<p>well, i am applying to william and mary and though it isnt my first choice by far, i wouldn't mind attending. i really dont have anything to say in an optional essay, and really dont want to do it either.. so basically my question is: are there any of you who have been accepted who chose NOT to write the optional essay?</p>
<p>I've been accepted to W&M twice, and didn't do the optional essay either time. I don't remember about the transfer app, though. I think I just did a personal statement for that one. </p>
<p>In any case, I definitely didn't do it the first time. However, bear in mind that I'm male, in-state, not from NoVa/Richmond/Hampton Roads, and W&M's overall acceptance rate was 45% back then.</p>
<p>I have a fair number of friends at school who didn't do the optional part.</p>
<p>Didn't bother. If you can do something fantastic, though, it'll increase your chances, so go for it if you've got the creativity.</p>
<p>I know some people in admissions and they say they receive quite a few time capsules (aka people thinking they're being "so original") and I think they all think they're somewhat ridiculous. Don't do it unless you have something good to say.</p>
<p>what about making it a humorous essay?</p>
<p>I'd strongly advise a female from New Jersey to do the optional essay. I'm sure you'll find people who were accepted who didn't submit one, but W & M's admissions are tricky and unpredictable. The acceptance rate is far lower for unhooked (non-athlete, non-URM, no national-recognition EC, etc.) OOS female applicants than for any other group. sudaneya4ever, unless you have a significant hook, you'll be competing with many similar applicants who will submit the optional essay. It's an excellent opportunity to win over the admissions committee.</p>
<p>At our recent tour, the adcom recommended doing the optional essay in the strongest possible terms.</p>
<p>this post is from 2006, why bump it? Anyways, xcman827, I think making it a humorous essay would be good, just show some creativity.</p>
<p>Note that this option is not just an essay, but alternatively anything that will fit on an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper. On the tour I heard an admissions counselor say it could be "anything but a photo collage." This has been a couple of years back, but my son was a borderline applicant and he submitted a lively description of his favorite extracurricular, with a picture of himself during competition -- nicely printed on a color printer so it was all on the same page. I can't say it was the deciding factor, but he was admitted.</p>
<p>my son did not do it but was admitted. however, he did go to the considerable trouble of driving there and doing the "optional" evaluative interview by a trained upperclass student..not sure if this is still done. He also attended classes and spent the night to get a good sense of the college.</p>
<p>If you really want to attend I would do the essay. I think you should do everything that is optional. It shows how much you want to attend W&M.</p>