What are some unique college essay question examples you've seen on applications?

Great question—college essay prompts can range from standard to completely unexpected, and the most unique ones can be a lot of fun to respond to if you’re prepared!

Some of the most memorable and unusual prompts often come from schools that value creativity and a bit of risk-taking. For example, the University of Chicago is famous for its quirky questions. One year, they asked, "What’s so odd about odd numbers?" and another year, "Find x." Another UChicago classic: "How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future?"—but with a twist: some years, they ask you to mash this question with another random writing prompt. They even had a question that said, "Describe your favorite joke and what it reveals about you."

Tufts University has also had some pretty creative prompts—one past question was, "What does #YOLO mean to you?" and another asked, "It’s cool to be smart. Tell us about the subjects or ideas that excite your intellectual curiosity." These open up space for humor and personality beyond the standard academic narrative.

Occasionally, schools like Stanford will toss in a quick essay shouldering the question, "If you had an extra hour in the day, how would you spend it?" Or, "Imagine you had to teach a class. What would it be about?" These types of prompts are inviting you to showcase interests that don’t always make it onto the transcript.

Occidental College once asked, "If you could invent a college course that all students should take, what would it be and why?" This makes you think about your values and what you wish more people understood.

Other wildcards come from places like Brandeis, which has asked applicants to respond to the prompt: "If you could choose to be raised by robots, dinosaurs, or aliens, who would you pick? Why?"

When prepping for these types of questions, try brainstorming about interests, quirks, and unusual stories that don’t show up elsewhere on your application. If you’re stumped, think about moments you’ve laughed hardest with friends, weird hobbies, or an unusual fact about yourself—those can all be entry points to unique, memorable responses.

You can find the wildest prompts each year on school websites (look for supplemental essay requirements). Building a list of your favorite unusual questions is a solid way to kickstart your creativity—so you’ll be ready if and when you see something completely unexpected!