<p>I believe that I did a good enough job on the first 2 essays to not require a response for the #3 essay...</p>
<p>Is there anything you would like us to know about you or your academic record that you have not had the opportunity to describe elsewhere in the application? (200 words)</p>
<p>I have a backup essay in mind about why I received a 3.4/4.0 gpa during 1 semester but I feel that its kind of being whiney... esp since my cumulative is 3.8.</p>
<p>REQUIRED or OPTIONAL? (Btw you MUST write something in that field to submit the app but my friend at UCLA says its really an optional question)</p>
<p>You must respond to three short-answer questions using a total of no more than 1,000 words. Two of your answers must be limited to approximately 200 words each. A third question should be given an extended answer of approximately 600 words. You may choose which question to answer at more length.</p>
<p>That's copied from the UC online application. The first sentence "must respond to three short-answer questions" seems to indicate required, not optional.</p>
<p>LOL, it's definitely required, don't skip that for your life.</p>
<p>and read the prompt carefully, </p>
<p>Rationale: This question seeks to give students the opportunity to share important aspects of their schooling or their lives - such as their personal circumstances, family experiences and opportunities that were or were not available at their school or college - that may not have been sufficiently addressed elsewhere in the application. </p>
<p>Question: Is there anything you would like us to know about you or your academic record that you have not had the opportunity to describe elsewhere in this application? *</p>
<p>...about you OR your academic record...</p>
<p>i talked about how i was unappreciative etc... then changed.</p>
<p>I used the open-ended question to explain my poor grades. I wasn't being whiney. I told it like it is and explained how I managed to pick my grades up.</p>