<p>just out of curiosity, does anybody know anyone who's gotten into harvard without doing the optional essay. I think it'd be suicide not to but has it been done?</p>
<p>its as optional as the submitting research, music, etc section.</p>
<p>Plenty of people have gotten into Harvard on CC without the optional essay. It's not suicide. The optional essay is truly optional.</p>
<p>i have a question on that. i have another essay i used for the yale supplement and it's about 500 words long. is it ok if i use that? it just says i can "attach another essay" without specifying word limits, but the space has a limit of 2000 words.</p>
<p>it's pretty optional...
and yes, use that essay. and attach it.</p>
<p>If they really wanted it they wouldn't say optional right? But then again, they are testing kids to see if they really care. They probably want to see who bothers and who doesn't. You've probably written tons of supplemetns, just use one of those.</p>
<p>yeah it may show a lack of real dedication to applying to that school. after all, it would be rather easy, once you have the common app to send the harvard supp in 5 minutes without the essay. with the essay you have to think a little more</p>