“What Does #YOLO Mean to You?” Is Now a College Essay Prompt

Applicants to the Tufts University class of 2018 (yes, that’s the class of two-thousand-eighteen) are asked to provide three “short responses” to a number of prompts; the third and final prompt has six options to choose from. It includes the following:

E) The ancient Romans started it when they coined the phrase “Carpe diem.” Jonathan Larson proclaimed “No day but today!” and most recently, Drake explained You Only Live Once (YOLO). Have you ever seized the day? Lived like there was no tomorrow? Or perhaps you plan to shout YOLO while jumping into something in the future. What does #YOLO mean to you?

Your suggested length is 200–250 words. Think outside the box, Tufts says. (The school, it should be noted, is known for its “quirky” applications.) “Take a risk and go somewhere unexpected. Be serious if the moment calls for it but feel comfortable being playful if that suits you, too.” You have until 9 a.m. We’ll collect your responses then. Good luck!

H/T Hairpin pal Carrie Battan, photo via jstephenconn/flickr