<p>I know lots of schools have "optional" parts of their application that are really required, but MIT's app is really ambiguous on this. The "describe something you have created" prompt is straightforward enough, but does the "additional information/material" prompt mean you should attach another essay?</p>
<p>No, it really is completely optional, at least in the sense that if you don't do it, your application won't get docked points or anything.</p>
<p>Still, my personal opinion is that it's always better to do all the optional stuff -- in the game of admissions to highly selective schools, I think you want all the "extra credit" you can get!</p>
<p>ok, but is it optional in the sense that additional test scores and explanation of a grading system are optional, or does it imply that they want an essay of personal choice?</p>
<p>thats what I want to know. I would like to add my additional test score of 800 on the old writing SAT II and other tests, but I would also like to write an essay. Which one should I do? Can I do both somehow? like by separating them or something.</p>