes, that's a palindrome!) They asked students to use this phrase as a starting point to write about a topic of personal interest—so it's a chance to get really playful with your perspective or storytelling. Another recent UChicago prompt: “What advice would a wisdom tooth have?” Both encourage humor and creative thinking.
Another unique prompt comes from Johns Hopkins, which asked: “If you could teach a class on any one topic, what would it be?” Students are encouraged to pick something unconventional and explain why it matters to them. For example, a student wrote about teaching a class on the science of baking bread, tying in chemistry, family traditions, and personal growth.
Brandeis University has asked: “If you could travel anywhere in time or space, where would you go and why?” This one gives you tons of creative freedom and lets you showcase your interests, imagination, or even your values.
For schools like Stanford, their short-answer prompts also stand out. One example is: “Write a note to your future roommate.” This is less strange but very open-ended. Applicants often use this to reveal quirky habits, favorite books, or aspects of themselves that might not fit anywhere else in their application.
My advice is to lean into these unique prompts! They’re not looking for a correct answer. Instead, they want to hear your voice and understand how you think. The more these prompts allow you to be authentic and a little quirky (if that's your style), the better they'll help you stand out.
If you spot a prompt that’s especially open-ended, consider stories or interests you haven’t explored elsewhere in your application. Choose something memorable—even if it’s a small, odd detail about you. For example, writing about how organizing your sock drawer inspired your approach to problem-solving, or why you’d like to travel to a particular moment in your family's history. The key is to share something only you could write!
Hope these examples help spark your creativity. If you’d like specific brainstorming help for actual prompts on your list, feel free to book a session with an advisor!
One famous example comes from the University of Chicago, which is known for its offbeat questions. This year, one of their prompts was: “Was it a cat I saw?” (Yes, that's a palindrome!) They asked students to use this phrase as a starting point to write about a topic of personal interest—so it's a chance to get really playful with your perspective or storytelling. Another recent UChicago prompt: “What advice would a wisdom tooth have?” Both encourage humor and creative thinking.
Another unique prompt comes from Johns Hopkins, which asked: “If you could teach a class on any one topic, what would it be?” Students are encouraged to pick something unconventional and explain why it matters to them. For example, a student wrote about teaching a class on the science of baking bread, tying in chemistry, family traditions, and personal growth.
Brandeis University has asked: “If you could travel anywhere in time or space, where would you go and why?” This one gives you tons of creative freedom and lets you showcase your interests, imagination, or even your values.
For schools like Stanford, their short-answer prompts also stand out. One example is: “Write a note to your future roommate.” This is less strange but very open-ended. Applicants often use this to reveal quirky habits, favorite books, or aspects of themselves that might not fit anywhere else in their application.
My advice is to lean into these unique prompts! They’re not looking for a correct answer. Instead, they want to hear your voice and understand how you think. The more these prompts allow you to be authentic and a little quirky (if that's your style), the better they'll help you stand out.
If you spot a prompt that’s especially open-ended, consider stories or interests you haven’t explored elsewhere in your application. Choose something memorable—even if it’s a small, odd detail about you. For example, writing about how organizing your sock drawer inspired your approach to problem-solving, or why you’d like to travel to a particular moment in your family's history. The key is to share something only you could write!
Hope these examples help spark your creativity. If you’d like specific brainstorming help for actual prompts on your list, feel free to book a session with an advisor!
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