New SAT Essay is Optional?

Currently I’m a sophomore in High School and I’m starting my deep research in the new SAT. I was on collegeboard.com, when I saw that the new SAT’s essay was optional. (https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat) At first before I saw this I thought that there was no essay on the new SAT so this has been bothering me. My biggest weakness at the moment is English because of my writing skills. Will not taking the essay as it is optional hurt anything on my records? Will it even show up on my resume and look lazy or bad to colleges? Thanks

Sorry, I didn’t read through all of it, apparently some schools require it but will other schools require or look at it?

You know that flips my nickel! When they say “Optional” SAT Essay they basically mean its mandatory! I mean who in the right mind would take the SAT or even ACT without writing? I actually want to see someone who doesn’t do the writing component get accepted into university.

Universities in the Midwest generally don’t require the writing section of standerized test. However, I would probably take it unless you can’t handle it at all. Even if you get a “bad” score in writing, it can be outweighed by AP scores or English class grades.

TCB made it optional. Colleges don’t.