Undergraduate / U of Chicago - Supplement Essays - Why Chicago? and Favorite Books. [6]

These are my two supplement essays for the University of Chicago. I don't feel quite right about them. Any insight or corrections on them would be very helpful and i would be eternally grateful. Please don"t be afraid to hurt my feelings. I think i can take it...:/

Question 2. Would you please tell us about a few of your favorite books, poems, authors, films, plays, pieces of music, musicians, performers, paintings, artists, magazines, or newspapers? Feel free to touch on one, some, or all of the categories listed, or add a category of your own.

Books; they are to my mind what ecstasy is to the body. I love to sit next to Hari Seldon as he works on Psychohistory, to stand out on the moors with Heathcliff or to play against Harry Potter in a Quidditch match. Since I was little, I have never been able to refuse any book; be it a textbook on the migration of man or an illustrated storybook on the Titanic, I keep them all. Isaac Asimov, Hari Seldon's creator, is a god amongst science fiction writers. His Foundation novels are by far some of my favorite to read; it seems that they can always lead me down an unexpected path. My favorite books are the ones that make a sudden twist and in turn can blow my mind. Take the Once and Future King for example. T.H. White almost completely changed the story of Arthur and made it completely riveting. I found it absolutely intriguing how Merlin lived his life in reverse; I still cannot completely wrap my mind around the concept. Needless to say, my parents no longer allow me to go to book stores because I usually end up buying half of their supply.

I read books because they are my way of learning. They let me experience and recognize others points of view and thoughts. Without my passion for reading, I do not think I would be the same person I am now.

Question 1. 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 Chicago.

As I know the University of Chicago now, I believe that it was made for me. I had gone for months without knowing this school existed, then one day it smacked in the face for overlooking it. My stomach suddenly filled with one too many butterflies and I knew that this is where I wanted to spend the next four, if not more, years of my education. Not only is it located in one of the best cities (a close second to Saint Paul of course) but it offers a superior business program and exquisite alternative majors, if the first does not play through swimmingly. Other schools that I have looked at only offer one or another of my interests. On top of that, I plan to study abroad, more than likely in Paris, and to my joy the University of Chicago does indeed offer that option.

Community and family has always been a huge factor in my life. When I saw that the University of Chicago had house systems, not only was I thrilled because there would be a community like factor, but also because who wouldn't love to live in a situation that was rather reminiscent of Hogwarts houses.

The alumni that flow from this establishment are so very remarkable. From Donald Johansen to Edwin Hubble to football great Jay Berwanger. I want to be one of the greats; I want to be something more than what my life prescribes me to be. It is my belief that I have found the right place at the University of Chicago to do so and it would be the perfect catalyst in my journey.

Again, ANY help would be awesome. Thanks in advance!

Undergraduate / U of Chicago - Main Supplement Essay - Something Outgrown [2]

I decided to write on outgrowing a friendship. the essay is 621 words long and i believe that it is a pretty good length. i could kick myself for being the queen of the procrastinators. i know the deadline is today but i would really appreciate some insight on anything; grammar, flow, content, everything!

Option 2: The late-eighteenth-century popular philosopher and cultural critic George Lichtenberg wrote, "Just as we outgrow a pair of trousers, we outgrow acquaintances, libraries, principles, etc. at times before they're worn out and at times-and this is worst of all-before we have new ones." Write an essay about something you have outgrown, perhaps before you had a replacement-a friend, a political philosophy, a favorite author, or anything that has had an influence on you. What, if anything, has taken its place?

I have outgrown several things in my life. The elaborate life of my Barbie dolls. The idea that an ostrich lived in my closet and that it had a desire to kill me. From my favorite pair of jeans at age ten to my desire to be a panther, I outgrew them all. All those are manageable to get over and can even be easily replaced. But the worse and most painful thing to grow out is a longtime friend. And to feel the void that they leave behind once they are gone.

We met at the tender age of seven through a forced play date. That in itself could have been an indicator that it would not last. Being the only girls in the neighborhood, we quickly became attached at the hip. For almost ten years, we were like sisters. Rarely did she ever leave my house to spend time with her own family and our sleepovers would often follow one after the other. We planned a road trip, life in college and life after. We shared ideas of our future as well as our intricate zombie apocalypse plans. But time changes things and we were no exception. Perhaps it was because we knew each other for so long that our issues were overflowing each other's cup and they finally went over the brim. Even though I have spent half of my life with her, we are by far no two peas in a pod.

It is probable that we have been slowly drifting from each other without realizing it. Even if we did recognize it, it was possible that we had been holding on to the meaningless title of 'friend' so we didn't lose the part of ourselves that each other had made. At least I was still holding on. It is naïve of me to believe that there was absolutely nothing else going on in her life than our friendship, but it was her lack of interest that I believe was a major factor in its demise. Perchance, this was a sign that she outgrew me first and I missed the memo. Either way, I think that it was time for me to finally outgrow her because she was no longer the friend I knew and I was probably no longer the same to her. Our friendship had turned into a matter of convenience where she would only call on me when she had no other options. I soon realized that I was just hurting myself by keeping false titles and that I was breaking under the crumbling pillar of the relationship. To save myself, I have forced myself to move on from it and accept it for what it was becoming.

I do not hate her or myself because if I do begin to, I am blaming a completely natural phenomenon on one of us. Even though I have grown out of the friendship, I could not possibly forget it; for she was my friend and in a way, will always be my friend. I have had so many memories that involve just the two of us and I cannot forget this fallen friendship because it was such a fundamental state in my childhood. There can be no replacement for a childhood friendship because the wounds are too deep to heal properly. But what it leaves behind can teach me a few things about letting go and making new friendships and how to handle them when they inevitably end in the same way. My only hope is that in the years to come I will come to terms with the ever flowing currents of change more and never start to regret the decision to finally move forward.

thanks!