"Optional" essay?

Is the UChicago “optional” favorites essay really optional?

I know a majority of you will say that it’s another chance to show something about you, but I’d rather be evaluated on the basis of a strong common app essay, a strong Why UChicago? essay, and a strong uncommon essay than the aforementioned and a weaker favorites essay.

Is the rationale valid? Must I still write the favorites essay?

It’s supplemental, so it can only help unless you say your favorite book is mein kampf or something. You can literally just list out your favorite things, it wont take more than a few minutes

If you take the extra maybe 10-20 mintues to write it you’re showing UChicago that you’re dedicated and want to show them all the different sides of you and your identity…they don’t want people that just do the bare minimum. The essay is SUPER easy and like jasonfan1234 said, you can literally list–it doesn’t necessarily have to be an essay, per se. I know people that have done that. You can be as broad or as specific as you want–my friend wrote lists of favorite books, movies, songs, etc., and I focused on one favorite and wrote a short paragraph about it. They’re not looking for glorious or elegant prose here, it’s just a fun little question for admissions to know a little bit more about you.

It is definitely optional.