<p>Upenn has an optional essay that asks to write page 217 of your 300 page autobiography. They say that it is truly optional. But if i dont write it will they think that im not really interested in the school because i didnt take the time to write this essay. The reason that i dont want to write it is because im not very creative and i feel like if i try to write a creative essay like this i will just look stupid. Will it hurt me more to have an ok optional essay or no optional essay at all?</p>
<p>This topic is a great opportunity for you to write about how you see yourself in the future. Indulge yourself. It will take some imagination and some boldness. Look this is a free opportunity (yes, one more opportunity to communicate who you are and who you aspire to be to admissions officers), so go for it.</p>
<p>I think you'll come to realize, optional means highly preferred, and preferred means mandatory. Pretty much, you should do it, because it gives adcoms a chance to get to know you better. Get someone to read it over for you for a sanity check, and that's about it.</p>