<p>when colleges have essays that they claim to be 'optional', do they hold it against you if you choose to not do them?? Does it in anyway imply that you are not interested in their college or that you are simply to lazy to bother with them?</p>
<p>As much as they may deny it, those essays are not optional. Whom would you accept? The one who took the time to do the essays or the one who appeared to be too lazy to do so.</p>
<p>I know people who got into schools with optional essays and those who got in without.</p>
<p>The way I see it, go for it if you feel like you can show them another side of you that isn't seen in the rest of your application. If you feel like you'd only be repeating things, then don't.</p>
<p>i think its always in your best interest to do the essay. unless its just terrible, it can only help</p>
<p>ill only do optionals if i have time before the jan 1 deadline</p>
<p>Harry Bauld, former admission officer from Brown stated in his book they are not really optional. So you must write them. Don't be fooled by the therm optional.</p>
<p>i didnt do the penn and tufts optional essay, i will tell you how it all turns out in april.</p>
<p>p.s. if it isn't optional, why do they label it as such?</p>
<p>see who will go the extra mile to get in?</p>
<p>Every year a few kids will get in without writing the "optional" essays. The general rule of thumb is that you should write them. It's an incredibly competitive year for selective college admissions. Honestly I can't imagine not writing an "optional" essay in this environment.</p>
<p>I hear a lot that if its optional, then do it. This however is NOT always true. I know for a fact that James Madison University says they prefer that you do not do the optional essay if your sure your going to get in anyways, because then they don't have to spend the time reading it. They stressed it really was optional, but if you are a borderline candidate, then they take the optional essay into account. That was to be the only real time they took it into consideration.</p>
<p>At Virginia Tech, the essay is held extremely lightly. Guidance Councilors in the state of Virginia tell students not to go out of their way to write their optional essay because they hold it so lightly it really isn't going to matter in terms of acceptance.</p>
<p>Therefore its best to call the school or ask someone with years of experience with the school if you want to know if you can get away with not writing the essay. IF your scared they'll write your name on some post it note somewhere to remember you as a slacker, then just don't give them your name =P. Sometimes, you can get away with not writing the essay.</p>
<p>Only write the optional essay, if you think you need the optional essay.</p>
<p>optional essays tend to ask for information that isnt anywhere else in your application that you feel they need to know, etc. i wrote ONE essay about a passion/hobby that falls under the category of "what i do for fun" rather than EC, and submitted it as my optional essay to all the schools that ask for one. that meant i only had to write the one essay, and it went to all the schools that asked for optional essays. sweet.</p>
<p>Maybe I should've written one or two for Harvard, but I really felt that the tone of their explanation discouraged doing so, so <em>shrug</em> We'll see how that turns out.</p>
<p>Schools like Duke, Tufts and the like, I would advise writing the essay, and make it a well written one too..but for other less competitive schools, especially if you are average/above average for tests scores/gpa/etc, I don't think it would be a huge deal.</p>
<p>
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p.s. if it isn't optional, why do they label it as such?
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</p>
<p>several possible reasons. 1) so their application looks easier and more people apply. 2) so really well-qualified candidates don't waste their time, while it may be advisable for borderline applicants. 3) so recruited athletes and development cases don't waste their time.</p>
<p>I thought my son made a mistake not doing the "Why Duke" essay. He had submitted one of the other optional essays and felt his "Why Duke" essay would sound like everyone else's. I disagreed, saying it would imply disinterest. He was accepted. Go figure.</p>
<p>I wasn't aware there was such a strong consensus in favor of doing these. Yikes...that may increase my workload a bit these next few days...</p>
<p>Haha me too.
What a break. =(
But that's what procrastination does.</p>
<p>I just always do them. Why risk it when a little bit of effort can help you get in?</p>
<p>Always, ALWAYS do them! Not only can you say things which could get you in, but it shows that you took time to write them. My optional Yale essay took at least three hours to write and polish (the first draft), and I really do feel that I put it all in there. Maybe it was the fact that it was the Yale essay, but it was by far better than the Pers. Stat. Anyway, the thing is, they are not optional. If you have the most amazing ecs, stellar grades and SAT scores and you strongly feel that it is not going to make a difference, well, if you want to, skip them. BUT, why not do it if it is +1 point in your admission!?</p>