University of Chicago's wording, checked October 26, 2026“The Olympics have long celebrated the pinnacle of human athletic achievement. But what if they expanded to honor the mundane? Imagine a new Olympic event built around an everyday activity like speed dishwashing or competitive grocery bagging. How is it scored, officiated, and judged? Why is it a worthy addition?”
UChicago sets no word limit: write as much as the answer needs and no more.
How to approach it
- 1Pick an activity you know well enough to write rules for.
- 2Cover all four parts the prompt lists: event, scoring, officiating, why it is worthy.
- 3Let the rules reveal what you value.
A structure that works
One way to shape this answer. It describes moves, not sentences: the words have to be yours.
- 1The event and how it looks in competition.
- 2Scoring and judging, in real detail.
- 3Why it deserves a place, which is where your values show.
Mistakes to avoid
- Only the joke, without the rigor of the rules.
The checklist our grader uses for this question
When you check your UChicago answers, this answer is read against these 5 areas. Each comes back Met, Partly or Missing with a quote from your draft as evidence, and together with the no set limit limit they set its readiness verdict.
| Area | What a reader looks for |
|---|---|
| Answers the question | The opening sentences answer what was asked, plainly, before background or a hook; every part of a multi-part question is answered. |
| Takes the form seriously | It follows the prompt's premise and form (a note reads like a note, an imagined event has rules) instead of turning into a standard essay. |
| An angle of your own | The idea goes past the first one most applicants would have, with a specific, surprising choice. |
| Shows who you are | The play reveals the applicant's mind, values or humor; a reader learns something real about them. |
| UChicago's ask | Covers the event, how it is scored, officiated and judged, and why it is a worthy addition. |
Check your UChicago answers
Paste this answer (and any other UChicago answers you have). One report covers all of them: the checklist above for each, a note on every sentence, coaching questions and a revision plan. Half a token, or your first review free. We never write a word of it.
Check your college supplemental essays
Your first full review is free. Every answer reviewed in one report.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Common App or any college.
Open the picker and search for a college to see its 2026–27 supplemental questions.
No card needed · one free full review per student · we never write your answers
Questions
More on UChicago and this kind of question
- Penn: A thank-you note · 50-200 words
- Dartmouth: Introduce yourself · 250 words
- Stanford: Letter to your future roommate · 100-250 words
- Northwestern: Painting The Rock · 200 words
- W&L: Option 4: the story of your name · 250 words