<p>So, I believe that I had really strong essays, and did not have time to do the optional one. I felt that it was better to not send one than send an essay that wasn't at the same level as my others. I applied ED, and am now wondering if it was a mistake to not do the optional essay....</p>
<p>don't second guess. it is what it is at this point.</p>
<p>The Tufts Observer (a student magazine on campus) published a great article back in Sep. 2007 on the new admissions process that Tufts has adopted... I wish I could find the article, but I guess it isn't online. If I remember correctly, the optional essay is there to give Admissions a look into an additional side of "who you are." Not doing the optional essay won't necessarily hurt you... you just won't get the possible benefit of showing that additional side.</p>
<p>I hope that made sense...</p>
<p>I think the optional essay also has another purpose too, to show the school that you do have an interest in the school and the optional essay indirectly signifies that. You applying ED does that for you, so it is okay, in my opinion. Don't worry too much, the wait is almost over. Whatever is supposed to happen, will.</p>
<p>Agree with kevo0822. I believe at the Tufts session I attended in September 07, they made a point of saying that the Optional Essay is just that-OPTIONAL. Obviously, the ultimate show of interest is applying ED, but there are other ways, too. My D, who applied RD and did NOT write the optional essay, did the following: interviewed, attended a session when Tufts came to her high school, visited twice and also spoke with faculty in her department of interest. </p>
<p>Good Luck to all of the ED folks.</p>
<p>I believe that the Tufts optional essay prompt includes this parenthetical proclamation: "(And it really is optional!)" So, taking them at their word should be no problem. I've known any number of admits who skipped an "optional" item. Good luck!</p>
<p>Howdy Folks! </p>
<p>The Tufts Observer Article: Going</a> Beyond Bubbles
An article on similar topic from Inside Higher Ed: A</a> 'Rainbow' Approach to Admissions</p>
<p>
[quote]
Not doing the optional essay won't necessarily hurt you... you just won't get the possible benefit of showing that additional side.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>What you'll gather from reading the above articles and from reading our optional essay prompts is that we're trying to find qualities in our applicants that the traditional college application doesn't target (see Robert Sternberg's research into theories of leadership). We look for those qualities everywhere in an application; there are many spaces for you to 'show us that additional side', but the Common App (frankly) makes it hard for you, our applicants, to do that - not impossible, just difficult. The optional essay questions provide a better space for an applicant to discretely draw those qualities out and put them on display. </p>
<p>The essay really is optional. Not doing an optional essay isn't a strike against you, and we don't look at those applicants any differently than those that do submit an optional essay. I didn't do an optional essay for Tufts, and I was admitted (woo!). But if you finish your common app, and our supplement, and you think to yourself, "I'm still not sure I've shown them who I am," then an optional essay can be that opportunity.</p>
<p>Our Dean of Admissions Talking about the role of the supplement in our process: Supplemental</a> Insights</p>
<p>i wrote mine about the count of monte cristo.... i wonder what that will tell them?</p>
<p>I did the eleventh commandment, that's the only one that spoke to me after weeks of deliberation.</p>