<p>I've heard that you can't get into UPenn without doing the optional essay (on the common app Penn supplement). How true is that? Would someone like to read my essay to see if I should send it in?</p>
<p>You heard wrong. I am happily accepted without ever writing page 217 or either of the other two. If you think your common app essays are strong enough already, there should be no need for another.</p>
<p>I avoided the issue entirely by using Penn's own application, and I got accepted ED.</p>
<p>I chose not to do the optional essay (because I'm lazy and started the application late) and was accepted ED.</p>