<p>On the Harvard supplement to the Common App, there is space for uploading an additional essay to those already on the Common App. Is it truly "optional"? Will I be hurt in any way by NOT submitting an extra essay? What types of things are relevant to include in this essay? Would it be see-through if I used my Princeton quote essay? Thanks!</p>
<p>^ That essay is the supplemental Harvard Essay, and yes I believe it would hurt. Most interested applicants finish that essay, since you can pretty much write about anything you want and truly bring yourself out as an applicant.</p>
<p>It is optional. If you think it will truly add to your application, do it. If not, then do not. A good essay helps but a bad one hurts; since it’s optional, not doing the extra essay will neither help nor hurt.</p>
<p>Not submitting an extra essay will not hurt your chances; there have been many cases of successful applicants who did not. However, if you feel as though you have something else to add, the essay would be a great place to do that.</p>
<p>I did not write the supplemental essay although I did submit a short film script that I wrote. Is that okay?</p>
<p>fivesixnineten, my friend got in two years ago and she didn’t submit any extra stuff whatsoever.</p>
<p>Totally your choice. I’m submitting something that I actually wrote for another school, just because I think that the prompt I wrote about highlights my background (at family and at school) so well</p>
<p>I just also wanted to point out that not submitting additional and optional stuff never hurts. You shouldn’t think of it like that. Submitting this kind of stuff only helps, but it never hurts. (a made-up example)—If colleges gave scores between 1 (denied) to 10 (accepted on full ride) and you received a 7, then submitting good additional stuff would give you an 8, but it would never bring you down to a 6. hope this makes sense!</p>
<p>it is OPTIONAL…so no you will not be penalized. I had a friend get in last year who forgot to submit the essay, so they never saw it. Let;s hope all of us get the same luck with admissions:)</p>