If a college has it’s OWN application and there is a space for your essay and also a space for a personal statement that says it is optional for most kids unless they are considering taking a gap year or have extenuating circumstances, should my D still write one anyway? She has uploaded her common app essay for the “Choose Your Own Topic” prompt but then they offer this “optional” personal statement. I know that the “Why Us?” optional essays are never really optional if a school is one of your top choices, but in this case it is a top choice but there is no “Why Us?” prompt. Does that make sense?
I guess I always thought the personal statement was the same thing as the main essay and this extra personal statement section is a bit confusing.
It sound like the “additional information” section on the Common App. Unless there is something that needs explaining, I wouldn’t think of it as an “optional essay;” it sounds more like a “if you have anything unusual that you need to explain, do it here.”
“While we don’t accept the Common Application, feel free to use an essay you may have crafted for the Common Application as essay Option No. 1 - Choose your own topic.
You’re required to submit one of the following short essays (250-750 words).” <-------this is what is is choosing, her 650 word Common App essay.
This is the optional personal statement wording:
"If you have not yet expressed something that deserves consideration from the admissions committee, this is your opportunity to do so. (Maximum 750 words.) Again, the personal statement is optional for most students; however, if you’ve taken a GAP semester/year or if you’re completing a post-grad year, this section is required to explain your activities over that time period. If additional space is required, you may submit your personal statement in a separate letter via email
If this university is a top choice, I would direct the optional question to that subject. It is not a crime to let them know why you are very interested in that university, BUT it is still optional.
Sure sounds like “Addl Info.” So not just extenuating or some challenges, but anything extra that’s highly relevant and advances her chances. In general, this wouldn’t need to be long. Not required unless there’s a gap or PG, but they seem to leave it to her.
About the Why Us. Even when there is no obvious formal question, they can still look for your sense of your match in the rest of the written answers.
If the college considers “level of applicant’s interest” (see the college’s common data set, section C7, or its admissions tab on collegedata.com), that optional essay may be another way to write something that expresses more interest specifically in that college.
Thank you for all of your replies! It seems like there is still some confusion on if it is truly optional or not. The common data set shows Demonstrated Interest as “considered” so it doesn’t appear very important but could potentially tip the scale in her favor. Basically she chose option number one because she’d already had her common app essay complete and doesn’t feel like she necessarily needs to offer more information. However I do think it could be a good spot to show more of her writing ability while also demonstrating more interest.
An additional essay is different than supplemental personal information. IMO if there is something in need of explaining (not excusing) or super important that isn’t shared elsewhere in the app, then use the personal statement area for that. IMO , I don’t consider “optional” essays optional.