Not actually optional, like Harvard’s “optional” supplement? Or actually optional (like the sexual orientation supplement) in that if I feel like I don’t have anything interesting to write, they’ll understand if I leave it blank? I only ask because my Common App covers my background very heavily so I think doing that supplement would include a lot of rehashing.
Think about it. Duke is one of the most prestigious and hardest schools to get into. Thousands of extremely qualified students with high test scores, excellent EC’s, recommendations, and accomplishments will be applying. If you don’t write the “optional” essay, you are shooting yourself in the foot and putting yourself in a disadvantageous position before the your application is even read. In a College application process that is very quantitative, you have an opportunity to show that you aren’t just a number. Why would you not write the optional essay?
Bu then you have this statement on their website: One of the short essay questions is required, and the other is optional–and yes, it is truly optional!
I know many people who have gotten in without writing the optional essay. If you’re a white heterosexual upper-middle class Christian male it’s hard to write a good “diversity” essay without coming across as forcing it. It serves as another datapoint in your application, which can either strengthen OR weaken your odds. If you don’t have anything compelling to write, then don’t do it. Don’t force it. If you do have something to write that will give the ad coms a better perspective of what you’d bring to the Duke community, then definitely take the time to write it. This is not like the “Why Duke?” essay in the past which used to be optional. Everybody SHOULD have written that one since everybody should have an explanation as to why they want to go to Duke. But this one is absolutely optional – they don’t lie.
But I also understand and appreciate Dontskipthemoose’s point that anything that can give you a leg up is worthwhile and puts OTHERS at a disadvantage since everybody is competing for the same spots. BUT only if you actually have something decently profound to say. They have enough other materials to judge you from other parts of your application and if you shine in those, they won’t hold not writing it against you.
Good luck!
@bluedog - I believe that even the old “Why Duke” essay was “truly” optional. My daughter skipped it and was accepted.
It is truly optional, but if you can think really creatively it will usually help you. For example, socioeconomic diversity, chronic illness, etc. especially if you can use these diverse experiences/perspectives to say something else about your character