Mike Nichols’ The Graduate Following our study of this film, you will write a college application styled essay. In a college application essay, you are often asked to reveal something about yourself that would prove attractive to a college or university. For this film, you will respond to a specific prompt, and your essay should be between 2-3 pages in length.

2011-12 U. of Chicago Application Prompts Spanish poet Antonio Machado wrote, “Between living and dreaming there is a third thing. Guess it.” Give us your guess. Write about a time you found something you weren’t looking for. Don’t write about reverse psychology. How did you get caught? (Or not caught, as the case may be.) [from 2010-11] Dog and Cat. Coffee and Tea. Great Gatsby and Catcher in the Rye. Everyone knows there are two types of people in the world. What are they? [2006]

Current Common App. Prompts Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you. Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence. Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence. Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you. Topic of your choice.

Tips No matter the topic, you are telling your reader something very specific about yourself. Answer the prompt with a story; don’t write about yourself in generalities. If you have something interesting to say about yourself, you can usually adapt any story to any prompt. Use sensory description and detail. Consider your tone carefully; schools are open to humorous or whimsical essays. Start fast. Write your essay. Do not write the essay you think “they” want you to write.

The Graduate Application Essay Prompts: What I learned from a 44 year-old movie. “Plastics!” What word would you use? If I were a character in the film The Graduate, I would be ______________. In your essay, you must use film evidence (at least 8 specific references), and you must refer to specific passages or scenes (2 minimum) from the film.