<p>Is it okay to just have a list for the optional essay? It's the essay about what's your favorite book, play, author, poem, musicians, etc.</p>
<p>I was reading a UChi admissions blog the other day, and they said that they don’t have a preferred format for the optional supp. You definitely could just list them (with no penalty or anything) but a lot of students write short essays as well.</p>
<p>^ Thank you for the helpful and speedy reply :)</p>
<p>I listed them (just plain ol’ listed; no frills at all) and was accepted EA.
I honestly don’t think they use it to gauge anything but…well, your tastes?!
If you have any interesting idea though, it could serve as a medium to express that.</p>
<p>I just did a list as well. It was very crude but it was honest and I have a little explanation after some of the things. Also I sort of took a risk and included a few pictures in it from a cool trip I went on. My advice is be quirky and show who you are with it.</p>
<p>My theory is it is a work-ethic test. If you skip the optional essay, then you clearly don’t have the right work ethic for the school.</p>
<p>^My one friend who got in didn’t submit one while all the guys who did got rejected lol.</p>
<p>If you don’t feel like writing an essay, just write a short list. It’ll take 5 minutes and at least you’ll have something there.</p>
<p>chrisk867: That’s a horrible theory. When they mean optional, they really mean optional. I didn’t bother to do the essay, and still got in. If they said they recommend doing the essay, I would have considered, but they said optional, and I chose not to do it.</p>
<p>I just did it cause I thought it would be a bit of fun. I don’t quite have a way with writing or creativity with my writing, so I had to show the bits of creativity or enjoyment elsewhere. I wrote it as short lists with slight fun explanations like: Monty Python and the Holy Grail, my love for good old British silly humour! 
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<p>Good luck to everyone!</p>
<p>^Exactly what I did and I got in. I chose to do a list precisely because I am not a strong writer but still wanted to convey a little more of “who I am”.</p>
<p>I just made a list too. How many of you made your own categories?</p>