So for the optional essay regarding ethnicity/LGBT I was wondering if it was truly optional. I am not LGBT, but I am hispanic. However my common app essay is actually all about being hispanic, so I don’t want to be redundant. Is the essay really optional, or will it impact my chances if I don’t do it? Would any of you suggest I do it anyways?
bump.
Maybe you could write about your ethnicity from a different perspective? I’m not sure. I think you don’t have to write it. Have you asked your college counselor?
@Elrathia I did but he said he wasn’t exactly sure. He said typically optional means do it, but with what my common app essay is maybe not so much.
It is truly optional. It’s a new prompt that isn’t like previous things that were “optional” in theory only (e.g. Why Duke? everybody should answer that – well, at least if they want some extra bump). If you don’t have anything meaningful to put in there and it’s already captured in your other essay, don’t submit anything extra just for the sake of submitting it. Putting a poor product will hurt more than help. I imagine many many people don’t have something in here and still get accepted.
@bluedog Thanks! Yeah I feel if I did respond to that prompt it would just bore adcoms to hear one story repeated again using different words.