<p>Just looking at the Harvard websites, and I discovered Supplementary essays are optional:</p>
<p>"Supplementary materials or portfolios are neither required nor expected. Such materials may be submitted, but you should do so only if you have unusual talent. Students with truly exceptional talents or achievements may send music recordings, slides of artwork, or selected samples of academic work for the consideration of the Admissions Committee." </p>
<p>To me, it seems Harvard actually discourages supplementary essays unless you are unique as hell. </p>
<p>So here's my question: if you don't have some amazing talent that Harvard purports that it wants, should I not write a supp essay?</p>
<p>Essays do not just have to be for unique talents, but if you do not feel the need to write an additional essay, I advise you not to force yourself to write one. I wrote one only to explain how my parents’ separation hindered my academic success freshman/sophomore year.</p>
<p>I think the stuff you’re quoting is describing “supplemental materials” like portfolios and video clips, but supplemental essays serve to “ensure each student has enough opportunity to tell Harvard about him/her”. H doesn’t mean to discourage such essays IMHO.</p>
<p>"Occasionally, students feel that college application forms do not provide sufficient opportunity to convey important information about themselves or their accomplishments. If there is something you would like us to know, please inform us below. If you wish to include an additional essay, you may do so. "</p>
<p>Just looked at the application supplement, and I think " We do not expect or require applicants to submit supplementary materials or additional essays. We simply want to be certain that you have every opportunity to tell us about yourself" is a more relevant quote. </p>
<p>I think it’s apparent that supp can increase your chance depending how well received it is. But will a lack of one be disadvantageous? Do applicants and people who get accepted the ones who write supplementary essays?</p>
<p>I think that u could write an essay if there is really something u want them to know about you, something u didn’t say in the rest of the application. (And if u already used the additional information essay of the common app for another subject, as I did)</p>
<p>For example, in my case, because I’m in the Israeli army for 3 years (which means this is a significant part of my life right now) and there is no place in the app to explain clearly the course of my military service, I decided to write this essay. And this, despite the fact that my personal essay describes one particular difficult day I experienced as a commander in the army.</p>
<p>If you’re applying to multiple colleges that require an essay on their supplemental application, you can always submit one of those to the Harvard supplement. Several people on CC last year sent their Princeton supplemental essay on their Harvard app as well.</p>
<p>There are no guidelines on what your essay should be about. As long as you believe it is about an important enough topic that colleges need to know about it, you should send it in.</p>
<p>@FoShizzle, if your supplementary essay doesn’t make you seem special, what would your reasons for sending it be? I think we’re losing something in communication here…</p>
<p>@FoShizzle
You’re confusing the supplemental essay with the supplemental materials; the latter can be sent in with your application if your an art student or a musician, etc (you’d send in an art sample or a music sample in with your app). The essay is an option for all to write and can be used to further showcase your personality to the admissions reps.</p>