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UChicago

University of Chicago

Why UChicago plus one famously weird extended essay. Annotated guidance.

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Required essays

2

Why UChicago

Required

Extended essay

1 of 7

Test scores

Optional

What UChicago rewards

UChicago asks for two essays: a required Why UChicago, and one extended essay chosen from seven famously strange prompts (the inter-species telepathy one, the contronym one, and so on). Both are recommended to run one to two pages, and UChicago is test-optional with a no-harm policy for 2026-2027.

The extended essays are the most distinctive prompts in American admissions, and that is the point: UChicago is screening for a particular kind of mind, one that treats a weird question as an invitation rather than a trap. The trick is not to be quirky for its own sake. It is to take a strange question completely seriously and follow it somewhere real. This guide covers both essays, with an annotated Why UChicago and a worked approach to the extended essay.

01Playful rigor. A mind that has fun with ideas but actually reasons, not just free-associates.
02Intellectual risk. Willingness to commit fully to a strange premise and see where it leads.
03Real fit with the Core. Genuine excitement about open, cross-disciplinary learning, shown specifically.
04Voice and surprise. Originality that feels like you, not like a performance of weirdness.

Essay prompts for 2026-2027

2 prompts for UChicago, each broken down with annotated examples.

Why UChicagoOne to two pages

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.

Extended essay (1 of 7)One to two pages (choose one option)

Choose ONE of UChicago's seven extended-essay options, for example: 'If you could uninvent one thing, what would it be, and what would unravel as a result?' or the inter-species telepathy, contronym, and choose-your-own options. Recommended one to two pages.

See all 2 prompts and get a read

Your chance

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Add your GPA, test scores, and profile to estimate your odds at UChicago and build a balanced list.

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Deadlines

Early Action and Early Decision INov 3
Early Decision II and RegularJan 5

Cost

Sticker price$87,390
Avg net after aid$28,150
Meets full needYes
Read my essay for UChicago
Explore UChicago
How to get inAcceptance rate, the GPA and SAT profile, and what UChicago weighs most Supplemental essays2 prompts, each broken down with annotated examples Cost & financial aidAverage $28,150/yr after aid · net price by income + calculator InterviewDoes UChicago interview? Format, tips, and practice The UChicago Reader ProScore your draft against UChicago's exact prompts
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UChicago FAQ

What is UChicago's acceptance rate?

~4.5% (Class of 2028, 1,955 of 43,612). At UChicago, a strong application essay and a well-balanced school list matter alongside your grades and test scores.

What supplemental essays does UChicago require?

UChicago requires 2 supplemental essays on its application. On EssayLens each prompt is broken down with annotated examples, and you can get a free admissions-style read of your draft against the exact prompt.

How much does UChicago cost?

UChicago's published sticker price is about $87,390 per year, but the average family pays $28,150 after financial aid. Your net price depends on your family income; use the calculator to estimate yours.

Does UChicago require SAT or ACT scores?

UChicago is test-optional: you can apply without SAT or ACT scores, and strong scores are just one factor among many when you do submit them.

When are UChicago's application deadlines?

UChicago's application deadlines are Early Action and Early Decision I Nov 3; Early Decision II and Regular Jan 5. Add UChicago to your plan on EssayLens to track its deadlines automatically.

Campus photo via Wikipedia.

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