Recurse Center rolled out a revamped admissions form this spring, swapping its longtime prompt list for a new set of questions. Inspired by Oxford’s All Souls exams, the new format asks applicants to choose two from a menu that includes “Tell the story of the weirdest bug you’ve ever fixed” and “Is code more like math or literature?” The change aims to surface curiosity and self‑direction more directly.

Beyond novelty, the Center added a third prompt—“What programming project (or fix, or contribution) are you proudest of?”—to let candidates showcase tangible work, even closed‑source efforts. Early responses show richer storytelling, giving reviewers a glimpse into problem‑solving style before any interview. The team also refreshed the “build something from scratch” prompt with examples from its Creative Coding sessions.

RC staff say the overhaul turns the application itself into a mini‑experiment, filtering for the very traits the program cultivates. By making the form enjoyable to answer and review, they hope to reduce interview load and attract applicants who already think like Recursers. The revised questionnaire now serves as both gatekeeper and teaser for the six‑to twelve‑week residency.