Regardless of what university you feel like applying to, you must be prepared for whatever essay question they throw your way. Some universities give unique application essay questions designed to stimulate the creativity of students. If this eventuality arises, then it will be doubly important for you to be ready for wacky essay prompts.
Examples of wacky or unique essay prompts
The University of Chicago is famous for its wacky essay prompts. Examples of these are:
Essay question # 1 – How did you get caught? (Or not caught, as the case may be.)
Essay question # 2 – “Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust” wrote the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” What is human personality? Is it obvious what uplifts and what degrades it? Can law be justified on the basis of it? We want to hear your thoughts on justice as it relates to this human personality.
The University of Virginia also throws in its share of wacky application essays such as:
Essay question # 1 – Make a bold prediction about something in the year 2020 that no one else has made a bold prediction about.
Essay question # 2 – The past isn’t dead. It’s not even past. So says the lawyer Gavin Stevens near the end of Faulkner’s “Requiem for a Nun” To borrow Stevens’ words, what small event, either from your personal history or the history of the world, is neither dead nor past?
Tips in dealing with unique essay prompts or questions
Thoroughly understand the question. You can never answer an admission prompt if you don?t understand the question and that goes double for essay questions that are wacky. Don?t attempt to answer a question you don?t understand. Try to break down the sentences so you could have a smaller scale viewpoint of the prompt before advancing to the larger scale.
Other things to keep in mind when tackling wacky essay prompts
Make sure that the primary question is answered. With the proper words, you can give a simply stated answer to a complicated question. Answering wacky essay prompts is the same with answering any type of question. Formulate a plan. Rearrange the words in your head before finally putting them on paper.
Related links:
Tone in essays – How to improve the tone of your law school personal statement
Reading sample essays
Discussing motivations – Using motivation as content in structured essay
Weird college essays – Examples of wacky college essays
Common college prompts – About some of the common college prompts
