<p>both of these essays are optional. But the advice that I've been hearing is that it's advantageous to do all the optional essays. And I'm kind of drawing a blank on the second optional essay (not the one about something you've created). Do you just do a free write on anything you want? an experience, a person, a value? how you really want to go to MIT even when you know that you are diagnosed with cancer and have only 3 more months to live but lives for the reception of that acceptance letter??</p>
<p>You can put in anything. An essay from a different app, Why MIT, a poem about physics, anything.</p>
<p>You can write on anything you want, or you can put anything else in that space -- it doesn't have to be an essay. You also don't have to put anything if you don't want.</p>
<p>My opinion is that the additional essays are only advantageous if they say something about who you are and add to your application. You don't get points just for having done them, they actually have to add something.</p>
<p>tell me if I'm wrong. So is this the place where everyone attaches his/her art portfolios, movies, and possibly football recruiting tapes?</p>
<p>If so, are we limited to only 1 additional material?</p>
<p>I think supplemental materials for your application are handled in different ways. This entry does a good job of explaining it and how to submit music, athletic information, tapes, etc.</p>
<p>MIT</a> Admissions | Blog Entry: "On Supplemental Materials"</p>
<p>The optional essay is an area for you to explain something about yourself to the admissions officers that you were not able to explain through the other essays. It's definitely optional for a reason - if you can't think of anything to write there, don't kill yourself trying to do so. College essays should come naturally, and if you write one simply to add more bulk to your application but no substance, it'll probably do more harm than good.</p>
<p>On the something I created essay, I want to write about a PVC flute that I made for a music project (I did consult internet resources about acoustics, but the method I used was my own). I know that in my essay, there's no way to show them that my flute is actually good, and not some out of tune PVC water pipe. I could explain the method that I used to make my flute, which Might be convincing enough to them that one can definitely make a very nice flute using that method. Otherwise, would it be appropriate to send in a video of me playing a PVC flute? Or would it be redundant and stupid to submit a video of me playing the mario theme song when other violin virtuosos are turning in Concerto No. 432432 in C major?</p>
<p>You can only write things in the "anything else you'd like to tell us" space -- if you want to send non-written supplemental material, you can send it to the admissions office via postal mail (although music supplements, arts supplements, and athletic recruitment are done via other methods). You can submit as much supplemental material, and as many different kinds, as you feel is appropriate.</p>
<p>I think it would be fun to submit a video of the PVC flute, and it doesn't matter that you're not playing something ancient and serious and stately -- your purpose isn't to show that you're the greatest flute player who ever lived, your purpose is to showcase your workmanship. The only possible wrinkle is that it's not guaranteed that your readers will be near a computer or DVD player while reading your application.</p>
<p>I'm thinking of sending a design of a robot, which I created...=</p>
<p>can the word "created" by taken like.. fairly loosely. like a business/organization?</p>
<p>It can be taken to mean anything you want.</p>
<p>yay thank youuuu</p>
<p>I am embarrassed to ask this question, but on the "something you created" D's essay w/ multiple edits is at 531. It may be able to shrink a little further but I don't think that it will meet "500 words or fewer" without loosing significant content. D will make every effort to get it down, but for MIT how detrimental will it be if the essay is moderately over the 500 words?</p>
<p>If it's not noticeably over 500 words, it doesn't make a difference -- nobody's going to be sitting there counting words rather than reading the sense of the essay.</p>
<p>My usual rule is that 10% over or under the limit isn't noticeable, so 531 would be fine in my book.</p>
<p>That information is a help if it can't be reduce much more. Thank you!</p>
<p>Does anyone know any examples of the “Scholarship Project” required for the Dean’s Honor Scholarship at Tulane.</p>
<p>libbytetelooney - This is an MIT forum. I would suggest you post your question on the Tulane forum.</p>
<p>Where is this essay question??? I can’t find it on the 7th page of section 2. Does the OP mean the supplemental arts/sports/research portfolio on page 8?</p>
<p>This thread was started in 2008, when the application essays were different.</p>