<p>hey guys im trying to apply to the college at Penn but unfortunately i still haven't finished my essays yet.. im just wondering how much influence the biography essay will have on my admission.. my resume isn't that great for a Penn applicant. should I write it?</p>
<p>It says, right on the application, that it's truly optional.</p>
<p>hmmm than whats the point of writing it if its <em>truly</em> optional? it must affect the officers in someways if well written rite?</p>
<p>I think the point is that the essay gives you another opportunity to portray yourself in a different light. If it's going to say basically the same thing as your other essays then it's useless.</p>
<p>I wrote this in another thread but:</p>
<p>Jacinda Ojeda, the admit director for my region, came to my school for an info sesh, and said it's "truly" optional because when Penn switched over to Common, they didn't want to totally get rid of the essay because there were some really interesting ones that showed like a completely new side of an applicant.
Pg217 won't hurt you, whether you choose to write it or not, unless you submit one that is lackluster.
I really don't think admissions will consider this essay added effort, or if you don't do it, a lack of interest/effort. After all, we all have 987293843 essays to do, what's an extra one to us anymore?</p>
<p>Personally, I feel like my Common App and Why Penn essays already give a good summary of the person I am and I don't know what else I could talk about, since I feel like it would be another page describing a significant event or activity (which my Common App does)... so I'm not writing one.</p>
<p>i say write it! 'cause it'll only help you or have no effect on your admissions decision. since it's truly optional, it won't harm you, but it could help you if you write a different side of you that has already been reflected in your common app and why Penn essays.</p>
<p>HEY KIMS IT'S YOU! the korean kiwi!</p>
<p>HEY ERIKU ITS YOU hahaha im screwed for my essays atm argh TT</p>
<p>i'm screwed for my northwestern essay.. been stuck on it for 2 days.. and it's my last one.. garg</p>
<p>hey for the optional essay, is it fine to like cut off in the middle of a word to give it the effect that it really is like a page in the book?</p>
<p>^I'm sure a million other people who're applying will do it but I don't think they would mind.</p>