<p>did anyone actually use the optional statement?</p>
<p>I used the optional statement to emphasize how important my community service was to me and how it has affected my career choice, major choice, etc. It was pretty much a personal statement.</p>
<p>I used it to emphasize how much time I spent on certain activities and how they demand a lot from me. Didn't say this, but example.....our one coach says, "Once the season starts your priorities should be baseball, school, then everything else"</p>
<p>I figured writing stuff could only help but it really wasn't anything special</p>
<p>i used the optional statement basically as a way to get in a good last word. In mine, I pretty much listed all my faults, and then said something about how I use my imperfections to make me a better leader. I dunno, it made sense in the essay. Did anyone not use it?</p>
<p>I didn't, didn't really have anything to say/didn't want to do more.</p>
<p>always use the optional/personal statement. it may just give you the extra boost.</p>
<p>I didn't. I didn't want to bother them with extra paper and I really didn't want to drag on anything/say anything else. (that, and I didn't have enough time =P)</p>
<p>But I have plenty of friends who got in without using the optional statement. It really IS optional and they just put it there if you really have something else substantial to say. It's not counted against you or "look bad" if you don't have it.</p>
<p>it doesn't really matetr if you use it or not. its just another "bragging" sheet. i don't think they care if you do or not unless your essays were average and everything else as well and that would hopefully give you a push. but besides that it is optional</p>
<p>feedback from tour yesterday says that they are really optional and that unc does not hold it against your if you do not do. she even said "no matter what you have heard, it really is optional. we are not trying to trick you.'</p>
<p>yup</p>
<p>talked about Summer Ventures and how it was life changing--cultural-wise.</p>
<p>i didn't know where else to put it, so i wrote a mini-essay. i'm glad too. NOSTALGIA.</p>
<p>YES optional essays really are optional. don't write one because you feel prompted to do so. if you really have something to say, use the optional essay to express your thoughts; otherwise, you may just end up writing something silly--in a bad way.</p>