<p>Should I do the optional essay, even though it says "nothing in this section is either expected or required"?</p>
<p>i think i did it, but it was nothing stellar. i did the list of books thing... and quite frankly, i thought i did a really *****ty job, if i do say so myself.</p>
<p>Yes!</p>
<p>(CC won't allow a post < 10 characters so I have to write this.)</p>
<p>You can do it if you want, I mean surely it's helpful and advantageous to you were you to do it, but I know personally that you don't need it to get accepted, so I guess it's all about if you have the time.</p>
<p>One piece of advice that the guidance counselors offered us was to never treat the optional essays as "optional." Put forward the extra effort. It's only August, for heaven's sake. Don't get lazy now.</p>