<p>U Penn has an optional essay - summit page 217 of your biography. My councilor suggested that all Colleges' essays that are "optional" are basically required. </p>
<p>To what extent does the optional essay affect the admission in reality?</p>
<p>i talked to a regional director and she said it REALLY RELLY is TRULY an optional essay.</p>
<p>Hey, that’s what my counselor said too.
It’s probably best to try to write one, and if you really can’t think of anything good, don’t kill yourself over it, just don’t submit one.</p>
<p>It even says Optional (TRULY!!!) okay maybe not the "!"s but you get the point.</p>
<p>I got in early decision and did not write the optional essay, so it truly is optional. The point of that essay is to show something about yourself that is not in your other two essays.</p>