ERMAHGERD, More College Admissions Essay Prompts

by Stacey Brook

This week, Tufts University released their supplemental essay questions, one of which asked students to contemplate, “What does #YOLO mean to you?” Here are some of the other essays Tufts considered asking students.

• Sometimes life presents challenges, and you are not always able to obtain what you want, when you want it. Discuss a time when you have been told you cannot haz something, and explain how this impacted your viewpoint of how important it is to haz things, in general.

• It’s Friday. Which of your mediocre talents are you going to post to the internet this weekend, and why?

• A great American writer once said, “pimpin’ ain’t easy, but it sure is fun.” Examine a personal experience that was hard work, but worth the effort.

• Select an intellectual or creative opportunity (for example, community involvement, a summer program, a unique project, travel abroad, etc.) from your high school years that you have enjoyed and highlight the ways in which you’re Never gonna give you up, never gonna let it down, never gonna run around and desert you. Never gonna make you cry, never gonna say goodbye. Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you. Describe a project you have worked on that was interrupted, but still produced inspired results.

• Discuss how you successfully conquered a First World Problem, White Girl Problem, Overeducated Problem, Stoner Problem, or another exaggerated obstacle of social, racial or habitual origin.

• We are pleased to accept your application to the Class of 2018, and we will let you finish, but Beyonce’s college application essay was the greatest college application essay of all time. Discuss.

• In 2007, Miss Teen South Carolina delivered the following address on national television:

I personally believe, that U.S. Americans, are unable to do so, because uh, some, people out there, in our nation don’t have maps. and uh… I believe that our education like such as in South Africa, and the Iraq, everywhere like such as… and, I believe they should uh, our education over here, in the U.S. should help the U.S. or should help South Africa, and should help the Iraq and Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future, for us.

In 500 words or less, please help Ms. South Carolina make a fucking point.

• You have been tasked with naming a celebrity baby, but you can’t use a name that has been registered in the United States since 1945, colors, or food items (even organic ones). What do you name the baby and why?

Stacey Brook is a writer, and the founder of College Essay Advisors in New York City. She will now be recommending that her students answer their essay questions in 140 characters or less.