Got admitted to Harvard without an optional essay?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Do you know anyone got admitted to Harvard without an optional essay?</p>

2

<p>I did, as did most of the five roommates I've had here at Harvard, and a number of other people I've talked to.</p>

<p>It is NOT mandatory.</p>

3

<p>as admiral's roommate, i too was admitted without an optional essay. (so transfers as well are not required to write the OPTIONAL essay.)</p>

4

<p>Would an optional essay help?</p>

5

<p>An optional essay will help if you have more to say and can say it well.</p>

6

<p>mathmom,</p>

<p>Did your S write an optional essay?</p>

7

<p>Yes, everything in his application was about being a computer/math/science guy. So he had an essay about the pleasures of rereading novels.</p>

8

<p>My (admitted) D's optional essay consisted of one sentence because there was no other appropriate place to put that important piece of information.</p>

9

<p>I imagine your daughter said something like this?
"Harvard is my top choice."</p>

10

<p>^Gaffe, I doubt Harvard would put any weight on that. They have good reason to think they are most applicants' top choice, :) so I wouldn't think it sways their decisins at all. Yale is on record saying it doesn't have any weight, I doubt it does for Harvard, either</p>

11

<p>It's OPTIONAL. I mean, if it were mandatory it would say mandatory. :x</p>

12

<p>I did not write an optional essay. If you have something or do something that does not fit in anywhere else, I would put that information into the optional essay (only if it is extremely important). Otherwise, it is optional... :)</p>