<p>It says on the Duke Supplement that "The following questions are optional - and yes, they truly are optional! If you choose not to answer them, you chance of admission will not be affected." However, I have come not to trust anyone that says anything about "optional." Just wondering, will it affect me if I don't write the essay? Or will they look upon it negatively since I have not worked as hard as others?</p>
<p>it is optional</p>
<p>just like Penn’s supplement is optional</p>
<p>people do get in without submitting it</p>
<p>i’m only turning it in because I want to</p>
<p>It will most likely strengthen your application if you ponder the questions and put your heartfelt answers in an essay. If you do not answer them, the rest of your application needs to be basically flawless and stellar. They would not ask them if they truly didn’t want a response.</p>
<p>It definitely is optional.</p>