<p>Hello, all. I am currently in the process of filling out the commonapp and all that and came across Harvard's "optional essay". I wasn't originally going to apply to Harvard because I thought I had no chance of getting in. I talked with an admissions counselor at this ivy league night downtown and she said to definitely give it a shot and that I would have as good a chance as anybody of getting in. I am rambling, so back to my point! Looking at the Harvard supplement, they have that optional essay to talk about something that hasn't been communicated that you feel needs to be. Maybe it's because I haven't done much research on this whole getting into ivy leauge schools thing but I was wondering if not doing this optional essay would hurt my chances. I don't have any sob story or fantastical experience that fundamentally changed my view of the world; apparently having such a story helps? How 'optional' is the essay really. I fear that if I don't write the essay it will hurt me, and if I do write the essay, it won't compare to what other people write in it, making me seem rather lame. What DO people typically write in this optional essay? I appreciate the help, even if it may be rather futile :)</p>
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<p>I think that most of the time people reuse essays from other apps</p>
<p>The supplement essay truly is optional. However, like jgraider stated, most students will present writings that were mandatorily submitted for other universities. Nevertheless, it will always reflect negatively if one submits a poorly written essay.</p>
<p>^ I agree with the above two answers. D had not planned to apply to Harvard and added it on at the last minute. Reusing essays (no sob story), she did the whole ap in about 45 minutes. She is currently a Sophomore.</p>
<p>Same here about re-using the essay from another app. (Actually, I only wrote two essays total and used various versions of them for all of my applications. Saves a lot of time.)</p>
<p>I’m using my UChicago supplement for Harvards supp. I’m sure they’ll recognize the topic, “Find x.”, as being from UChicago. But they also must know that if accepted to Harvard, theres nowhere else I’d rather be. </p>
<p>good luck to all!</p>
<p>I’m using my Yale supplementary essay.</p>
<p>^ That tends to be common.</p>
<p>Yeah they overlap quite nicely.</p>