<p>is it really, TRULY optional?
or is it a criterion harvard admissions officers use to "weed out" the less-enthusiastic applicant pool that do not have legacies or are recruits, etc.</p>
<p>I didn't submit one and was deferred... so it can't really be a weed-out technique, or I would have been rejected. Plus, my friend last year got in and she did not write the optional essay.</p>
<p>if you dont have anything to write about, dont. dont force urself to write it if have nothing to say. in other words, if you think the application is an accurate depiction of who u are, without the 2nd essay, then there's no need to babble on, bore the adcoms, and jeopardize ur chances.</p>
<p>okay thanks =)</p>
<p>i think i really portrayed myself as best as i could in my main essay
and i didnt want to beat an old horse with an old stick, and talk more about myself in the optional essay</p>
<p>thanks for all the help!</p>