<p>Should you answer optional questions (if you don't think you have anything extra particularly worth sharing)?</p>
<p>for example:
Give specific examples here of any talents or unusual skills you possess and any achievements you think are important, but are not described elsewhere in your credentials (optional).</p>
<p>well they are OPTIONAL, so it is not mandatory</p>
<p>I see that.
And I’ve seen contradictory advice on how to answer this type of question.
Some say that you should never leave an “optional” essay or question blank if you can avoid it, while others say you should not provide additional information unless it really helps you.</p>
<p>well write the essay if you think something is missing from your app. if not it is better not to bog down the admissions officer with repetitive info. your call really</p>
<p>I asked my Chicago rep the same question a couple weeks back, and she confirmed that optional questions are truly optional.</p>
<p>The above two posts summed it up very nicely. If you have additional info you want to convey, use this opportunity to tell the adcoms. If any additional essay would be repetitive of previously mentioned accomplishments, don’t submit it.</p>
<p>^May be true but admissions officer at Pomona info session said something along the lines of “Well, it’s not <em>really</em> optional–if you really want to come to the school you’ll take the time to write it.”</p>
<p>The way I see it, you might as well. Unless it’s a crap essay the worst that’ll happen is they’ll glance at it and then skip over it. But at least they’ll see you care about the school…</p>