Does the optional section have to be in an essay format?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>I just decided, as in a few days before the deadline, that I might want to write something for the optional section about my experience as a high school chem TA and as an unofficial peer tutor. "Classroom aide" shows up on my transcript, but this would be additional information that doesn't show up anywhere else (it gets referenced in one of my required essays briefly).</p>

<p>Except since I have so little time to do it, I'm not sure if I can write a full-fleshed essay.
Does the optional section/additional information have to be in essay format? Or can I just write a few sentences?</p>

2

<p>You can submit whatever you like in the optional section, in whichever format you please.</p>

<p>My daughter used that section to describe an activity, and she just sketched a quick description in 4-5 sentences. She was admitted, so it certainly didn’t hurt that she didn’t submit an essay in that section.</p>